Greater Irvine Chamber Business Insights Podcast

Join Dave Coffaro in conversation with Wing Lam, Co-Founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco. In this episode, Wing shares how he and his brothers turned a single Costa Mesa restaurant into a Southern California icon known for flavor, community, and resilience. From blending cultural influences to adapting to changing customer tastes, Wing reveals the lessons behind nearly four decades of success. He also tal...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Logan Altman, Chief Impact Officer at Doing Good Works. This episode explores how business can be used as a force for good, highlighting the company’s innovative approach to social enterprise, community empowerment, and technology-driven impact. Logan shares the story behind Doing Good Works, a for-profit social enterprise and registered public benefit corpor...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Francisco Molina, Industrial Designer at Invento Design. This episode highlights the process of bringing ideas to life through design, development, and collaboration, offering insights into how concepts evolve into finished products. Francisco brings 16 years of experience in product design execution, perceived quality, and surface detailing across consumer a...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Richard Montellano, President of RAM Supply Chain Incorporated, to discuss The Future of Supply Chain Management. In this episode, Dave and Richard explore the challenges and opportunities shaping supply chains today, how businesses can build resilience, and the strategies needed to stay competitive in a fast-changing global market. With decades of leadership...

In this special episode of the Business Insights podcast, Greater Irvine Chamber President and CEO Dave Coffaro is joined by Lisa Ramirez, Partner at U.S. Immigration Law Group, LLP, for a focused discussion on what today’s employers need to understand about immigration enforcement and workplace compliance. A California State Bar Immigration and Nationality Law Specialist, Lisa offers practical gu...

In this episode of the Innovator’s Journey podcast, Dave Coffaro is joined by Dr. Matthew Harding, Founder and CEO of EcoMetricx and Professor of Economics and Statistics at UC Irvine, for a compelling discussion on the power of AI, data science, and behavioral economics in shaping smarter, more sustainable decisions. Dr. Harding shares how EcoMetricx employs cutting-edge AI to manage large-scale...

In this episode of the Innovator’s Journey podcast, Dave Coffaro is joined by Marques McCammon, President of Karma Automotive, for a conversation on the future of clean energy and mobility. Marques discusses Karma’s evolution as a leader in the luxury electric vehicle space and how the company is advancing sustainable innovation through thoughtful design, engineering, and leadership. Learn how Kar...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Juliana Elstad, CEO of Vibrato Medical, to discuss groundbreaking advancements in stroke recovery and neurological care. In this episode, Juliana shares the inspiring journey behind Vibrato Medical—a pioneering company developing non-invasive ultrasound technology aimed at improving outcomes for people with peripheral arterial disease and its advanced form, C...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Ramin Mousavi, President & CEO of CathWorks, to explore the future of cardiovascular care. In this episode, Ramin shares the journey behind CathWorks—a trailblazing company revolutionizing how physicians assess and treat coronary artery disease through advanced, AI-powered technology. Their non-invasive FFRangio® System is transforming decision-making in...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Peman Montazemi, Founder & CEO of Finally Quiet, to explore the future of noise reduction in healthcare. In this episode, Peman shares the inspiration behind Finally Quiet!—a groundbreaking innovation designed to transform the dental experience by eliminating high-frequency noise in clinics. With patented medical-grade noise-canceling and AI-driven techno...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Alex Scoble, Managing Partner at Westlake Media Labs, to discuss What Every Business Owner Needs to Know About Marketing and AI . In this episode, Dave and Alex explore how AI is transforming marketing strategies, what business owners need to stay ahead, and how to leverage cutting-edge technology for growth. With years of expertise in media and digital strat...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with James Rosebush, Founder and CEO of GrowthStrategy, to discuss "Ideas to Help Accelerate Your Business Growth in 2025." In this episode, Dave and James explore innovative strategies and actionable ideas to drive your business forward in the coming year. With his extensive experience and proven track record, James shares valuable insights on identifying growth...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Jennings Imel, Vice President, Western Region at U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to discuss "Business Advocacy from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2025." In this episode, Dave and Jennings dive into the critical role of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in advocating for businesses across the nation. Jennings shares key insights on the Chamber's 2025 priorities, strate...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Roger Lloyd, Director at SBDC at Rancho Santiago Community College District, to discuss "Everything Business Owners Need to Know About Digital Marketing and SEO." In this episode, Dave and Roger explore essential strategies for leveraging digital marketing and search engine optimization to drive business growth and success. With his extensive expertise, Roger...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Amin Khalifa, Chairman of SCORE Orange County, to discuss "How to Make Your 2025 Business Plan Matter." In this episode, Dave and Amin explore strategies to create impactful business plans that drive growth and success in the coming year. With his wealth of experience, Amin provides actionable insights and practical tips to help entrepreneurs and business lea...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with three industry experts—Keelin Conant, Senior Solutions Advisor at Alvaka; Sophia Ononye, Principal Consultant and CEO of The Sophia Consulting Firm; and Stephen Toland, Head of FBFK Austin Office Data Privacy and Security—to discuss "AI and Data Privacy." In this episode, the panel explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and data privacy, sharing...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Vivian Nguyen, a Business Consultant at OCIE SBDC, to discuss "Getting the Most Out of Social Media to Grow Your Business." In this episode, Vivian shares her insights on leveraging social media platforms to drive business growth. She explains actionable strategies to engage audiences, maximize reach, and create meaningful connections. Drawing on her extensiv...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Carrie Freitas, a 34-year PR and marketing veteran and founder of Kitchen Table Marketing, to discuss "The Power of Storytelling to Elevate Your Personal Brand." In this episode, Carrie shares her expertise on how storytelling can transform your brand and professional presence. Drawing from her experience with major clients like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Ford,...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Theresa Thomas, owner of Theresa Thomas Business Etiquette, to discuss "How to Elevate Your Brand with Business Etiquette." In this episode, Theresa shares her expertise on the importance of business etiquette and how it can help businesses enhance their brand and professional presence. Learn key strategies to improve communication, build relationships, and c...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Karla Gonzalez, Business Consultant at IE Small Business Development Center, and Jay Ungos, President and Founder of the Small Business Diversity Network (SBDN), to discuss "Growing Your Business Through Government Contracts." In this episode, Karla and Jay share their expertise on navigating the government contracting process and how it can help businesses e...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Michelle Thompson, Senior Director of the Executive Coaching and Consulting Program & External Relations at the Townsend Institute, Concordia University Irvine, to discuss "Conflict Resolution and Handling Difficult Conversations in the Business World." In this episode, Michelle shares her expertise on navigating challenging conversations and resolving co...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with Hillary Ahluwalia, Assistant to the City Manager at the City of Irvine, and Pete Carmichael, Assistant City Manager at the City of Irvine, to discuss 'Doing Business as a Contractor With the City of Irvine.' The episode covers how these city officials work with businesses and community members to create impact in Irvine. From partnerships to civic engagement,...

Join Dave Coffaro as he sits down with three influential leaders—Charles Antis of Antis Roofing and Waterproofing, Eric Goodman of Mountain View Services, Inc. and Chem-Pak, and Taryn Palumbo of Orange County Grantmakers—to explore 'The Business Leaders View on Philanthropy.' This engaging episode uncovers how these industry experts leverage their roles to drive meaningful change in their communit...

Dave Coffaro interviews Nada Lena Nasserdeen, founder and CEO of Rise Up For You, as they delve into "Leader Self-Assessment." Their lively conversation offers valuable insights on evaluating and improving your leadership skills. Whether you're a new or experienced leader, Dave and Nada share practical guidance to help you grow and thrive in Orange County's ever-evolving business environment. Don'...

Dave Coffaro sits down with Sylvia Pizarroso from the Orange County/Inland Empire SBDC Network to discuss "Small Business Development Center Resources." Their engaging conversation and expert insights provide a comprehensive overview of the valuable support available to small businesses. Whether you're a new or seasoned entrepreneur, you'll find practical advice on leveraging SBDC resources to suc...