Critical Mass Business Talk Show | Orange County’s Longest-Running Business Talk Show

Reyhaneh ("Rey") Blackman is the co-founder and co-CEO of Product Pair, a product innovation studio based in Orange County. At Product Pair, she leads software design and engineering projects for dozens of startups and works with more recognized brands like the Superbowl, Udemy and UFC.

Rey is an experienced product manager and software engineer, as well as a serial entrepreneur who has founded two other tech startups. Earlier in her career, she was an investment banker, management consultant and journalist.

Rey has a Master's in Economics and Finance from Columbia University, and is currently earning a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Chris Boucher is recognized across the global hemp industry for his broad expertise in hemp, including farming, product development, consulting, education, advocacy, and legislation. 

Chris began growing hemp in the early 1990s in China, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. In 1991, he founded The Hempstead Company, one of the first hemp clothing and seed businesses to open in the US since the 1930s. The company sold products to more than 4,000 stores in 10 countries. Clients included The Beatles (for their Anthology Release), the Disney Stores, Converse Shoes, The Dave Mathews Band, Phish, Ziggy Marley, the Bob Marley Foundation, the Save the Earth Foundation, the Turner Foundation, and the Rainforest Action Network. 

In 1992, Chris co-founded The True Hemp Industry Association, now known as the Hemp Industries Association (HIA). In 1994, he became the first person in modern times permitted to legally grow a hemp crop in the US, at the USDA Research Center in Brawley, California. 

In 1997, Chris worked with the Navajo Nation in Arizona to help pass progressive hemp legislation for  Native American US reservations. From 1994-2017, he helped draft and promote legislation resulting in the first relaxation of agricultural hemp laws in America, implemented in California and Colorado. In 2012, he co-wrote Hemp CBD is Legal in All 50 States, a groundbreaking legal opinion challenging the legal status of Hemp-derived CBD, which vaulted the US CBD business into the billion-dollar industry it is today. In 2018, Chris established a large, sustainable hemp farm at the Imperial Valley Research Center in California to support his educational, commercial, and advocacy activities. 

Today, Chris is CEO and co-founder, along with his wife Jen Hutchinson, of Juicetiva Hemp CBDA Powder, which produces a breakthrough innovation for hemp foods, raw 100% hemp juice CBDA powder. He also serves as CEO of Farmtiva, inc. which breeds and sells CBD, CBG, fiber and grain seeds across USA. He also serves as a Director of the California Hemp Farmers Guild a non-profit dedicated to helping hemp farmers. 

Chris lives with his wife in Laguna Beach, California, and he donates his time to mentoring underserved youth in South Central Los Angeles. He travels the country speaking and consulting on behalf of the new American agricultural hemp industry.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Ralph Adamo is the President & CEO of Integrity Wealth Management, and the author of Integrity @ Work: Finding Your Financial True North.

There’s no shortage of financial advisors out there. So how do you pick one that’s right for you? It’s not always a simple answer. That’s one of the primary reasons why Ralph Adamo wrote the book, Integrity @ Work: Finding Your Financial True North, which serves as a roadmap to finding the right financial advisor and the right advisory firm. Integrity @ Work explains what it means to have comprehensive advice. 

Ralph has been in this space for more than 30 years – and this book mirrors his firm’s day‐to‐day values – the processes and value systems that he emphasizes and works hard to deliver every day.

Ralph Adamo is registered with and securities are offered through Kovack Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC, 6451 N. Federal Highway, Suite 1201, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. Tel: 954-782-4771. Investment Advisory services are offered through Kovack Advisors, Inc. Integrity Wealth Management is not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Robert Hunt is a speaker, executive coach, and co-author of Nobody Cares (Until You Do), a book on personal accountability that is transforming the lives of business leaders and helping them to live beyond the blame, excuses and doubts that hold them back.

Robert had a successful career in sales and marketing before finding his calling to help business leaders become the best versions of themselves. Today, Robert is a business owner who leads CEO peer groups and provides executive coaching and leadership development to leaders and their teams.

Robert is a frequent speaker on topics such as preventing overload, defining your personal purpose, how to build trust, creating a culture of accountability, and fine-tuning your business model. His passion is helping people remove the obstacles that keep them from being their best.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Sandeep Pandya is CEO of Everguard.ai, and is leading the way in the incorporation of wearables with computer vision, machine learning, and AI to make the world’s industrial environments safer and more sustainable.

Formed in 2020, Everguard.ai stemmed from Pandya’s belief that the world is experiencing a technological renaissance, and that the nexus of AI, digital connectivity, and information sharing will fundamentally reshape and improve the way people and their communities sustain each other.

Pandya is a technology veteran whose experience spans product introductions and innovations in semiconductors, connected devices, wireless infrastructure, cloud services, and novel AI/CV applications. His leadership has helped organizations of all sizes establish high-growth markets globally.

Sandeep is a recognized thought leader and member of the Forbes Technology Council.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Alec Torelli is a professional high-stakes poker player, entrepreneur, investor and speaker, who shares how the lessons he learned from poker can be applied to life and business.

Alec Torelli is the founder of Conscious Poker, a popular poker training platform, and after spending the last 20 years making decisions for hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single hand, he now gives talks in which he dissects the anatomy of decision-making to help others hone the way they make choices. Through his blogs, videos and keynotes, Alec tackles subjects such as the role of luck in life, evaluating risk, maintaining a positive mindset, strengthening mental fortitude, handling adversity and setbacks, managing your bankroll and cultivating self-awareness.

In addition to competing at poker, Alec is an established poker coach, investor, and author. He co-founded MHP Lifestyle, a company which buys, rehabs and operates mobile home parks.

Together with his wife Ambra, they divide their time between SoCal, Vegas, New York, and Italy.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Erin Shaver is the Founder & CEO of Taralumen Games, a company with a mission to create iconic video games with a mental health focus.

Erin has ten years of leadership and production experience from her tenure as Director of Operations for IndieCade, the International Festival of Independent Games. She has a bachelor's degree in theater from Northwestern University, has studied psychology and neuroscience at Columbia University and University College of London, and has worked in research labs within the departments of psychology at NYU and Columbia University.

Erin is also a proud mother and devout artist.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Cleve Adams is Founder of the Trestles Group, Inc. His specialty is building and selling tech companies and has had 8 M&A Exits. Cleve has been fortunate enough to be named one of the Top 50 Non-Technical Founders In Tech Industry History, and to be Co-Founder and CEO of the #2 Company in Forbes's Most Promising Companies in America. He is also featured in the new Bestselling books "Cyberminds" and "Right Leaders, Right Time."

Cleve is a 5-time award-winning VC/PE-backed Transactional CEO managing companies from pre-revenue to over $2 billion and has been hired by VC/PE firms to build and sell their portfolio companies. Cleve's average return to investors is 21x. He helped start, build and manage the largest company in the SaaS/Cloud cybersecurity software market from pre-revenue to a $1.0B IPO, the largest in San Diego county history and the first Cybersecurity Unicorn. 

Cleve has over 20+ years of senior management, operations, sales and marketing experience in Security software, AI, Mobile, Wireless, SaaS/Cloud, Mobile security, digital and social media and Fintech. He has built a successful sales and marketing channel of 1100 resellers and distributors in 82 countries. Cleve has expertise in raising capital and has raised over $300M from tier-one VC’s for multiple companies.

Cleve led the team that started security titan Websense and grew them from pre-revenue to a $1 Billion IPO in less than 3 years. The company was subsequently sold to Raytheon for $2 billion. Cleve has been honored to serve as a software industry expert and speaker at numerous conferences, universities and corporations including the Harvard Alumni Assoc, Amazon, Investor Conferences, Cyber Security and Smart City Conferences. He has been quoted in top business publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and many more.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Max Emma came to the United States from the former Soviet Union with his family over 30 years ago. His first job was busing the tables at a local restaurant while learning English. Then, after graduating with honors with a degree in finance, Max worked in the corporate finance department of Qualcomm. 

Four years later, Max joined the family construction business, growing it from 3 to 96 employees. Years later, together with his co-founder Max came back to his roots and founded BooXkeeping, a company providing bookkeeping solutions nationwide to the franchisees of over 80 franchise brands. 

With the hashtag #coolbeancounters, BooXkeeping now is offering its own bookkeeping franchises to entrepreneurs from coast to coast. In his free time, Max likes to travel, spend time with his kids and friends or enjoy an occasional cigar with a single malt. 

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning

Steven Vengrow is the founder of Synergy Resource Group, a boutique executive search firm based in Southern California.  He specializes in helping senior business leaders find, attract and retain the Top 5% Talent for their mission-critical positions!

Steven has 15 years of talent acquisition and executive search experience. Over this time, he has developed an extensive network of clients and candidates. His company, Synergy Resource Group provides their clients with customized solutions to meet their talent acquisition needs in the areas of Information Technology, Accounting, and Finance. The company has provided top-level talent to clients both locally and nationally at companies ranging in size from start-ups to Fortune 500.

Prior to working in the Executive Search industry, Steven spent almost 10 years working in corporate finance and investment banking.  He holds an MBA from The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, and an undergraduate degree from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.

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Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews...

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF

LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g2PzRhjQ

Podbean: https://lnkd.in/eWpNVRi

Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gRd_863w

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gruexU6m

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning