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

Jon Stark is CEO and Director of Peratech Holdco Limited, a tactile-sensing technology solutions company, providing next-generation human-machine interfaces with its proprietary Quantum Tunnelling Composite® materials and embedded force-touch software.

Prior to Peratech, Stark was VP of Printed Electronics at MFLEX (NASDAQ: MFLX), where he successfully led multiple new-technology commercialization efforts in miniaturizing power conditioning for high-speed communications, shrinking LIDAR systems to 20% of size and 5% of cost, and commercializing a touch-display module in commercial computing that won numerous awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). During his tenure at MFLEX, Stark also held executive-level positions in and Corporate Strategy and Marketing, when MFLEX was awarded Deloitte’s Fast 50 Technology companies three out of four years.

Before MFLEX, Stark held interim executive and consultative roles in strategy, change management, innovation, and communications in a variety of industries including software, portable technologies, mobile communications, banking and healthcare. His previous clients included InterActive Corp, JP Morgan Chase, Virgin Mobile USA, and Jamba Juice.

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Jon Stark joins host Ric Franzi to share his leadership journey and insights as the CEO of Peratech.

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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 #collectiveintelligence #southerncalifornia #peratech

Bruce Watanabe is the Founder & CEO of PowerBuy. PowerBuy is a one-stop Shopify app design to connect shoppers with all the best deals on necessary products and to provide merchants with free advertising. Using the power of social commerce and group buying, PowerBuy allows merchants to cut down on marketing spend by turning customers into micro-influencers.

A serial entrepreneur, Bruce has co-founded and exited a number of technology and Internet ventures including PowerBuy, MassGenie, SIRE Mobile (SMS Solutions), and SETA International (Global Systems Integrator & Solution Provider). With over 20+ years of leadership experience ranging from start-ups to Fortune 10 companies, Bruce is proficient in start-ups, M&A, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Sales, and Channel Development.

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Bruce Watanabe joins host Ric Franzi to discuss his entrepreneurial ventures and leadership insights as the CEO of PowerBuy.

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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 #collectiveintelligence #southerncalifornia #powerbuy

Nithin Jilla is a passionate educator, social entrepreneur and philanthropist who champions building models and systems of social change that are sustainable and empower the next generation. Nithin began with his first efforts in philanthropy with his high school class – establishing a project to help raise funds to renovate educational facilities and provide students with scholarships in Kenya, to enhance the quality of education, one student and one school at a time.

Nithin currently serves as the Executive Director of Dreams for Schools (DFS), an EdTech organization whose mission is to make STEAM approachable and empower students to become the critical thinkers, creative leaders and technologists of tomorrow. Nithin has also advised and helped run a few family foundations and their grant-making strategies over the years. He’s always thinking about how we can reinvent and take new approaches in philanthropy to be more equitable.

Nithin is also the Co-Founder of Excelsior Creative – a creative web development agency. In the community, Nithin serves on several Non-Profit and Advisory Boards of organizations which include Harbor Day School, Asian American Futures, Electric Potential, Donna Ford Attallah College of Educational Studies at Chapman University, and UC Irvine Alumni Association. He’s a lover of comedy, a closet chef, and enjoys brewing Kombucha. He cherishes being outdoors, spending time with friends, building and creating things. 

During the pandemic, Nithin co-authored a children’s book, R is for Rice, a rhyming alphabet book on Asian-American food with the goal to inspire current and future generations of Asian-Americans to feel pride in their unique American identity. Nithin holds a BS degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine.

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Nithin Jilla joins host Ric Franzi to discuss his various entrepreneurial ventures and the social impact behind his work. 

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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

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning #collectiveintelligence #southerncalifornia

Thuy Pham-Satrappe is the President and Founder of Lux Lucet Ventures Corporation, a real estate investing firm.  In June 2019, Thuy started investing out of state in Indiana the pockets of her time, and has since grown her rental real estate portfolio to over $2M with 26 properties.  

In February 2020, Thuy decided to quit her corporate job to spend more time with her 2 young children and pursue her passion and vision for real estate investing. Her vision is to create passive income for her family and her money partners, because she believes a rising tide raises all ships! 

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Thuy Pham-Satrappe joins host Ric Franzi to share her entrepreneurial journey, and leadership insights as the Founder of Lux Lucet Ventures Corporation.

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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

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning #collectiveintelligence #southerncalifornia

Lisa Nguyen is the Founder & CEO of Smart Bean Inc., a team of people with diverse entrepreneurial backgrounds that share one common goal: to revolutionize the relationship between small business entrepreneurs and their numbers through innovative and affordable products and services.

Over the last 20 years, Lisa Nguyen has worked for small businesses, invested in small businesses, and owned her own small business, and has tremendous respect and empathy for small business entrepreneurs as a result, as it takes intelligence, resilience, tremendous self-awareness and guts to start and build a viable business.

Lisa is realizing her dream with Smart Bean Inc., as her team develops products and services that will make intrepid entrepreneurs smile more, love more, and achieve more from life. SmartBean® uses technology to streamline the bookkeeping process, making it more efficient and therefore more affordable.

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Lisa Nguyen joins host Ric Franzi to discuss her entrepreneurial journey and insights as the founder & CEO of Smart Bean 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

#orangecountyca #mastermind #ceopeergroups #peergroups #peerlearning #collectiveintelligence #southerncalifornia

Pembe Candaner is the Co-Founder & President of JobzMall. JobzMall is the new way of finding jobs and exploring organizations, founded with the belief that humans are so much more than a resume, and companies are so much more than a job post. JobzMall Inc. strives to make the job finding process enjoyable, engaging and accessible to everyone.

Prior to her work at JobzMall Inc., Pembe Candaner served as the CEO of Adecco SA Turkey, General Manager of Lee Hecht Harrison, and CEO of Kariyer.net, the largest employment portal of Turkey. She is a member of TUSIAD (Turkish Industry and Business Association), the top business association of Turkey and Society for Human Resource Management. 

As a vocal activist of women rights, Candaner hosted her TV show at national ‘Artı Bir TV’ channel about Woman Leaders and Entrepreneurs. She has also lectured in Bogazici University (Bosphorus University) and UCI (University of California. Irvine) on Development of Woman Leaders, Talent Management, Protocol and Etiquette and Intercultural Relations. Additionally to her career in private sector, Pembe has authored 4 books, and was awarded as the Business Woman of the Year in 2003.

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Pembe Candaner joins host Ric Franzi to discuss her career path and leadership insights as the President of JobzMall.

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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

Rodney Brenneman is a seasoned veteran in the medical device space. He has been CEO, board member, advisor and consultant to many early-stage medical technology companies. He is a mechanical engineer by training, with over 30 years of experience in medical device development, mostly in early-stage start-up companies. His experience spans many specialties including vascular, general surgery, interventional cardiology, pulmonology, emergency medicine, ENT, GI, urology and orthopedics.

Rodney is currently the CEO of PhageTech and prior to that, founded and lead ROX Medical for 14 years, raising $90M in venture funding. Rodney counts innovative problem solving as one of his core talents and is a named inventor on over 130 patents. Rodney has worked closely with all aspects of medical device development including fundraising, board management, R&D, quality, manufacturing, finance, regulatory, clinical, and physician training. Rodney most enjoys the leadership of small efficient teams solving important medical device and procedure challenges.

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Rodney Brenneman joins host Ric Franzi to share his career journey and insights as CEO of PhageTech.

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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

Nicole Suydam has more than 20 years of management and leadership experience working with local and national nonprofits dedicated to meeting human service needs. She currently serves as president and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County, one of Orange County’s largest nonprofits by revenue.

Suydam leads Goodwill’s social enterprise operation that employs nearly 1,800, manages 24 local thrift stores and ShopGoodwill.com – the online e-commerce marketplace for Goodwills across the country – and serves more than 18,000 individuals annually through its innovative programs and services aimed at providing purpose through employment.

Suydam has received several accolades for her commitment to creating a better and brighter Orange County for all, including being named to the Orange County Business Journal’s “OC 50” list for 2020 and 2021 for her influence and impact in the community. She was also named one of just six 2019 Women of Coast by Coast Magazine and received the 2018 Women of the Year Award by the Orange County Business Journal. Suydam graduated from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa and lives in Aliso Viejo with her husband and two teenage daughters. 

In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Nicole Suydam joins host Ric Franzi for an update on Goodwill of Orange County's work in our community.

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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

Debora Wondercheck is the CEO of Arts & Learning Conservatory (ALC). An effective corporate leader with seventeen years of experience in strategy development, program management, and implementation, Debora focuses on culturally sensitive and inclusive afterschool artistic training and education for all children in k-12 schools, particularly those who are underresourced.

As the founder of the nationally acclaimed Arts & Learning Conservatory (ALC), Wondercheck has a proven track record in fundraising, public education, executive leadership, non-profit governance, community building, and program development. Her professional interests include arts education sustainability, board development, and equitable access to the arts. Her extensive expertise in music and education, combined with her ability to build strong partnerships across the public and private sectors has delivered powerful results throughout her career.

As the go-to for afterschool programs, Wondercheck’s relationships have created artistic experiences for over 40 schools throughout Southern California. She is particularly proud of her recent partnerships with the Orange County Department of Education and the YMCA of Orange County. In addition to her work at the Arts & Learning Conservatory, Wondercheck serves on the Board of Directors for Arts Orange County, The Cultural Committee for the City of Costa Mesa, Philharmonic Society, Copper Tree Management, Orange County Theater Guild, and the Waldorf School of Orange County DEI committee among others. She is committed to using her experience to broaden access to high-quality education by supporting innovation, reducing barriers to entry, and building strong communities.

Some of her accomplishments include 2021 National Association of Women in Business, Board Pathways Graduate, 2021 Fieldstone Executive Graduate, 2021 Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Nomination, 2019, California State University, Gianneschi Leadership Fellow. Wondercheck is an accomplished conductor and cellist and volunteers with the children’s ministry at the Rock Church of Anaheim. Debora, a product of Orange County, is married to Gary, they have three teenage children and reside in Garden Grove, CA.

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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

Rick Van Kirk is an executive who has worked in the Southern California region for 36 years in various manufacturing industries. Following his graduation from California State University, Fullerton in 1982 he has worked in the aerospace, computer, commercial electronics, diecasting, and medical device industries. During this time Van Kirk completed his MBA from Claremont Graduate School in 1991.

Currently, Rick serves as President and CEO of Pro-Dex Inc., a design and manufacturing company in the medical device industry. He joined Pro-Dex as Director of Manufacturing in 2006, and was subsequently promoted to Vice President of Operations and then Chief Operating Officer in April 2013 and then to CEO in January 2015. During his time as CEO Pro-Dex, he has led a successful turnaround of the company and positioned it for further growth.

Previously, Rick served as Manufacturing Manager and Manager of Product Development for the ChargeSource division of Comarco Wireless Technologies, a provider of power and charging functionality for popular electronic devices and wireless accessories, and as General Manager at Dynacast, a leader in precision diecasting.

Recently Rick joined the Board of Directors for the Southern California Special Olympics and is Chair of the Nominating and Governance committee. He has lived in Orange County, California since 1989.

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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.

Connect with Ric Franzi on LinkedIn HERE.

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

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gHKT2gmF