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

Bonni Pomush is the Chief Executive Officer of Working Wardrobes. With much joy, Bonni is committed to putting her strengths to work by being of service to the community.

Bonni developed a great love and respect for research and data-based decision-making while earning her master’s degree in Family Resources and Human Development. Bonni brings over 25 years of leadership experience in government and non-profit agencies. Her research- and strengths-based leadership approach has resulted in the national accreditation of centers, turning around budgets from shortfalls to surpluses, and retaining high-quality employees by creating and implementing performance-based pay systems. In partnership with board members and volunteers, Bonni has secured over $6 million in capital campaign funds and $1 million from events and annual giving.

Originally from the East Valley suburbs of Phoenix, AZ, Bonni administered programs for 15 years in government agencies (the Kyrene School District, Arizona State University, and the City of Chandler). After making the move to Orange County, CA in 2009, she joined the nonprofit world at Temple Beth El of South Orange County: The Samueli Center for Progressive Judaism. Following Founder and 31-year CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Jerri Rosen’s retirement, Bonni became Working Wardrobes’ second-ever CEO in January 2022 and has focused her leadership on modernizing and preparing Working Wardrobes to scale. Since her arrival, she has been nominated for several awards (LA Times 2023 & 2024 Orange County Inspirational Women, OC Business Journal’s Women in Business 2023) and was touted by the OC Register as one of Orange County’s Most Influential People in 2023.

Bonni revels in creating and implementing strategic plans and sustainable systems, working with boards to accomplish a mission, developing and leading high-performing teams, engaging diverse stakeholders, and producing measurable results. When she’s not hard at work, Bonni can be found paddle-boarding, walking, playing mah-jongg, hitting balls on the tennis court, traveling, or enjoying quality time with family and friends.

--

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 REF Orange County.

As a Soul Stylist & CEO of Style Awakenings, Amanda is the go-to expert in the fashion world helping CEOs, entrepreneurs, celebrities, TV show hosts and career professionals dress for and create their next level. Her approach reveals your inner essence of certainty, self-love, prosperity, and magnetism which is then recreated through style, with the end result being your authentic style expression to attract the success and lifestyle you want.

Amanda Weil created “Style Awakenings” to help her clients find their inner authenticity and project it through their own unique style to create harmony, balance and a powerful connection between their inner being and exterior style. Her soulful styling process empowers her clients to access confidence and love for themselves, creating new passion, success and prosperity in their lives.

Prior to becoming a stylist, Amanda spent 14 years in Corporate America in marketing and advertising. She began her career in advertising agencies planning traditional and digital media placement for movie releases for Sony Pictures as well as game and console launches for Sony PlayStation. She then shifted to the publisher side working as a senior executive for Yahoo!, Tremor Video and Sony Television managing clients such as Activision, Paramount and Honda/Acura.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Jeff Goldenhersh is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of FindYourCrew, Inc. Jeff has deep experience in technology companies, building and managing teams, negotiation and capital allocation.

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis in 2011, he moved to China, where he became proficient in Mandarin. He returned to the United States to attend Stanford Law School, where he graduated with a J.D. in 2016.

In 2021, following a legal career with a focus on private equity work that started at global powerhouse Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, he moved to San Francisco to join PingPong Payments, a profitable fintech unicorn that did +$100M in annual revenue.

At PingPong, Jeff became the general counsel of PingPong’s international business and served as a member of the global senior management team across the United States and Europe. He built and managed an 11-lawyer legal department operating on 3 continents covering over 100 countries, and helped build and supervise teams across the human resources and business development functions in the United States and Europe, where PingPong had more than 60 employees. Jeff left PingPong in early 2024 to start Crew.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Jessica Hubbard serves as the CEO of Casa Youth Shelter, a nonprofit located in Los Alamitos, California that serves children experiencing abuse, homelessness, sex trafficking, and/or suicidal ideation.

Jessica has been working with youth for over 20 years and uses her own personal experience with abuse and neglect to let kids know they have the power to shape their own brighter futures. She has a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and a Juris Doctor Degree with an emphasis in criminal law.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Breene Murphy is the president of Carbon Collective Investing, a climate focused investment advisor. They create sustainable investment portfolios for individuals and employer retirement plans.

To support portfolios, Carbon Collective Investing has launched two investment funds on the Nasdaq Exchange in New York, a climate solutions equity ETF with the ticker CCSO and a short duration green bond fund with the ticker CCSB. They also launched ClimateSmart target date fund series.

Breene has been on the advisory board for USC's Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Catalina Island. Breene lives in Laguna Beach with his wife and two sons. He surfs regularly, including in Laguna's Annual Brook Street contest, and he loves great books!

--

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 REF Orange County.

Chris Fitkin helps businesses build, grow, and monetize their technology. With 20 years of engineering leadership experience, he has honed his expertise in developing innovative solutions and leading successful teams. Throughout his career, Chris has served as head of engineering and CTO for VC-backed startups and enterprise scale engineering organizations, playing key roles in driving technological advancements and business growth.

As a founding partner at MetaCTO, Chris focuses on mobile app development and fractional CTO services, helping non-technical business owners introduce technologies, including AI capabilities and proprietary tech, into their companies. MetaCTO provides seasoned technical expertise and strategic guidance, allowing startups to scale their technical capabilities up and down as needed. Chris and his co-founder, Garrett Fritz, have supported companies in raising over $50 million, achieving multiple 8 and 9-figure exits, and launching over 100 market-ready products.

Outside of work, Chris is an ultramarathon runner, participating in the Catalina 50 mile footrace around the island every year. He also has three young kids and coaches youth soccer. He’s pretty busy 😂

Chris is dedicated to providing practical technology solutions and strategic guidance to help clients achieve their business goals. His passion for empowering startups and transforming ideas into scalable, market-ready products drives his commitment to excellence at MetaCTO.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Bradley Ketchel is the founder and CEO of Ketchel Axle Systems, a leader in the development of advanced electric axles for commercial and industrial vehicles. With a background in powertrain development and over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, Bradley has been instrumental in pioneering sustainable transportation solutions. His dedication to innovation has led to the creation of the eRhino and eBadger electric axles, setting new standards in performance and efficiency. Bradley's visionary leadership continues to drive Ketchel Axle Systems towards a greener and more efficient future in mobility.

When not spending time with his wife Melissa and their 5 children, Brad enjoys weightlifting, snowboarding, watersports, woodworking and most anything that poses a challenge.

Bradley holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Western Michigan University, MS in Engineering Management from Penn State University, and holds 15 design patents in powertrain design.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Ena Hull is a TIGER 21 Chair for Newport Beach and an accomplished CEO/COO Executive, investor, and entrepreneur renowned for her leadership in highly regulated sectors such as private equity backed For-Profit Vocational Education, Higher Ed Technology, and Healthcare Workforce Development.

With a career spanning over three decades, she excels in driving operational excellence and enhancing customer experiences through streamlined processes and leveraged technology. Most recently, she secured the coveted role of becoming a TIGER 21 Chair for Newport Beach where she curates a confidential space for ultra-high-net-worth individuals to share insights and navigate complex business and personal challenges associated with wealth creation.

She also serves as an Executive Advisor to private equity firms and private investors whose portfolio companies focus on healthcare workforce development and education technology and she is also the Chair of the Higher Education Consumer Finance Council, leveraging her expertise in student finance, nursing education, M&A and higher education technology.

Ena's extensive board experience includes tenures with Legacy Education Inc. and Unitek Learning, where she played integral roles in strategic growth and successful exits. Recognized as an Exceptional Women Awardee with the Exceptional Women Alliance Foundation and has been keynote speaker at various industry conferences discussing her thoughts on career education where she advocates for innovative pathways like micro-credentials and apprenticeships for career success.

Her journey from financial aid administration to CEO/COO roles underscores her commitment to innovation and excellence in every facet of her career.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Sandy and Steven Lieberman, co-founders of the Artemis Defense Institute, combined their distinct passions and expertise to create a unique training institution. After their eldest child went to college in 2011, Sandy transitioned from her academic coaching business to focus on educating people in new ways. Meanwhile, Steven, dissatisfied with his corporate counsel role, sought to merge his lifelong passion for guns and hunting with his professional skills.

They discovered a video-based simulation training system used by law enforcement and saw potential for civilian training. After a compelling demonstration in Arizona, they set up an introductory system at home, which received enthusiastic feedback from friends. This led to the establishment of their first training facility just three months later, equipped with advanced training systems.

Steven's role in the Army JAG Corps and his private law practice specializing in use-of-force defense complemented the institute's mission. Together, they have built Artemis into a renowned training center known for its exceptional curriculum and commitment to legal compliance. Their dedication to education and firearm safety has attracted nationwide attention, fostering a close-knit community where clients feel like family.

Sandy is the founder and CEO of Artemis Group Inc., while Steven serving as “counselor at arms” for the Artemis Defense Institute, oversees legal requirements and curriculum development. Both are also founding members of Orion Training Systems, ensuring that legal principles are integrated into their innovative virtual reality-based simulators.

--

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 REF Orange County.

Kristen Brunzell, owner of Mavericks Insurance Agency, is a local Southern California Female Minority Business Owner. Her agency provides individual and group supplemental insurance products, as well as partners with other like-minded small business owners.

With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry and a certification in life, accident, and health insurance from the California Department of Insurance, Kristen also strongly supports DEI and believes it’s not just a box to check.

Kristen Brunzell’s passion lies in sharing her insights and guiding others to achieve their career goals and reach the next level of success. Kristen has the privilege of mentoring and coaching talented and motivated individuals committed to making the world of supplemental insurance easy to understand. Kristen specializes in new business development and employee benefits, leveraging strong social networking skills and relationships with brokers and clients. Additionally, she is dedicated to creating a work environment that fosters work-life balance, advancement opportunities, recognition, and financial security for her team and herself.

In Kristen’s free time, she spends as much time as she can with her niece and nephews: twins Liam and Eila, age 7, and Beau, age 2. They are the light of her life and what motivates Kristen to get up and do her part to make the world a better place.

--

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 REF Orange County.