Critical Mass Business Talk Show | Orange County’s Longest-Running Business Talk Show
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Ric Franzi hosts the Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Orange County’s longest-running business talk show. It explores topics of interest to SMB owners, entrepreneurs, and non-profit leaders in Southern California and beyond.
1578 Episodes
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Designers Resource Collection is a to-the-trade showroom that offers goods from over 250 lines, ranging from entry level to luxury, in every furnishing category. Pamela Kellogg is a passionate entrepreneur who has created an interior design showroom empire, developing Designers Resource Collection into the largest multi-line showroom on the West Coast.
For over 20 years, Pamela has been leading the charge with her vision to provide outstanding customer service along with an extraordinary selection of industry leading products and brands. In doing so, Pamela has built relationships with household names in furniture, design, and production, and has partnered with industry leading designers which has resulted in millions of dollars in annual revenue, along with a team of over 50 employees. Because of her success, she has expanded from her 45,000 square-foot flagship location in Costa Mesa, to San Diego — and in doing so, has been able to grow Designers Resource Collection’s reach even further.
Because Pamela’s high bar of excellence, DRC has been celebrated countless times. Some of these include, Dealer Of The Year award by TUUCI for the southwest region, Luxe Interiors and Design Magazine Groups' preferred partner, along with being a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year award by Orange County Business Journal, among many others. DRC is constantly being featured on television in the shows like Flip or Flop, Flipping 101, Christina on the Coast, and Rock the Block with Jasmine Roth.
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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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.
Ashwin (“Ash”) Rangan currently serves as CEO with DoubleCheck Solutions Inc., an award-winning Fintech. He is a nationally-recognized and -decorated business and technology leader, and an experienced independent director. Ash chooses to lead and serve on boards in Mission-driven organizations, which broadly and demonstrably deliver safety, affordability and access.
Ash “gets technology”. He skillfully guides group and boardroom discussions at the intersection of business strategies, applied information technologies, geopolitics and cybersecurity in simple language, accessible to his audience. Ash is an author, and a sought-after keynote speaker, especially in Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum computing, and Generative AI.
Ash brings two decades of experience from technology-led global Brands. Prior to DoubleCheck, he served as Chief Innovation & Information Officer with ICANN – the organization accountable for the security, stability, and resiliency of the global Internet. Before that, Ash served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) with Edwards Lifesciences, Bank of America online, Walmart.com, Conexant Systems, and Rockwell International. He served as Chief Product Officer with Marketshare (acquired by Neustar).
Currently, Ash serves on the boards of DoubleCheck, GrandPad, and the NACD Pacific Southwest. His prior board experience includes publicly-traded PiVX, an early leader in Cybersecurity (acquired by The Lotus Fund in 2005); Integrien (acquired by VMWare in 2010); and Marketshare (acquired by Neustar in 2015).
In 2023, following roughly 10 years of service, Ash termed out as the Non-Executive Chair from the board of the American Red Cross; and stepped down as an independent director from Smart Energy Water, both based in Orange County, 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 REF Orange County.
Saleel Awsare joined Lantronix in November of 2023 as President and CEO of the company. Mr. Awsare came to Lantronix from Synaptics Inc., a leading provider of semiconductor products worldwide, where he served as senior vice president and general manager of its Enterprise and Mobile Division, its largest division.
After joining Synaptics in 2017, Mr. Awsare was an integral part of Synaptics’s pivot from Mobile to the IoT and enterprise markets, a move that proved instrumental in driving its multi-fold increase in market valuation. Previously, he served in several senior roles including president of Conexant Systems, LLC, and president of Nuvoton Technology Corporation America.
Saleel holds a B.S. from Stevens Institute of Technology and an M.S. from Santa Clara University. He has five patents and has written for multiple publications. Mr. Awsare is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Stevens Institute of Technology since September 2017.
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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 REF Orange County.
Kartik Chandar, Founder of Avant-Garde Ventures, Inc., is an accomplished IT leader with over 25 years of experience architecting, developing, and delivering enterprise-level, business-focused solutions across multiple industries. With more than 15 years in IT management, he has led high-performing teams that align closely with organizational vision and strategy while fostering a culture of collaboration with the business.
Throughout his career, Kartik has managed the delivery of solutions that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of critical business processes. He has successfully delivered transformative technology initiatives for clients in the Finance, Manufacturing, Food Service, Health Care, Media & Entertainment, and Real Estate industries.
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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 REF Orange County.
Helen dos Santos is a dynamic innovator with a proven track record in business and technology. A former student athlete, two-time World Champion in darts, she successfully transitioned her competitive spirit into leadership roles across the automotive and real estate industry. With over two decades at Keller Williams Realty, Helen excelled as finance and operations, a regional leader, brokerage owner, consultant and advisor.
As the founder of Market Centric Leverage Systems, Helen now pioneers AI-driven solutions designed to bridge human potential and ethical, inclusive artificial intelligence. Innovating communication models and rewriting the future of business systems and technology.
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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 REF Orange County.
If you're looking for someone who blends the heart of a community advocate, the mind of a marketing strategist, and the soul of an 80s music lover—you’ve found her. Brandy Alvarado-Miranda isn’t just a name in the AV world—she’s a force of nature.
When she’s not courtside cheering on her kid’s basketball game (or the Lakers & Sparks), you’ll find her chasing waves at the beach, getting her hands dirty in the garden, or spoiling her adorable pug and corgi duo. A true SoCal spirit, she lives for tacos, margaritas, and the synth beats of Depeche Mode—preferably all at once.
Brandy dove into the AV industry in 2014 and never looked back. After gaining experience across engineering, manufacturing, and themed integration, she made the bold leap during the pandemic—launching BAM! Marketing & PR Agency in 2021. Since then, she’s helped dozens of Pro AV and Digital Signage brands find their voice and amplify it across the industry with strategic branding, impactful content, and fearless creativity. She’s dubbed her clients her #BAMily, and has created an ecosystem that not only connects them to work on projects together, but to team up to network.
But Brandy doesn’t stop at business. She’s a passionate advocate for women in tech, founding WAVIT in 2023—a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting women in AV/IT. From her leadership with the AVIXA Women’s Council to her mentorship and advisory roles, Brandy is determined to leave the AV industry better, stronger, and more inclusive than she found it.
With titles like Woman of the Year in AV, Pro AV Watch Lister, AV Living Legend, and DSE Advisory Board Member, her accolades are impressive—but her mission is simple: to empower others, create meaningful change, and rock out to some 80s jams while doing it.
Brandy Alvarado-Miranda: marketing superhero, AV trailblazer, taco connoisseur, and always tuned to WII-FM—What’s In It For the Mission.
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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 REF Orange County.
Athena Yap is a founder, CEO, and engineer with 26 years in aerospace engineering. She specializes in machine learning, iOS app development in the areas of voice and image recognition, augmented reality, backend cloud database management, technical operations, and manufacturing.
Athena has 15+ years as founder of a manufacturing, wholesale, and retail company, experienced in product development, marketing, wholesale contracts development and distribution, day-to-day operations, social media, and storefront marketing. Customers include TJX Corporation (HomeGoods, TJMaxx, Marshalls), Gelson's, Albertsons (Vons, Pavilions), Bristol Farms, and UPP Pet Supplies Distributor.
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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 REF Orange County.
Garrett Marshall brings over 22 years of expertise in driving growth within the wellness industry, with a proven track record across strategy and innovation, executive leadership, business development, strategic partnerships, and technological product development.
At a time when health awareness and digitization are at unprecedented levels, Garrett Marshall specializes in creating practical, high-value solutions that empower individuals to improve their well-being. By combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of market dynamics, Garrett transforms challenges into scalable opportunities that deliver measurable impact.
Garrett has played a pivotal role in the success of multiple ventures, contributing to two IPOs and earning six Inc. 1000 FGC Awards. Recognized as IHRSA’s Rising Star, Garrett consistently drives remarkable results, achieving $5M in ARR within 36 months in each of the last three SaaS startups.
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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 REF Orange County.
Pete Fowler is a construction consultant, professional cost estimator, President and Chief Quality Officer of Pete Fowler Construction Consultants. Pete received a B.S. in Construction Management from CSU, Chico. He has held certifications from AAMA, ASPE, ICBO, and others. Mr. Fowler has published articles in national magazines, has been invited to speak by the most important groups in the building industry, and has composed and delivered hundreds of educational programs on building inspection & testing, estimating, quality & construction management, project management, and claims & litigation. Pete has experience with successful expert witness testimony, including Federal Court.
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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 REF Orange County.
Dennis Harris is the founder and executive director of In-Flow Interventions, a mission-driven organization focused on truth-centered restoration and intentional personal growth. With nearly 30 years of experience in volunteer-based human services, Dennis brings together compassion, corporate leadership, and a strong commitment to helping others move forward with clarity and support.
His background spans ministry, counseling, education, administration, and organizational leadership—equipping him to lead with empathy and strategic insight. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Dennis has lived in California for over 20 years. He pursued academic studies at William Tyndale College and Maryville University in St. Louis, gaining insight that informs his work with individuals and communities alike.
At the heart of Dennis’s work is a commitment to truth, transformation, and service. He meets people where they are, offering direct, undistorted truth grounded in love—defined as looking out for someone’s best interest with no expectation of return. He believes that people matter, their truth matters, and that anyone willing to do the hard work can experience lasting change and embrace a new way of being.
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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 REF Orange County.
Ryan Yang is the founder and CEO of Tryangle Construction, Inc., a leading residential remodeling and renovation firm based in Southern California. With a commitment to quality craftsmanship and transparent communication, Ryan has grown Tryangle into a trusted construction partner for homeowners, realtors, and real estate investors. His leadership is grounded in a value-first philosophy—delivering thoughtful, design-driven renovations that maximize both lifestyle and property value.
Ryan doesn’t just build homes—he builds businesses, relationships, and meaningful impact. He is also the visionary behind BuildLogIQ, a soon to be launched alliance designed to help professionals in the built environment grow their businesses through structured collaboration, warm referrals, and high-trust relationships. He is also developing a counterpart, named TaskLogIQ, which is rethinking how back-office operations, powered by AI and expert support, can give builders and contractors the freedom to scale—without the overhead.
With a background that spans real estate investing, remodeling, and business development, Ryan brings a rare blend of strategic insight and hands-on experience to everything he builds. His work lives at the intersection of construction, community, and smart systems, and he’s driven by a single mission: to help good people build great things—together.
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and lives in Orange County, CA, with his wife and their sons.
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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 REF Orange County.
Applauded as a seasoned marketer who focuses on what matters for companies: their brand, strategy, growth, and ultimately ROI, Angelo Ponzi has been a valuable asset to various businesses on a global and national scale. Angelo's experience spans from start-ups to mature companies and their services and products in all stages of their lifecycle, from inception to implementation. He's worked with B2B, B2C, and DTC brands, from semiconductors, manufacturing, and SaaS solutions to apparel, retail, and food/beverage, including ice cream.
Angelo's senior-level experience in sales, marketing, branding, strategic planning, and market research is coupled with being a collaborative, detail-oriented, and holistic strategic thinker who puts his client's needs first and believes strongly in using market research to better understand the market dynamics in which a client competes. He thinks outside the box and creates whole new ways of thinking. An exceptional marketer and brand expert, he is dedicated, ethical, and devoted to delivering a successful outcome for every client.
Angelo's "superpower" in delivering success is his grasp of market research and using the insights it yields to develop successful strategies and plans. He is comprehensive in everything he does and has had years of management and on-the-ground experience in all aspects of marketing.
When not at work, Angelo enjoys hiking, golf, traveling, and many other activities with his wife and three grown children. He is also a musician and has played in bands since he was young. He even played with 80's rockers Eddie Money, Mike Reno of Loverboy, and Alex Ligertwood of Santana.
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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 REF Orange County.
Dr. Cynthia West is the Director of the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics, and Clinical Associate Professor at Chapman University.
After spending 30 years as a sales and marketing leader for tech startups, she returns to her roots in academia. As Director, in just one year, Dr. West has re-invigorated the Center by raising over $2.2 million dollars in external funding, launched 8 new programs for entrepreneurs, and secured a grant that opens the Center doors to any community entrepreneur. For these and other accomplishments, she won Mentor of the Year 2024 from Women in the Housing & Real Estate Ecosystem (NAWRB) and Partner of the Year 2024 from the Brea Chamber of Commerce.
During her tech startup years, Dr. West had two successful startup exits. TestDrive, a try before you buy software platform, was sold to R.R. Donnelley & Sons in just 14 months. She and her co-founders took Audio Highway, an audio on demand platform and MP3 player, public in just 3 years. She helped Project Insight, an Irvine-based project management solution, convert from a professional services company to a SaaS software company with recurring revenue. She led a turnaround team at PROS, an AI revenue management solution, to close the company’s biggest deal in its 30-year history, with Lenovo. Then, in the middle of the pandemic, as VP of Global Sales, she led the team that closed Fresco’s biggest customer in its 12-year history, completely via remote. When she was 12 years old she sold 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies, so that should have been her clue that she was destined for sales!
Dr. West is the author of Techno-Human Mesh: The Growing Power of Information Technologies, in 2001. This book predicted the social and political challenges in the tech industry 25 years ago.
Cynthia is a citizen of the world, having lived in Spain and France, and speaks Spanish and French conversationally. She has a partner and two children. She is a foodie and enjoys cycling and swimming to work it off!
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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 REF Orange County.
Brandon Hoover is a multiple presidents club-winning medical sales rep who worked in various sectors including orthopedics at Stryker and Oncology Diagnostics with Caris Life Sciences. He noticed there was a gap in the information provided to medical sales reps and decided to create a platform to help close more deals in a saturated and rapidly changing industry.
RepPrep.ai was created as a tool for Brandon to continuously surpass his quota, and worked so well that it grew into a commercial product, officially launched in January of this year.
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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 REF Orange County.
Dr. David Scieszka is the Founder and CEO of Vertical Longevity Pharma, a biotech startup developing cutting-edge therapeutics that target the root causes of age-related diseases. With a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, an MBA in Business Management, and a background as a U.S. Army PSYOP Specialist, Dr. Scieszka brings a unique blend of scientific expertise, strategic vision, and mission-driven leadership to the longevity space.
At Vertical Longevity Pharma, David is leading the development of a first-of-its-kind vaccine aimed at reversing the buildup of plaque in arteries, which is the underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes, and the leading cause of death worldwide. The company has already gained early traction with investors and formed academic partnerships to advance this breakthrough therapy toward human trials.
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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 REF Orange County.
Ray Smith is the President & CEO of Trycera Financial, Inc. Mr. Smith has spent over 25 years developing technologies and platforms in order to facilitate consumer credit profile reporting and business credit building. He is focused on a wide array of credit profiles, but specifically gravitated to thin or limited credit profile reporting.
During his tenures across a broad spectrum of companies, Mr. Smith raised millions of investment dollars for the purpose of funding working capital and research and development to complete proprietary software development in the reporting and credit services space along with acquiring strategic business relationships. He currently has been focusing on helping small business owners secure capital for launch, growth and scaling by using their EIN credit as well as securing institutional and private investments.
In addition, prior to his involvement in the credit reporting, credit building and technology space, Mr. Smith owned and operated a diversified financial services call-center which was responsible for processing credit card applications for a variety of banks specializing in turn down consumer conversions. The call-center generated up to $250 million in open to buy available credit and employed over sixty people.
As a leader in the alternative credit reporting markets and due in large part to his vast understanding of both the credit and reporting systems, Mr. Smith has emerged as a leader in the space. With his latest endeavors, Mr. Smith has put together a comprehensive financial credit awareness and funding coaching package to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs secure the capital they need to properly run their business.
Mr. Smith received a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Music from Dickinson State University located in Dickinson, ND.
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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 REF Orange County.
Salman Ghani is a seasoned technology leader with deep expertise in compliance, risk management, AI and digital transformation. With over a decade of experience ensuring that technology solutions meet stringent regulatory and privacy standards, he has successfully guided organizations through complex compliance landscapes.
As the founder of My Driver Book, Salman is now combining his compliance background with emerging technologies, most notably artificial intelligence, to create a secure, intelligent platform for the logistics industry. His vision is to build My Driver Book into an AI-driven solution that proactively monitors driver performance, automates safety checks, and ensures real-time regulatory compliance. By embedding AI at the core, he aims to offer not just a product, but a predictive, self-improving ecosystem that enhances accountability, safety, and operational efficiency across fleets.
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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 REF Orange County.
With over 30 years of experience in wealth management, Rhonda Ducote is a respected leader and expert in the financial advisor industry. As President and Principal of Apriem Advisors, she is known for crafting personalized financial strategies that focus on both outstanding results and exceptional customer service. Rhonda’s dedication to her clients goes beyond business, as she considers them an extended family, pouring her heart into ensuring their financial success.
Rhonda is also passionate about empowering women in finance. Through the creation of Women of Wisdom, she provides a platform for women to take control of their financial futures, helping to bridge the gender gap in financial literacy and boosting confidence in financial decision-making.
Rhonda’s husband, children, granddaughter and two pups are the driving forces for everything Rhonda does!
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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 REF Orange County.
Craig Cooke is a successful entrepreneur who had the foresight to start a “digital first” company utilizing the Internet long before “digital first,” “digital transformation,” and other buzzwords of today were created. With extremely limited resources of $1,300 and an Apple computer, he started RhythmNet.com. Over the years of struggle, adaptation, and repositioning the brand, “Rhythm“ was sold to a world-class digital creative agency in 2019. Craig stayed with the company for just over 3 years, completing a 26-year marathon of running the company as CEO. During his tenure at Rhythm®, Craig worked with middle market to large enterprise companies, such as American Honda Motors, Beats by Dr. Dre, ZO Skin Health, Irvine Company, The Travel Corporation, Segway, U.S. Bank, FivePoint, Online Trading Academy, Allergan, Abbott Labs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and many other B2C and B2B brands.
Craig has also participated as a speaker in many conferences and seminars, including “Connections” by ExactTarget, The “Res Conference” by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, The Integrated Marketing Forum, and numerous other events. He has also served on the boards of the California American Indian Chamber of Commerce as Vice-President and the American Advertising Federation as Interactive Chair.
Today, Craig shares his business wisdom, experience, and expertise in three key areas: executive leadership, brand development, and marketing communications. He continues his training in martial arts, continuously learning and evolving his skills. Also, he has studied and served as a practitioner of Chinese Medical Qigong since 2015, bringing energy healing to hundreds of people. He has a Doctorate Degree of Chinese Energetic Medicine from the Temple of Change and Transformation. Craig incorporates his skills, knowledge, and expertise in energetic practices into the world of business to provide a truly unique perspective and method in working with professionals across a wide variety of industries.
Outside of his consulting and qigong practice, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids, and two dogs in Southern California.
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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 REF Orange County.
Meghan Clem and Katie Webb Brundige are the creative forces behind Intertwined Inc., bringing decades of experience in hospitality, events, marketing, and design to the art of crafting luxury experiences. Their hospitality collection of brands offers wedding and event production services, social media marketing, and room block management. Known for their creativity, precision, and heart, they also lead RAD Camp, their nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through life- changing and inclusive experiences.
Meghan, a University of Southern California graduate with a degree in Public Relations, launched her career in event planning and public communications for the City of Anaheim, later expanding her talents into large-scale production, nonprofit consulting, and social media strategy.
Katie, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a focus in Event Management from San Diego State University, began her journey planning major events for Fortune 500 companies before building a reputation for bespoke event design and multi-day productions across the globe.
Together, they’ve woven social impact into the very fabric of their business model because they believe that luxury and generosity are not mutually exclusive.
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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 REF Orange County.
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