Critical Mass Radio Show

Jeremiah White, President of White & Associates is host Ric Franzi's first guest.  Ric and Jeremiah talk about Jeremiah's firm which is a strategic management consulting firm. Richard Kahn, CEO of eZanga.com joins Ric as the second guest.  They explore the latest trends and strategies in internet marketing.  Mr. Kahn is a recognized leader in the internet marketing field.

Tom Gephart, Founder of Ventana Capital is Ric's featured guest and they discuss Tom's firm which has been in the venture market since 1984.  Ventana is one of the first venture capital firms in the Southern California region.  Helping their portfolio companies think strategically and globally has become a hallmark of Ventana's culture.  Tom discusses his firm's culture and track record.

Jim Riley, CEO of Intersect Beverage talks with host Ric Franzi about how his firm has successfully launched a new tequila and have been able to take it national within 18 months.

Doug interviews Donna Thiessen, Vice President Human Resources Allergan.  Donna and Doug talk about the challenges in high tech industry recruiting.  Doug also looks at how the coaching client prepares for their coaching session on this week's installment.

Joe Yesulitis, CEO Aavalar Consulting is host Ric Franzi's first guest.  Joe's firm is a premier consulting and staffing firm founded by an industry expert who understands the needs of the clients. Joe talks about how at Aavalar Consulting they believe that honesty and integrity are more important than just making money. Ryan Clark, Founder and CEO PeopleShare is Ric's second guest.  Ryan discusses how technology  has changed his business, how he interacts with both clients as well as work resources.

Ray Williams, President of Jade Range talks with host Ric Franzi about the strategies and tactics he is using to re-build his commercial cooking brand.  Also Ray shares how Jade uses "celebrity chefs" to help his brand achieve market differentiation.

Tom Van Dorpe, Senior Principal, VCA Engineers talks with host Ric Franzi about key practices his firm uses, which Ric considers to be "best practices", for to employee performance and retention.   Listen how Tom has adopted these activities as a direct result of the input he received from his CEO peer group.

Host Doug Gfeller talks with Tom Weber of Sunrise Growers about some of the unique HR issues Tom faces on a regular basis.  How would you like to go from 40 employees to 300 with just 48 hours notice, on a regular basis?  Listen to Tom for his answer.  Doug also continues the discussion of coaching from the client's perspective.

Mitch Wienick, CEO of Kelleher and Assoicates, LLC is host Ric Franzi's first guest.  His firm is an executive coaching and leadership training firm.  Among other things, they help executives find new positions (executive search) and they help them transition into new positions. Carlos Casas, President of RockTeam talks about his firm which enables people with technology.  Since 1993 RockTeam has been delivering professional services, software and hardware solutions.

Vivian Clecak, Founder and Executive Director of Human Options joins host Ric Franzi to discuss her ogranization's mission of serving battered women, their families and help our community break the cycle of violence.  Vivian discusses Serious Fun 2011 Event  to be held on Friday May 6th, at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.  Human Options is celebrating it's 30th year in service to the community.

Doug's guest is Patricia Welch, Human Resource Director for MagnaFlow.  She and Doug discuss the challenges of managing multiple locations.  Doug also continues his discussion of coaching from the client's perspective.

Ms. Emmy Miller, President of Liberty Business Strategies, Ltd. is host Ric Franzi's first guest.  Her firm is a business strategy/consulting company.  They do corporate coaching but they are thought of as a team-building catalyst. Ned Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of Portico Systems talks with Ric about his firm which provides innovative solutions to enable health plans to reduce administrative, medical and IT costs. Simon Hauger, Executive Director of EVXT Team shares his unique educational automotive team-comprised of West Philadephia inner-city hight school students-which has won the Automotive X Prize numerous times.  They have consistently beat out several university teams including MIT.

Bob Walters, CEO of Freight Management  joins host Ric Franzi and they discuss FMI and it's business model.  FMI is not carrier-owend.  FMI is a part of a continuing trend amog companies who want to reduce cost and simplify management of their inbound and outbound freight.  Rather than maintain a limited logistics deparment, these companies have incorporated FMI and their programs as part of their daily operations.

Vic Hausmaninger, Partner at HBLA talks with host Ric Franzi about the proposed changes to lease accountancy rules that business owners and CEOs need to know.  Ric asks Vic to share his thoughts about being a contributing author in the new book "The Power of CEO Guiding Principles" released Tuesday March 29th. Linda Strand, Owner of Independent Energy Solutions discusses her family owned and operated firm specializing in the installation of renewable energy systems.  IES is a full service engineering and construction firm with over 40 years of combined experience in photovoltaics and support infrastructure.

Host Doug Gfeller talks about the client's expectations when they hire a business coach.  Coaches often talk about designing the alliance but what are the reasonable expectations that every client has for coaching?  Doug shares with you questions that he believes every client and coach should be addressing both at the start of the coaching assignement and on a periodic basis.

Brad Elmhorst, President of Direct Hit Data, Inc. is host Ric Franzi's first guest.  Brad provides insight regarding customer retention strategies that assist in creating an emotional link to your brand. DHD provides sercured end-customer database management and outsourced business services.  "Ensuring the right people have access to the right information at the right time." Rick Thaler, President of OGB Architectural Millwork joins Ric to talk about his experience over the last year changing his business model.  He had to downsize but also he re-organized his firm.  Rick bought another business and is a member of an industry-specific peer group and he talks about how that has helped him deal with the changes his firm has undergone.

Orange County Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship Nominees who are also Critical Mass for Business members join host Ric Franzi for this fast-paced set of interviews.  These successful entrepreneurs share what it means to them to be a nominee for the prestigious award.

Bob Singh and Ken Ogden, Founders of Radius Power talk with host Ric Franzi about their engineering-oriented firm which provides an extensive line of EMI Filters that meet the front-end requirements for AC and DC power applications.  Their firm is a global designer and manufacturer serving a variety of industries.  A part of the interview is spent discussing their diversification efforts and how it is transforming their firm. Lisa Johnson, Owner of LBJ Flooring discusses her family owned and operated firm specializing in quality flooring and installation for residential and commercial projects throughout Souther California.  Ric talks with Lisa about the secrets to her business success running one of Southern California's prestigious flooring company's for over seven years.

Host Doug Gfeller, MCC continues the discussion on coaching and training and how they support each other. Doug also discusses the book "The Communication Catalyst" by Mickey Connolly and Richard Rianoshek, probable the best book Doug has read on the subject of communication.

Tomoko Kase, Vice President of Kinesio Taping joins host Ric Franzi and they explore how her firm develops and markets specialized tape for trainers and athletes.  They are beginning further international expansion.  Her fater, who is the from Tokyo, was trained in Chicago started Kinesio Taping. Tricia Wellenbach, President of Sandcastle Strategy Group is Ric's second guest and she talks about her firm which works with top level executives to develop strategic planning initiatives.  They also couple their services with executive coaching. Carole Borden, CEO of CB Transportation is Ric's final guest and they discuss Carole's firm which is completely virtual!  Her "headquarters" are in her suburban Philadelphia home.  Her team is scattered between Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, South Carolina and a few other locations.