Meg Treat, APR is a public relations agency leader, running industry professional, entrepreneur, and educator. She is the owner and CEO of Treat Public Relations, the endurance event industry's premier public relations and strategic communications partner. Her award-winning firm represents some of the largest endurance sports events in the United States.

Meg founded Treat PR in 2016, looking to unite her passion for her profession with her passion for endurance sports. Meg is an avid endurance athlete whose running resume includes seven 26.2-mile marathons and a 31-mile ultra marathon.

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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.

Since founding Powerhouse+Co. in 2015, Kristin has advanced its standing as one of Orange County’s premier agencies by highlighting innovation, thought leadership and entrepreneurism. She has continued to reimagine the firm’s approach to PR, influencer and social media programs to tell powerful client stories. Last year, Kristin redefined what it means for Powerhouse+Co. to be sought for its industry expertise, recognizing the agency could accelerate client growth by leveraging generalist PR knowhow and wide-ranging communications proficiencies to engage with new clients in unique sectors, including technology. This shift yielded the most diverse client roster in company history, plus impressive revenue growth.

Beyond growing the agency, Kristin has fostered a transformative culture defined by creativity, development and achievement. In many ways, she has molded Powerhouse in her own likeness. It’s an upbeat, innovative, high-energy workplace where team meetings yield productivity and laughs, unique personalities are always welcome, and collaboration is ubiquitous. With Kristin at the helm, Powerhouse+Co. is a dynamic organization that’s greater and more impactful than the sum of its individual parts.

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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.

Alison Lehmann Edwards is the CEO of the nonprofit organization Groundswell, she has been involved with the organization since 1998, serving as the director for the BRIDGES Safe and Respectful Schools Program, then Deputy Director of the organization before becoming CEO in 2018. Ali has degrees in Ethnic Studies, American Studies and Cultural Studies.

Groundswell is the organization that tracked and reported hate activity for the County of Orange and produced their annual hate activity report for 30+ years. The non-profit now focuses its work on bringing diverse people together to co-create belonging in OC classrooms, courtrooms, board rooms living rooms and beyond.

In her downtime, Ali enjoys playing soccer, going camping and getting into good trouble with her partner Chris and children Ellie and Sam.

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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.

Sohail Sadeghi is the founder and principal of Atlantis Tax Group & Financial Services, a firm revolutionizing the tax industry by providing strategic tax planning services that go beyond traditional preparation. With over a decade of experience in both the public and private sectors, Sohail is committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals through proactive and innovative tax strategies.

Sohail's career began as a tax preparer at Liberty Tax, followed by a role at Squar Milner, Orange County’s largest public accounting firm at the time, where he worked as a Tax & Audit Associate. There, he gained invaluable expertise in public accounting, auditing, and financial compliance. Transitioning to the private sector, Sohail held high roles in finance at various private firms. His work focused on corporate accounting, tax optimization, and financial analysis, helping corporations streamline operations and achieve tax efficiency.

In 2023, he founded Atlantis Tax Group & Financial Services to deliver personalized and comprehensive tax and financial solutions for individuals and businesses. Sohail has extensive experience advising clients in diverse industries, including real estate, construction, and financial services. He specializes in tax strategies, entity structuring, and leveraging accounting tools like QuickBooks and Oracle NetSuite to drive operational efficiency.

A strong advocate for proactive tax planning, Sohail’s advisory services include guiding clients on tax-efficient investments such as cost segregation studies, bonus depreciation, and payroll structuring for W-2 employees or 1099 contractors.

His focus extends beyond tax preparation, as he helps clients navigate complex financial scenarios like 401(k) withdrawals, retirement planning, and entity structuring to align with long-term goals.

Sohail earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Cal Poly Pomona and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is currently an Enrolled Agent and admitted to practice before the IRS, and he is also pursuing his CPA certification to further solidify his professional credentials.

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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.

Jasmina (Jass) Brooks is President, Electrophysiology, Johnson & Johnson MedTech (formerly Biosense Webster, Inc.), a global leader in the science, diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.

Jass is a seasoned leader with more than 25 years of experience in the cardiovascular field, primarily focused on electrophysiology. She has accountability for setting the J&J MedTech Electrophysiology end-to-end global strategy as a leader in cardiac ablation, advancing its innovation agenda, and driving execution to position the organization for continued growth.

Previously, Jass was Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, Biosense Webster, Inc. In this role, she worked with cross-functional and international teams to set the strategy and shape the company product pipeline to drive growth, market share, and profitability.

Having joined Biosense Webster in 2014, Jass held positions of increasing scope and responsibility in the Global Strategic Marketing Organization. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Jass spent 15 years at GE Healthcare, where she held various roles in commercial marketing, global strategic marketing, product development and engineering in the US and EMEA. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.

Jass has dedicated her career to championing excellence in patient outcomes and solving unmet medical needs. She is a collaborative leader with a deep knowledge of the electrophysiology space, a track record of successfully driving growth and market leadership, as well as a deep commitment to developing talent and fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity.

In 2023, Jass was named as one of LA Times’ Healthcare Visionaries. In 2024, she was honored as one of Orange County Business Journal’s Women in STEM and was also celebrated as one of the publications 2024 “OC 500,” an annual Directory of Influence that honors the most impactful leaders, innovators, and changemakers in the OC business 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 REF Orange County.

Joshua Dominic is the Co-Founder & CEO of Dreamstar Lines, the premier overnight sleeper train service in North America. Joshua co-founded Dreamstar after experiencing the significant shortfalls in today’s travel and realizing other countries had a working solution, but one needing further development for the American market. By developing a luxury rail service that solves many of those issues, Dreamstar Lines was born.

Joshua is responsible for the company’s overall vision and direction, based on 13 years of experience in startups, finance, strategy and logistics. Prior to creating Dreamstar, Joshua served in the United States Air Force Reserves specializing in logistics and mobility before going on to graduate with a degree in Economics from Columbia University.

After a brief financial career focused on corporate strategy and acquisitions, Joshua transitioned to start-ups focused on business development for Darktrace and Cloudkitchens. Lastly, he was a partner and co-founder in Falcon Funds, a search fund focused on finding, acquiring and operating businesses in the lower-middle market.

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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.

Bita Safari is the founder and CEO of GIGO Clean Technology. GIGO Clean Technology provides a platform for an application that works like Uber for the cleaning industry. Starting from a small office in Santa Ana, California, the company plans to provide services nationwide by 2028.

Bita Safari is an effective leader with an extensive project management background. Under her vision and leadership, GIGO Clean is revolutionizing the cleaning industry. Born in Iran, living under a socially unjust system, experiencing war and revolutions, and witnessing many traumas, she experienced additional challenges when she emigrated to the United States.

As she acclimated to United States business norms, her personal life and career have been a roller coaster taking her up and down many challenging and complex paths. But she does not give up. “I am like the city of Venice, built out of desperation and survived unimaginable circumstances," says Bita. "We are both strong as ever, even with an uncertain future."

While Bita is a dedicated business leader, founder, and President of successful commercial cleaning company Simply Crystal Clean, she is also a devoted wife and a loving mother. She loves to spend time with her family and friends.

Additionally, Bita truly believes in giving back to society. “As we all have responsibilities toward ourselves and our family, we all have responsibilities toward the society that we live in and the environment,” Bita says. Safari has volunteered for an organization, Moms Against Poverty, that has been awarded the prestigious Jefferson Award and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for the past 15 years. Despite her busy life schedule, she has never passed on her duties as a volunteer helping others.

A chemical engineer, Bita's skill in management and leadership have been learned through hard work in top level management positions over the past twenty years at busy operations. These experiences have shaped her into a strong leader who knows how to overcome obstacles and challenges of business. She is a visionary entrepreneur, a hard worker, and a very disciplined individual. At the same time, she takes her role as a mother very seriously. Nothing is more important than her daughter to her. Residing in Southern California with her husband, daughter, and her German shepherd, she has a beautiful and happy family.

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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. 

Bryan Crain is the President of Orange County Rescue Mission, Bryan’s entrepreneurial career began 28 years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Southern California. He co-founded what became the largest independent radio show prep company in the nation, serving over 2,000 radio morning shows with daily written and audio content. After selling the company in 2014, Bryan was hired as the Chief Operating Officer at Orange County Rescue Mission.

In his role as COO, Bryan led the development of diverse programs and facilities such as Tustin Veterans Outpost, Restoration Roasters, Double R Ranch, and emergency housing for human trafficking survivors. He was promoted to CEO in 2023.

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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. 

Jennifer Strong is the founder of Cognitive Diagnostic Associates (CDA), the largest special education company in the United States. An accomplished School Psychologist with specialized expertise in School Neuropsychological Assessment.

Boasting an illustrious background in the field, Jennifer has embraced the role of Board Member and Region 9 (IX) Representative for Orange County within the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP). Furthermore, she actively mentors aspiring School Psychologists through the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) mentorship program. She has pursued advanced post-graduate training in school neuropsychology, garnering the Diplomate distinction from the American Board of School Neuropsychology.

Raised in the diverse landscape of Alaska, Jennifer’s unique perspective is enriched by her upbringing alongside her father, Dr. Larry Reynolds, a distinguished Physician in the state of Alaska who earned legislative recognition for his remarkable contributions.

Her extensive experience in educational settings includes her recent leadership involvement in shaping policies and procedures for Special Circumstances Instructional Assistance (SCIA) at her previous district. She possesses a profound passion for Special Education Case Law and adeptly provides clients with expert guidance concerning their children’s Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Jennifer has exceptional expertise in ADHD/ADD, behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injuries, 504 plans, manifestation determinations, as well as comprehensive assessments of memory, attention, and learning.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Jennifer finds joy in skiing, gardening, and culinary exploration. A devoted mother and former athlete, she actively contributes to philanthropic initiatives, including her engagement with the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, membership/involvement with the 11-99 Foundation, and developing “Cans 2 the Curb” with her sons—a meaningful endeavor dedicated to giving back to the Special Education Department of their local school. Jennifer also participates in the Boy Scouts of America’s Wreaths for Veterans program with her sons. Furthermore, as the Chair/Head of the Scholarship Program for School Psychology in Graduate Schools, Jennifer is deeply committed to empowering and supporting aspiring school psychologists in their educational endeavors, through a focus on health, wellness, and balance.

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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. 

Jay Rogers is an investment professional and entrepreneur with almost three decades in the financial services industry. His career began with such firms as Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Bear Stearns and later transitioned to working full time with family offices and creating diverse investment portfolios. Alpha Strategies was established in 2009 by a group of highly experienced investment professionals with a shared belief that qualified investors are still underserved in their access to deep domain expertise in alternative investments generating consistently high levels of “pure” alpha. It has since grown into a diversified financial services company with specialties in alternative investment consulting and management.

Jay has been a trusted advisor to multiple family offices and is instrumental in syndicating private investment opportunities among family offices and institutional investors nationwide. These opportunities include real estate, private debt & equity, and venture capital.

Jay also acts as advisor to Native American Tribal Nations for economic development and investment opportunities. An advocate for tribal independence he has provided financial solutions to several tribes and is the founder of the Native Made Foundation, championing the purchase of goods and services originating on Native American Reservations.

Jay is also a frequent speaker at industry events on family office and alternative investment issues. He has appeared on CNN’s Your Money and is frequently quoted and interviewed for financial publications including the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News and NPR. He has presented to audiences at IMN, Opal Financial, IvyPlus, World Research Congress, Marcus Evans, Institutional Investor, and other investment conferences around the country. Jay is a guest lecturer at USC Marshall School of Business and provides expert witness services including testimony for litigation involving securities and investment industry matters.

Jay holds a BS from Northeastern University, is a graduate of the USMC Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA and has completed graduate courses at UCLA and the Wharton School of Business at UPENN. He held multiple securities licenses and was a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Orange County (CFAOC). Currently residing in Ladera Ranch with his wife and children, he is active in his local community as President of the Board of Directors for Ladera Ranch Community Services (LARCS), a community services organization. Mr. Rogers is also on the boards of Family Office Association, Altriarch Capital Partners, and several private companies.

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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. 

Chris Skaling is the visionary founder and CEO of NAITIVE, an innovative AI Consulting Agency that is transforming the consulting landscape. With over 15 years of experience in AI integration and cloud transformations, Chris is at the forefront of pioneering AI-driven solutions that redefine how businesses operate.

At NAITIVE, Chris leads a team dedicated to offering a fresh, personalized approach to consulting. One notable achievement includes developing an AI Agent team for a real estate firm. This groundbreaking solution autonomously scans specialized data to identify target clients, generates personalized marketing material, and translates complex data queries into real-time insights—all through natural language processing. Such innovations empower clients to make informed decisions with unprecedented speed and precision, exemplifying NAITIVE's commitment to transforming industries.

Chris's journey from architecting data solutions for global tech giants to founding NAITIVE reflects his passion for challenging the status quo and delivering exceptional value. Under his leadership, NAITIVE aims to be the only partner businesses need to integrate and leverage artificial intelligence, ensuring they stay ahead in the new era of AI.

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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.