Orange County Power Players

In this episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Cori Ferrentino, a seasoned criminal defense attorney and professor at UCI and USC. With over 30 years of experience, Cori shares her journey from wanting to become a prosecutor to realizing that criminal defense was her true calling.
She takes us inside the world of criminal law, from handling wrongful convictions to navigating the complexities of mental health cases. Cori also shares eye-opening stories about defending clients, the emotional toll of high-stakes trials, and how she balances teaching with practicing law.
Key Takeaways:
How Cori went from wanting to be a prosecutor to becoming a defense attorney
The challenges of defending clients, even when the truth isn’t clear
Stories of wrongful convictions and the fight for justice
The importance of mental health awareness in the legal system
Advice for students interested in a career in law
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

On this episode of Orange County Power Players, host Danny Flores sits down with Keegan Bell, a Certified Fund-Raising Executive and Executive President of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Keegan shares his journey into philanthropy, the challenges of fundraising, and how education foundations like IPSF play a crucial role in supporting public schools.
Keegan discusses the misconceptions around school funding, the importance of nonprofit sustainability, and how individuals can get involved—whether as volunteers, donors, or career professionals in the nonprofit sector. He also shares insights on navigating economic shifts in fundraising and what the future holds for philanthropy in 2025.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Keegan transitioned from advertising to nonprofit leadership
The biggest myths about public school funding in California
Why diversifying funding sources is key for nonprofit success
How economic trends impact fundraising efforts
Ways to get involved in the nonprofit sector, either as a career or volunteer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

In this episode of Orange County Power Players Podcast with Danny Flores, we dive deep with John Szeder, who shares his journey from a childhood passion for gaming to designing acclaimed indie games and consulting for Fortune 500 companies like Samsung and Clorox. John discusses the secrets behind staying competitive in the rapidly evolving game industry, emphasizing the importance of recognizing patterns and leveraging emerging technologies like AI and AR.
John gives valuable advice for aspiring game developers, including why "build something" should be their guiding principle and how new tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing the way games are made. He also shares insights on how businesses should approach shifts in consumer behavior, drawing parallels to historic industry changes such as the transition from Blockbuster to Netflix.
Listeners will learn:
How pattern recognition is key to success in tech and gaming.
The impact and potential of generative AI.
Why understanding your specific audience is crucial for product success.
Tips for young people interested in entering the game development field.
John's predictions about future tech developments, including the end of smartphones as we know them.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

Technology is constantly evolving, and businesses that fail to innovate risk falling behind. In this episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Andy Lin, CEO of Provoke Solutions and co-founder of Nova AI. With nearly 30 years of experience in technology and management consulting, Andy has helped Fortune 1000 companies leverage cutting-edge solutions to stay ahead of the curve.
In this insightful conversation, Andy breaks down how AI is revolutionizing industries, why businesses must embrace technology to differentiate themselves, and how generative AI is transforming productivity. He also shares his own career journey—from a 10-year-old coder to a CEO—and the pivotal moments that led him to shift from engineering to leadership.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How Fortune 1000 companies are using AI to drive innovation✅ Why AI has been around for decades but is now more accessible than ever✅ Practical ways for anyone to start learning and leveraging AI today✅ The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone to grow professionally✅ Andy’s take on passive income, work-life balance, and setting up for long-term success
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

What does it take to transform an organization into a self-managed, high-performing team? In this episode of Orange County Power Players, host Danny Flores sits down with Tullio Siragusa, an experienced Fractional COO and advocate for self-management principles in business.
Tullio shares his incredible journey—from growing up in Switzerland and immigrating to the U.S. to becoming a C-suite executive and mentor dedicated to human-centric leadership. He breaks down how leaders can shift from traditional top-down control to collaborative leadership, creating radically transparent, innovative, and people-driven organizations.
Tune in to learn:✔️ The power of self-managed teams and how they drive business success✔️ Why empathy and collaboration are the future of leadership✔️ How to transition from a W-2 job to becoming a Fractional COO✔️ The key principles of self-management that empower teams✔️ The mindset shifts business owners must make to step back and scale up
Tullio also teases his upcoming book on emotional intelligence for children and shares insights on building long-term passive income.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

On this episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with John Ortiz, a financial strategist and licensed life insurance agent who’s changing the way people think about financial security. John specializes in helping families and small business owners build wealth through strategic life insurance planning—without taking unnecessary risks.
John shares his unique approach to life insurance, explaining why he considers himself in the "people business" rather than just the insurance business. He reveals how the right strategies can help people pay off their mortgage in half the time, reduce tax burdens, and create financial security for generations.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The difference between "good debt" and "bad debt"
How to use life insurance as a tool for financial growth
The power of strategy stacking and why most insurance agents don’t do it
Why wealthy families use life insurance differently than the average person
How John helps clients build wealth using their existing budgets
John also shares his thoughts on passive income, real estate, and why so many people ask him, "Is this even legal?"
Tune in to learn how life insurance could be the financial game-changer you’ve been missing!
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

In this episode of Orange County Power Players, host Danny Flores sits down with Lauren Brychell, an expert in capital raising and investor relations. With over $55 million raised for real estate ventures, Lauren has mastered the art of building investor trust and creating solid infrastructure for successful capital raising.
Lauren shares her strategies for raising capital, the importance of building relationships with investors, and how transparency can set you apart in a competitive market. She also discusses the different investor types, from high-net-worth individuals to family offices, and how businesses can position themselves to attract the right funding.
🔹 The key to standing out in capital raising🔹 How to structure investor relations for long-term success🔹 The challenges of securing leads and how to overcome them🔹 Why building trust with investors is the foundation of a successful raise
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

In this episode of Orange County Power Players, Danny Flores sits down with Cara Tas, a highly experienced interior designer who specializes in maximizing ROI for real estate developers. With over 10 years in the industry, Cara knows how to balance luxury, functionality, and budget-conscious decisions to help developers get the most out of their investments.
From boutique hotels and creative office spaces to multifamily residences and student housing, Cara shares her strategic approach to designing spaces that not only look incredible but also increase property value. She explains how she brings high-end design concepts down to budget-friendly solutions while keeping the wow factor intact.
Tune in as we discuss:✔️ How Cara approaches design with the developer's ROI in mind✔️ The importance of value engineering in interior design✔️ The role of space planning in maximizing functionality✔️ How she balances quality and cost-effectiveness✔️ The future of hospitality and commercial design trends
Cara also shares her personal journey in the industry, the challenges of running a business, and her future plans—including potential ownership stakes in real estate projects.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

In this episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Mike Sigal, a seasoned sales leader in the employee benefits industry. With over 20 years of experience, Mike has worked with large national carriers, regional players, and startups, building relationships with over 2,000 brokers across California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Mike shares how employee benefits can be life-changing, why health insurance is an investment, and the importance of strong relationships in sales. He also dives into old-school sales techniques that still work today and how personal connections drive business success.
Key Topics:
Why employee benefits are essential, even if they seem expensive
The cost of not having insurance – and how it can impact your future
How Mike built a thriving career in insurance sales through relationships and trust
The power of making calls, following up, and building rapport with brokers
Challenges in the industry, including rising healthcare costs and the shift to digital interactions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Ready to Share Your Story? Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest

In this episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Stephen Durham, CEO and founder of Bardot Vegan Beauty. With over 20 years in the beauty industry, Stephen shares his incredible journey—from running salons in London to launching international beauty brands in the U.S., Canada, and beyond.
Stephen discusses how he scaled his businesses from local salons to major retailers like Walgreens and why clean, vegan beauty is the future. He also reveals the secrets behind his unique distribution strategy, how he leverages hairstylists as key brand ambassadors, and what makes Bardot Vegan Beauty stand out in an ultra-competitive market.
What you'll learn in this episode:✔️ The journey from salon ownership to building a global beauty brand✔️ How to position a product in a competitive industry✔️ The role of hairstylists in product marketing and distribution✔️ Why defining your audience is crucial for success✔️ Stephen’s approach to business growth, passive income, and entrepreneurship
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Be Our Next Guest! Interested in sharing your success story with a wide audience of local leaders and influencers? "Orange County Power Players" is looking for guests like you—successful, insightful, and ready to tell the world how you've made your mark. Here’s why you should consider joining host Danny Flores on our next episode: Click below to fill out a short questionnaire and book your interview time. We can’t wait to spotlight your journey! https://ocpowerplayers.com/guest