Orange County Power Players

In this episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast with Danny Flores, we sit down with Chris Simonsen, CEO of Orangewood Foundation, a powerful nonprofit in Orange County dedicated to helping teens and young adults—especially those who’ve experienced the foster care system or homelessness.
Chris shares his personal journey from a high-level finance executive at AAA to leading one of the region’s most respected nonprofit organizations. He opens up about the career pivot that brought him deeper fulfillment and how servant leadership shapes his approach today.
We also dive into the incredible programs Orangewood offers—from transitional housing and life-skills development to mental health support—and how these services are changing the lives of young people navigating enormous challenges.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 insightful episode, Danny Flores sits down with Greg Hulsizer, a former CEO, public servant, and infrastructure leader who has reinvented life after retirement. With over four decades of executive leadership experience, Greg reflects on the highs and challenges of his career, how he helps others define and achieve their own versions of success, and why "retirement" doesn't mean slowing down.
Greg shares personal stories about leadership, career pivots, the importance of vision and intentionality, and his ongoing projects—including writing children’s books and leading a nonprofit to support ocean safety. Through deep insights and warm storytelling, Greg reminds us that meaningful growth can happen at any stage of life.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Michael Hernandez, a seasoned sales and marketing professional and newly published author of Marketing vs. Sales vs. Marketing. Michael shares how his passion for bridging the gap between sales and marketing inspired him to write a book that cuts through the noise of trendy marketing tactics to focus on what truly matters—the foundation.
From his early guest lectures at Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State to compiling presentation notes that became a full-fledged book, Michael breaks down the fundamentals of brand life cycles, market segmentation, SWOT analysis, and adapting to modern trends like AI and organic marketing.
This episode is a must-listen for aspiring marketers, sales professionals, and students seeking a solid starting point in the world of marketing.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 powerful and insightful episode, Danny Flores welcomes Dr. Maher Sonbol, the founder and CEO of Uplifting Rays Family Counseling. With a rich background spanning corporate leadership and clinical therapy, Dr. Sonbol shares his unique journey of leaving a successful business career to follow his passion in mental health and organizational psychology.
He unpacks how meaningful change begins with a personal "why," referencing Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and shares real-life relationship insights that apply at home and in the workplace. Dr. Sonbol offers golden advice on marriage, communication, self-care, parenting, and how couples can avoid the “empty nest” trap by prioritizing each other—before and after kids.
Listeners will walk away with practical tools and deep inspiration for improving relationships, navigating transitions, and living with purpose.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

n this episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores chats with Rebecca Gonzalez, founder of Orange Marketing — a top-tier HubSpot digital agency based in Orange County. Rebecca dives into how her agency helps B2B startups, SMBs, and nonprofits streamline their marketing and sales using HubSpot’s all-in-one platform.
Rebecca shares her journey in building Orange Marketing into a Diamond HubSpot partner, what sets them apart from other agencies, and how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape. She also unpacks the evolving role of remote teams, fractional marketing solutions, and what the next year holds for Orange Marketing.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Asad Ali, a seasoned SAP expert with more than two decades of hands-on experience in enterprise software, project management, and digital transformation.
Asad unpacks the evolution of his career—from writing 400-page code printouts to leading SAP BRIM implementations for companies in media, automotive, and tech. He breaks down complex SAP systems like subscription order management and convergent charging in ways anyone can understand. Asad also shares how he transitioned through career phases based on life events, emphasizing the importance of balance between personal and professional goals.
You'll also hear stories of technology evolution from floppy disks to AI, and how he uses tools like ChatGPT to stay ahead of the curve. Plus, Asad shares a personal mission to prepare his daughters for real-world problem-solving—Google-free!
Whether you're in tech, business, or just enjoy stories of professional growth, this episode is packed with valuable insights.
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 insightful episode, Danny Flores sits down with tech leader and entrepreneur Rene Cortes to explore how AI is transforming the way small and medium-sized businesses operate. With over 15 years at HP and now founder of GoPivot AI, Rene shares practical ways business owners can cut costs, increase reviews, and save time through automation.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How Rene uses AI at HP to enhance employee experiences
The shift from cloud-based to local AI on devices
Why most small businesses are missing out on powerful, low-cost automations
How AI can answer calls, schedule appointments, and boost online reviews
Case study: How Carmen's Coffee increased 5-star reviews and foot traffic
The future of AI for SMBs—and how to stay ahead of it
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 compelling episode, Danny Flores sits down with Heather Sharfi, PhD—CEO and founder of EVE and a passionate leader in integrative women’s health. With a background in cancer biochemistry, Heather brings together modern science and holistic practices to help women reconnect with their bodies, restore hormonal balance, and live fuller, more aligned lives.
They discuss practical tips for balancing hormones, the importance of melatonin, how to decode your bloodwork, and why certain foods (yes, even strawberries) should always be organic. Heather also shares how stress, poor sleep, and even the wrong supplements can throw your body off track.
From food quality and nervous system regulation to red light before bed, Heather offers real-world tools that women can start using today—without needing to change everything overnight. Plus, hear more about her upcoming book Know Herself: The Bridge Between Old Wisdom and New Science.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 happens when a seasoned intellectual property attorney follows her passion into the world of plant-based pet food? On this episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast with Danny Flores, we sit down with Lisbeth Merrill, a longtime attorney and now co-founder of Virtuous Vittles, a new company launching a revolutionary product—100% plant-based, human-grade dog food.
Lisbeth shares how her career working with international tech startups and patent litigation prepared her for this leap into entrepreneurship. She opens up about the challenges of launching a consumer product, from finding a manufacturer with reasonable minimums to navigating complex supply chains and sustainable packaging.
We also get into the science behind plant-based diets for pets and why Virtuous Vittles is breaking new ground with its unique meat-alternative "chunks and gravy" formulation for dogs. Hear about the research, the partnerships, and the mission behind the brand’s November launch—and why it's not just good for pets, but for the planet too.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 lead high-performing sales teams and deliver impactful communication in today's business world? In this episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Tod Novak, founder and CEO of the Novak Group, to unpack 25+ years of experience in sales, leadership, and professional speaking.
From managing sales teams across industries to elevating communication as a competitive advantage, Tod shares how his hands-on coaching approach drives serious results—like growing sales by up to $100 million for clients. He dives into his philosophy on leadership, the “20-60-20” rule in sales management, and why focusing on top performers leads to faster growth.
You’ll also hear insights on public speaking, learned fears, the importance of feedback, and how Tod scaled back from constant travel to build a sustainable business model with real-time impact.
Whether you're a CEO, sales leader, or aspiring speaker, this conversation is packed with tactical advice and inspiration for scaling with purpose.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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