Orange County Power Players
Orange County Power Players is the go-to podcast for uncovering the personal, professional, and financial success stories of Orange County’s most influential leaders. Hosted by Danny Flores, this show dives deep into the journeys of business owners, professionals, and C-suite executives who are shaping the future of OC. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, actionable advice, or a glimpse into the lives of those at the top, Orange County Power Players delivers powerful insights in every episode. Tune in to learn from the best and discover what it takes to succeed in the competitive landscape of Southern California.
Episodes

47 minutes ago
47 minutes ago
In this episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores welcomes Kelly Oberle, founder of Access Human Potential, to explore how mindset, resilience, and emotional intelligence drive performance in both athletics and corporate life.
Kelly shares how her journey as a Division I softball player and corporate leader shaped her understanding of stress, burnout, and balance. She explains why focusing on the process instead of the outcome leads to more consistent success, and how breathwork and mindfulness help individuals perform at their best — whether in the boardroom or on the field.
Together, Danny and Kelly dive into lessons from top athletes like Kobe Bryant and Michael Phelps, unpacking what truly separates those who reach their potential from those who stop short. Kelly also discusses the power of consistent habits, small changes, and self-awareness in creating lasting growth.
Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies for building confidence, reducing performance anxiety, and showing up as their best selves in every area 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

6 days ago
6 days ago
Patty has spent more than four decades serving the Orange County community in healthcare and education. She explains how Alzheimer’s Orange County—serving the community for 45 years—offers free education, support, and advocacy for families affected by dementia. Patty also shares practical ways to lower your risk for cognitive decline, including diet, exercise, mental stimulation, and social connection.
Listeners will hear Patty’s inspiring journey from a career in pharmaceuticals and hospice care to becoming a leader in dementia education. She highlights the importance of early diagnosis, new treatment hope, and how the organization’s resources make care more accessible for every family in need.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

7 days ago
7 days ago
Host Danny Flores sits down with Mike Kron, who has spent over 30 years operating a family office that has quietly grown into a powerhouse in Texas and Arizona multifamily real estate. Mike shares his journey from real estate attorney to family office operator, explaining how consistent reinvestment and strategic 1031 exchanges built lasting wealth without outside capital.
Mike also discusses:
How his family office scaled from 2,500 to 14,000 units.
Why reinvesting cash flow can lead to exponential portfolio growth.
Lessons from developing over 3,000 units across the Sunbelt.
The launch of his Guardian Net Lease Fund, a $100 million raise focused on stable, credit-tenant retail assets.
How he navigates property taxes in Texas and Arizona.
Why timing the market rarely works—and how being “counter-cyclical” created opportunity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
"Surf Therapy - Sport for Youth Development Advocate" with Sean Swentek
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
In this inspiring conversation, Danny sits down with Sean Swentek — a seasoned marketing executive, nonprofit leader, and surf therapy advocate — to explore how sport can be a powerful tool for youth development, healing, and hope.
Sean shares his journey from corporate marketing at Omnidian to co-founding A Walk on Water, a nonprofit that brings surf therapy to children with special needs. He talks about the life-changing impact these programs have not only on kids, but on their families — and even shares the emotional story of a nonverbal child who spoke his first words after catching a wave.
Sean also dives into his passion for renewable energy, what it means to build intentional life balance, and how saying “no” to distractions has helped him say “yes” to building legacy-impact work that changes lives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Thursday Oct 09, 2025
"The Power of Faith Based Higher Education" with Steve Jin
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
In this inspiring episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast with Danny Flores, we sit down with Steve Jin, higher education professional and passionate advocate for faith-based learning. Steve shares his personal journey as an immigrant from South Korea and how higher education shaped the course of his life. From overcoming challenges in his youth to becoming a leader in enrollment management, Steve brings a powerful perspective on why education is more than academics—it’s about wisdom, gratitude, and becoming better human beings.
We dive into:
Steve’s story of transformation through UCLA and graduate studies at a faith-based university.
The role of gratitude and daily practices to improve mental health and perspective.
How Concordia University Irvine integrates faith, values, and wisdom into education.
The balance between traditional higher education, trade schools, and self-taught success stories.
The future of higher education and why “right-sizing” may actually bring colleges back to their true 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

Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
"Intellectual Property Law" with William Levin
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
In this episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast with Danny Flores, we sit down with William Levin, a leading intellectual property attorney and partner at Omnis Law. With more than 20 years of experience, William has represented Fortune 100 companies and small businesses alike across industries such as entertainment, healthcare, technology, and consumer goods.
William shares what intellectual property law really means, from patents and trademarks to copyrights, trade dress, and unfair competition. He takes us inside his high-stakes courtroom battles—including a landmark $143 million trademark verdict—and explains why creativity, strategy, and integrity are crucial to winning cases.
You’ll hear “war stories” from the courtroom, practical advice for entrepreneurs on avoiding costly legal disputes, and insights into how AI and digital media are changing the landscape of intellectual property.
If you’ve ever wondered how to protect your business, your ideas, or your brand, this conversation is packed with real-world takeaways you won’t want to miss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
In this episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Daniel Paik, a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in finance and operations. Daniel shares how he helps companies turn their back-office teams from “cost centers” into powerful drivers of growth.
From his background as a CPA and former CFO to building systems that create visibility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making, Daniel explains why most finance and operations teams miss out on strategy—and how his platform changes that.
You’ll hear how companies have reduced burnout, cut unnecessary hires, improved profitability, and boosted growth simply by reallocating time and resources more effectively. Daniel also explains why standardizing how teams work not only saves money but also reduces stress and creates room for innovation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Monday Oct 06, 2025
Monday Oct 06, 2025
This episode features a dynamic conversation with Chan Lee, Sales Manager at Asuene USA, and Ichiro Tanigaki, U.S. Country Manager for Asuene, a global sustainability SaaS company headquartered in Japan. Chan and Ichiro break down how Asuene empowers businesses to meet growing environmental regulations while simultaneously improving operational and financial outcomes.
The trio explores the evolution of SaaS platforms in sustainability, the rise of carbon accounting, and the critical role of AI in accelerating compliance and ROI. They also discuss the global footprint of Asuene and the importance of adapting to local environmental regulations, whether in California or the EU.
You’ll hear how mid-market companies are being challenged to keep up with the compliance demands of larger corporations and why strategic acquisitions and customer success are core to Asuene’s explosive growth.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Friday Sep 19, 2025
"From Special Forces to Mortgage Loan Originator" with James McLanahan
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
In this powerful episode, host Danny Flores sits down with James McLanahan, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, now thriving as a mortgage loan originator at Expert Home Loans in Southern California.
James shares his remarkable 17-year journey in the military—from enlisting right after 9/11, to mastering Mandarin Chinese, to training and leading elite teams across the globe. Hear how the leadership, discipline, and adaptability forged in combat now guide his civilian career.
The conversation touches on:
Why James joined the military after 9/11
His journey into the elite Special Forces
Learning Mandarin in a high-pressure language program
How teaching through fun and entertainment leads to better learning
Navigating the mortgage industry and transitioning into a new career
His volunteer work as Vice President of the Special Forces Association Chapter 78
Tips for staying sharp, staying humble, and pushing through obstacles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Thursday Sep 18, 2025
"Leading Multidisciplinary Spatial Storytelling" with Mel McGowan
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
In this conversation, Mel traces his path from early days at Walt Disney Imagineering to founding and leading Storyland Studios. He explains how multidisciplinary teams—architecture, landscape, show set, graphics, tech, and more—come together like an orchestra to deliver immersive experiences at every scale, from freeway gateways to Star Wars–level attractions. Mel also opens up about launching boutique studios, building partnerships, cultivating next-gen talent through the Themed Entertainment Association, and bringing theme-park caliber design into “real life” places like hospitals, hotels, churches, and mixed-use districts—right here in Orange County and across the globe.
What You’ll Learn
How “spatial storytelling” connects film thinking with urban planning and architecture
The behind-the-scenes of Anaheim’s resort district transformation
Why world-class experiences require 100+ disciplines working in sync
Practical advice for students and career-changers: become “master of one,” then scale
Where themed entertainment is headed: from gated parks to everyday live-work-play
Mel’s current work from the Red Sea to local OC projects—and what’s next
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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