Orange County Power Players

From his early days practicing law in Orange County to launching game-changing ventures like Rich Uncles and now Alture Funds, Harold Hofer has been at the forefront of real estate investment innovation. In this conversation, Harold explains how the JOBS Act opened the doors to new capital-raising opportunities, the rise of non-traded REITs, and how platforms like Alture Funds make it possible for everyday investors to get involved in high-quality real estate and private credit opportunities.
Listeners will gain valuable insight into:
How Harold helped pioneer digital real estate investing with Rich Uncles
The impact of Blackstone and other institutional players moving into the retail investor space
The opportunities and risks of alternative investments
What’s next in real estate, and why now may be the time to get in
Whether you're a seasoned investor or just curious about passive income through real estate, Harold breaks it all down in a way that’s engaging and easy to understand.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 inspiring episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Traci Nervo, the visionary founder and CEO of Patient Flow Communications. Based in Tustin and serving dental practices nationwide, Traci's team provides call center services that do more than answer phones—they build patient relationships that lead to life-changing dental care.
Traci shares how her extensive background as a surgical tech and operations leader in the dental industry led her to start her own business. She reveals the profound impact of full arch tooth replacement, how trained agents help patients overcome fear and stigma, and why first impressions over the phone can make or break a dental practice’s success.
You'll hear how Traci made the leap from corporate to entrepreneur, what drives her team’s empathetic approach, and her plans for expanding impact across the country.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Danny Flores interviews powerhouse real estate CEO Michele Harrington. From her humble beginnings in the Marine Corps to leading California's largest privately held real estate firm, Michele shares her journey of grit, resilience, and bold entrepreneurship. She opens up about the discipline forged in the military, the ups and downs of building multiple companies, and how she now helps others launch successful careers in real estate.
Michele also introduces her mission-driven venture, Thin Blue Wine—a winery dedicated to first responders. With passion and purpose, she’s building both real estate leaders and community impact.
Whether you’re an agent looking to grow your business, a veteran considering entrepreneurship, or someone curious about how one leader is transforming an industry, this episode will leave you inspired.
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 episode, Danny Flores chats with KJ Banuk, a dynamic leader in biotech and precision medicine. KJ breaks down how the science of proteins, peptides, and biomarkers is changing how we treat cancer, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases. She explains the key difference between traditional treatments like chemotherapy and new targeted therapies that minimize side effects by working with your body's biology.
But it doesn’t stop there. KJ also dives into the power of lifestyle choices and how over 50% of your health outcomes come from how you live, not just your DNA. From muscle building and hormone therapy to peptides and grounding, she shares actionable insights that can help anyone take control of their health journey.
Plus, KJ opens up about her personal health experiments, her mother’s inspiring comeback from hospice, and how she’s transitioning from corporate biotech into investing and owning multifamily real estate.
In This Episode:
What precision medicine really means—and how it works
Why your DNA doesn’t define your health destiny
The importance of muscle in managing glucose and avoiding metabolic disease
What peptides, hormones, and grounding can do for your long-term wellness
KJ’s venture into real estate investing and her mission to escape corporate taxes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 of the Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores welcomes Hernan Ricuarte, owner of Ricaurte Precision Inc. (RPI), who shares his fascinating journey from an international career in healthcare to taking over and expanding his family's aerospace and defense manufacturing business.
Hernan details how he transitioned into the family business, emphasizing the importance of integrating innovative technology and systems to accelerate growth. Under his leadership, RPI has tripled in size over the last nine years, achieving impressive year-over-year growth. Hernan discusses the challenges he faced entering a new industry, how global economic shifts have impacted the aerospace supply chain, and the strategies he's implemented to stay ahead.
Listeners will gain valuable insights on:
Adapting and thriving in an unfamiliar industry
Modernizing traditional businesses with technology
Navigating international supply chains in volatile times
Successfully transitioning a family business between generations
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 inspiring episode of The Orange County Power Players Podcast, host Danny Flores sits down with Joanna Moore, whose remarkable journey from a small-town music teacher to Chief Claims Officer at Mercury Insurance is nothing short of extraordinary.
Joanna shares how an unexpected move to California changed her career path, her rise to become the first female senior executive at Mercury, and how her love for service kept her grounded in an industry often misunderstood. She also discusses her current work as a consultant and expert witness, and her passionate involvement with Cal State Fullerton’s Women’s Leadership Program—an initiative she founded to support emerging leaders.
This conversation is rich with insights on leadership, pivoting through change, embracing mentorship, and empowering the next generation. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or simply curious about how one woman broke barriers in the insurance industry, this episode will leave you inspired.
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 enlightening episode of the Orange County Power Players Podcast with Danny Flores, we sit down with Elan Sudberg, CEO of Alkemist Labs, to explore the science and mission behind one of Orange County’s most innovative labs. Based in Garden Grove, Alkemist Labs specializes in third-party testing for plant and fungal ingredients across nutraceutical, food & beverage, psychedelic, and animal health industries.
Elan shares his journey of launching Alkemist Labs nearly 30 years ago with his father, starting from humble beginnings with a clear focus—authenticity and safety in herbal and fungal products. With a strong chemistry background and a passion for quality assurance, Elan explains how his lab helps verify the identity, purity, and safety of ingredients, giving consumers and brands confidence in what they use and sell.
We also dive into:
The risks consumers face when products aren’t tested
How Amazon and other retailers are tightening their quality standards
Why transparency and lab data are becoming vital to brand credibility
How Alkemist Labs differentiates itself from billion-dollar competitors
Elan’s philosophy on employee retention, corporate culture, and work-life balance
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, host Danny Flores interviews Chris McCarthy, founder of McHammer Marketing and a seasoned fractional Chief Marketing Officer for e-commerce businesses. Chris brings over 15 years of experience in digital marketing and shares how he helps direct-to-consumer brands scale from six figures to multi-million-dollar exits.
Chris talks about the early days of online marketing, the evolution of platforms like Shopify and Amazon, and how AI and data tracking are shaping the future of e-commerce. He also breaks down what it takes to launch or optimize a Shopify store, and why e-commerce is one of the most complex business models in today's world.
From real-world success stories like California Beach Company to his role in growing brands across Europe and the U.S., Chris gives actionable insight into what makes online stores succeed—and where many go wrong.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 if you could unlock the equity in your home without selling it—and still benefit from future appreciation? In this powerful episode, Danny Flores sits down with Eddie Herda, a creative executive and marketing leader at Bonus Homes, to explore a groundbreaking model that flips traditional real estate logic on its head.
Eddie shares how Bonus Homes helps homeowners cash out their equity while holding on to their low-interest mortgage—and their property’s future value. From rental management to appreciation splits, this episode dives deep into the mechanics of the model and the benefits for average American families looking to grow wealth without giving up their homes.
Whether you're a real estate investor or a curious homeowner, this episode is packed with insights into how you can rethink your financial future.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How Bonus Homes helps you keep your home and still access your equity
Why low interest rates are a hidden asset for wealth building
The ins and outs of converting your home into a rental investment
What the IRS 121 rule means for taxes on real estate gains
The growing need for financial literacy around homeownership
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 with Danny Flores, we welcome Jenna Gregory — financial educator, advocate, business owner, and mom — for an empowering conversation about women and financial confidence.
Jenna shares her personal journey from commercial real estate into financial planning, sparked by her experience becoming a mother and her desire to create a more secure future for her family. She explains how financial planning is not just about numbers, but also about emotion, mindset, and personalized strategies that truly work for each individual or family.
Jenna opens up about:
How motherhood inspired her entrepreneurial journey
The emotional hurdles women face in discussing finances
Strategies for empowering women through clarity and actionable financial steps
The importance of financial education, especially in retirement planning and tax efficiency
Building a foundation for financial security and managing risks
If you're looking to feel more in control of your financial future or help others do the same, this episode is packed with actionable insights and genuine conversation.
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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