Southern California's CEOs You Should Know: Recent Episodes
KFI AM 640 (KFI-AM)
Get an exclusive look inside some of the top companies in business today with an in-depth interview of top CEOS, with your host Jane Wells.
Paul Corvino sits down with the Chancellor of California Community Colleges, Sonya Christian. She is a fierce advocate for the life-changing ability of community colleges to reach underserved populations and educate the future workforce. She is committed to advancing work through distributed leadership and collaborative communities of learning, and to promoting the value of equity in student learning, access, success and economic mobility.
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Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of Trusted Media Brands, Stephen Colvin. The company is an American multi-platform media and publishing company that is co-headquartered in New York City and in White Plains, New York.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Mayor of Indian Wells, Dr. Toper Taylor.
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Paul Corvino sits with Dr. Joseph Antoun , CEO of ProLon, Parent Company L-Nutra. Their mission is to make the health and longevity benefits of fasting more accessible through science-backed nutrition.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope. It is one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, with a 100+ year legacy, it is recognized as one of the nation’s top hospitals for cancer care, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 rankings.
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Jeff Thomas sits down with the CEO of Walker Foods.Robert Walker is the President of Walker Foods, Inc., the Los Angeles-based manufacturer of El Pato Mexican sauces. As a family-owned business established in 1904, Walker Foods is recognized for its longstanding presence in the food industry. Robert Walker has led the company, which also supplies products to major chains.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Catherine Ayers, VP of Marketing, ASICS, America. Running is having a moment. There is a current running boom and ASICSs is so excited to support it. There is a massive uptick in marathons, emerging run clubs, and a new wave of first time marathon runnners.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Vince Nardo, CEO of Time Proof USA Roofing. The company is a trusted national roofing company with over 20 years of experience and thousands of projects completed, dedicated to delivering high-quality roof installation and repair that ensure long-term protection, durability, and peace of mind for homeowners and businesses.
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Paul Corivno sits down with Paul Nishiyama, CEO of Yoshinoya! Yoshinoya is a Japanese multinational fast food chain, and the second-largest chain of gyūdon restaurants. Paul was appointed President of Yoshinoya America on June 1, 2025, to lead U.S. expansion and operational improvements. Previously the COO of Better Buzz Coffee and a senior executive at Rubio's Restaurants, he brings extensive QSR experience to the role.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Glenn Gainor, CEO of Hollywood Ventures Group. Spanning his leadership at Amazon Original Movies (Prime Movies), the launch of Hollywood Ventures Group, and his advisory work with Producers Without Borders, Glenn's career exemplifies innovation, collaboration, and a global vision for storytelling.
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Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of Dave, Jason Wilk. He is the co-founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), President, and Chairman of the Board of Dave Inc. (DAVE), having served in this role since May 2016. He leads the fintech company's strategy to provide banking and cash advance services to over 10 million users
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Paul Corvino sits down with Rohan Nayak. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Pocket FM, a leading global audio series platform he launched in 2018 alongside Nishanth KS and Prateek Dixit. Under his leadership, the platform has popularized long-form audio content and integrated AI to empower creators, achieving significant growth and profitability.
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Jeff Thomas sits down with the CEO of Orchi, Mariana Filippelli. As CEO, Marina drives both business strategy and day-to-day operations for multicultural initiatives at Orci, working closely with her team to deliver engaging, effective campaigns that help global brands like Honda, Acura, Dole, VCA, Anheuser Busch, Chevron, and ExtraMile build meaningful relationships with diverse targets in the U.S. and Latin America. Everything she does boils down to creating “marketing that matters” to both consumers and brands. With roots in Mexico and Argentina, Marina has been passionate about communicating with the Latinx community since she first launched her career at Orci, ultimately returning after leading the multicultural division of Heat and client teams at Zubi Advertising and Conexión. She serves on the National Advertising Review Board and is dedicated to supporting efforts related to diversity, inclusion, education and the arts, volunteering as a mentor and activist with P.S. Arts and various Los Angeles nonprofits.
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Dean Sharp sits down with Kelly Berkompas! She is the Cofounder and General Manager of Brandguard Vents. With early leadership experience at Procter & Gamble, Kelly helped turn a simple idea into a profitable company that has already protected homes during the LA wildfires and continues to safeguard communities from future fire risks
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Jeff Thomas sits down with Michael Goldfarb, the founder and CEO of Guardian HR, a firm specializing in providing employers with comprehensive, outsourced HR and legal support. A seasoned employment attorney with over 30 years of experience, Goldfarb created Guardian HR to offer businesses a "one-stop shop" for legal compliance, handbooks, and HR management.
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Paul Corvino sits down with CEO of Guardian Payroll Services, Matt Taylor. The CEO has lead the company with over 20 years of experience in HR, payroll, compliance, and strategic planning. He focuses on aiding closely held businesses through technology-driven solutions, having previously served as a partner at CorpStrat.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Glenn Gainor, CEO of Hollywood Ventures Group. Spanning his leadership at Amazon Original Movies (Prime Movies), the launch of Hollywood Ventures Group , and his advisory work with Producers Without Borders, Glenn's career exemplifies innovation, collaboration, and a global vision for storytelling.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Lauren Gropper, CEO of Repurpose, the leader in compostable household goods. An eco-entrepreneur and green architecture pioneer, Lauren began her career in sustainable design. Her early success led to a surprising career in Hollywood, working as a consultant to the industry with customers like Discovery Networks. Confronted with the waste generated by craft services, Lauren had an aha moment on-set. She founded Repurpose to extend the disposable lifespan of single-use products and reduce waste.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Michael Gifford, CEO of Splitero. He leads the company, which provides homeowners with a lump sum of cash in exchange for a share of their home's future appreciation.
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Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of MlikPEP, Yin Woon Ran.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Steven Rossi, CEO of AlterMe. The company that supplies at-home DNA test reveals 13 key genetic insights & how they affect your fitness goals.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Ike Shehadah, CEO of Ikes Love & Sandwiches. Ike's Love & Sandwiches has over 800 sandwiches for everyone, whether you're a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan.
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Jeff Thomas sits down with Kelly LoBianco, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity.
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Paul Corvino sits down with Naveen Jain, CEO of Viome. The company provides at-home microbiome testing kits and personalized health recommendations based on the results.
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Paul Corvino sits down with the CMO of Yeti, Bill Neff. YETI is an American outdoor products company that designs and sells premium coolers, drinkware, bags, and other related accessories
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Paul Corvino sits down with Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer of BetMGM. Hurbis brings 30 years of diverse consumer marketing expertise to BetMGM’s leadership team, positioning the brand to further accelerate its rapid momentum in the sports betting and iGaming industry.
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Jeff Thomas sits down with the CO-CEOS of Mission Craft Cocktails, Amit Singh and Marcin Malyszko. The company is a premium bottle craft cocktail maker, that gives 5% back of all revenues to local food banks!
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Paul Corvino sits down with Stan Kasten, the CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paul Corvino sits down with Yaamava' Resort & Casino's CEO, Peter Arceo at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Paul Corvino sits down with Nasser Watar, CEO of Trophy Automotive. The company offers a vast selection of new and used vehicles, exceptional car care, a service center, and a wide range of amenities.
Matt Money Smith sits down with Henning Strauss is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and CEO of STRAUSS, where he oversees the operations of Europe’s leading workwear. STRAUSS has evolved from a catalog-based retailer to a multi-channel powerhouse, boasting four megastores, a flagship store in Venice, California, and one of Germany’s top five e-commerce platforms.
Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of Arena Club, Brian Lee. The company is the ultimate online marketplace for buyers & sellers for sports and entertainment cards. Shop with confidence at Arena Club. Authenticity guaranteed on their marketplace.
Sit down with the CEO of The Mixx, Robyn Streisand. The Mixx is a NYC-based creative agency that delivers impactful messaging, strategy and visual branding to a broad based clientele.
Abby Bonell sits down with CEO of Teal Health, Kara Egan. Teal Health is a women’s health platform that is focused on solving some of the most pressing health issues - starting with cervical cancer. By offering an at-home cervical cancer screening, Teal can address the many barriers to this life-saving screening and welcome women into a healthcare experience that is designed for them and their preferences.
Jeff Thomas sits down with Dr. Howard G. Berger, CEO and President of RadNet. RadNet’s mission — comprehensive radiology solutions — aligns with the future of healthcare.They are the only radiology provider with the resources to create greater opportunities for their strategic partners. They leverage our national profile and a broad portfolio of clinical and technical services to support best outcomes.
Paul Corvino sits down with Andrew Lacy, the CEO and founder of Prenuvo, the company pioneering proactive whole-body imaging for the early detection of cancer and other diseases. Under Lacy’s leadership, the company has expanded across North America, establishing Prenuvo as a recognized and trusted proactive healthcare service to both patients and referring clinicians.
Paul Corvino sits down with CEO of Archer Jerky, Eugene Kang. Archer Jerky, often referred to as Country Archer Jerky Co., is a brand of meat snacks known for using real, high-quality ingredients, including 100% grass-fed beef. They focus on crafting snacks with natural flavors and avoiding artificial additives, preservatives, and fillers.
Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO oChris Waters, the Chief Product Officer of Playground Productions. Playground Productions is a children's and family company focused on making best-in-class film, television, digital media, and video games, and has recently relaunched the beloved video game franchise Backyard Sports.
Paul Corvino sits down with CEO of Virgin Voyages, Nirmal Saverimuttu. Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line known for its modern, luxurious, and lively atmosphere, offering a unique cruise experience that differs from traditional cruising. It features innovative entertainment, diverse dining options, and a focus on wellness and social interaction, all within a stylish, superyacht-inspired setting.
Paul Corvino sits down with Nuka Hart, CEO of Free Wheelchair Mission. The company is an international faith-based nonprofit, humanitarian organization providing wheelchairs for people with disabilities in developing nations who do not have the resources to obtain one, of whom the World Health Organization estimates number over 80 million.
https://www.freewheelchairmission.org/
Executive Vice President, Jeff Thomas sits down with Ishan Patel, the CEO of Audien Hearing. Audien Hearing is a company that designs and sells personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) and over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, offering affordable hearing solutions directly to consumers. Their devices, like the Audien Atom, are designed for individuals with mild-to-moderate perceived hearing loss and can be purchased online without a hearing evaluation from an audiologist.
Paul Corvino sits down with Dean Spanos, an American businessman who is the owner and chairman of the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League. He is the son of Alex Spanos, who purchased majority interest in the team in 1984
Paul Corvino sits down with Daniel Farasat, Principal of Tiger West Capital.
Daniel, a lifelong Angeleno, and a seasoned entrepreneur , with a focus on real estate development. Daniel has strategically guided the firm’s transformation from a real estate services company into a dynamic owner and operator of commercial properties. He is also leading the relaunch of the beloved Koo Koo Roo chicken chain.Koo Koo Roo was a fast-casual restaurant chain, known for itscharbroiled, skinless chicken
, that operated in Los Angeles and Southern California from 1988 to 2014, and is now making a comeback.
Paul Corvino sits down with Celeste Durve, found of VIPER. A premier hospitality and event staffing agency recognized for revolutionizing high-profile guest experiences and shaping the future of gig work.
Paul Corvino sits down with Presidnt of Karma Automotive, Marques McCammon. Karma Automotive is a Southern California-based, ultra-luxury automaker that engineers, designs, and manufactures electric and range-extended electric vehicles, with a focus on blending luxury with sustainability and innovation. Marques McCammon is the embodiment of fresh, new leadership in the automotive industry. He combines nearly 30 years of auto industry general management, product development, manufacturing, brand leadership and marketing experience with intimate knowledge of software-based automotive product advancement.
Paul Corvino sits down with Justin Wolf, CEO of New Brew. New Brew is a "euphoric seltzer" containing kratom and kava, marketed as a mood-boosting and calming drink.
Paul Corvino sits down with Chris Mirabile, CEO of NOVOS.
Novos is a company that specializes in anti-aging and longevity products. They offer a range of supplements, tests, and services aimed at slowing down the aging process and improving overall health and well-being.
Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of Airtasker's, Tim Fung. Airtasker is a community marketplace where people can post tasks they need done and "Taskers" offer to complete them, connecting those seeking help with local service providers for a variety of tasks.
Paul Corvino sits down with CEO of Life Source Water. Cherie Harris has been the President of LifeSource Water Systems since 2008.
Paul Corvino sits down with Tim Morris, CEO of Paradise Cove Beach Cafe.
Instagram handle: @paradisecovebeachcafe
Paul Corvino sits down with The Heart Foundation Chairman, Mark Litman. His life was forever changed on December 7, 1995, when his best friend Steve Cohen died of a sudden heart attack when they were both 35. Determined to prevent similar deaths and keep the memory of Steve alive for his two young daughters, Mark and some of Steve’s family and friends established The Heart Foundation. Mark has been the driving force behind the foundation since its inception in 1996 and continues to serve as its Chairman. Mark has been married for 36 years and has two sons.
Paul Corvino sits down with Dr. Katehakis. CEO of the Center for Healthy Sex in Los Angeles, an industry-leading expert on human sexuality and relationship issues.
Paul Corvino sits down with Larry Miller, the Sit 'n Sleep owner. Sit 'n Sleep is an American mattress store chain based in Gardena, California. As of 2024, it has 36 locations, all in Southern California. It is one of the largest independent mattress retailers in the United States and is known for its extensive advertising.
Ellen K sits down with the CEO of Noble Gold. Tune in to listen to the company, an investment firm in First Financial Plaza specializing in precious metals for retirement accounts and IRAs.
Paul Corvino sits down with CEO of Union Mission, Mark Hood. Union Rescue Mission welcomed nearly 10% of the 75,000 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County over the past year through its three sober living facilities. On an average night, they have 1,300 precious souls under their roof, with 900 being moms, dads, and kids and over 100 seniors. Charity Navigator gives them a perfect 100 rating, and 86 cents of every dollar donated goes to life-changing programs.
Paul Corvino sits down with CEO of Bigo Live, Eric Kim. Bigo Live is a free social media app that allows users to live stream and chat with others around the world. It's known for its diverse user community and is popular with gamers, aspiring performers, and vloggers.
Paul Corvino sits down with Mike Colonna! He is the Ceo of Norms Restaurants. Norms Restaurants is a well-known chain of diner-style restaurants in Southern California, founded in 1949 by Norm Roybark. The first location opened near the corner of Sunset and Vine in Los Angeles. Norms quickly became popular for its promise of "great food, great service, and great value". Now with 23 locations across Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties, with plans to expand into Las Vegas.
Paul Corvino sits down with Faribroz Rodef and his partner Pyiam. They specialize in treating children with special needs and provide employment opportunities to people with disabilities.
Paul Corvino sits down with John Kao! John Kao is the founder and CEO of Alignment Health, a consumer brand name of Alignment Healthcare (NASDAQ: ALHC).
Paul Corvino sits down with Anuj Bhalla. Anuj Bhalla is the Founder & CEO of serviceMob, an analytics software company for the customer service industry powered by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of Lucys Pet Food. Lucy Pet Products is a super-premium pet food company based in Westlake Village, California, USA. They own and operate our their pet food plant, Breeder’s Choice in Irwindale, CA. Breeder’s Choice manufacture Lucy Pet Formulas for Life dog and cat foods and dog food rolls. Lucy Pet is the Leader in Gut Health and their “Formulas for Life” feature prebiotic balanced fiber that nourishes your dog and cat’s total health.
Paul Corvino sits down with Rob Towles! Robert is a successful consumer product and mobile gaming entrepreneur and investor with multiple multi-million dollar exits. He has an eye for investing, analyzing trends, asset acquisition and a diverse sales and marketing background. Robert is often a lead investor in the gaming space, one franchise alone now generating 27MM MAUs and $1.2MM in daily revenue.
Paul Covrino sits down with John Terzian and Brian Toll, Co-Presidents of h.wood Group. The h.wood Group is a Los-Angeles based hospitality and lifestyle company with a diversified portfolio of upscale nightlife & restaurant venues.
Simon Davies, Executive Director of Teen Cancer America and Hon DEd sits down with Paul Corvino! Since it was founded in 2012 by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of the legendary British rock band The Who, Simon has led Teen Cancer America. It is the only national charity working directly with hospitals to advise, support and fund them in the development of specialized programs and facilities for adolescents and young adults with cancer. The charity is built on the successful model of Teenage Cancer Trust, UK where Simon was CEO for 13 years before moving to the US.
Paul Corvino sits down with Bita Safari!
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.
Paul Corvino sits down with Market President Chris Paz from Trophy Automotive Group. Trophy Auto Group has proudly served the Los Angeles community for over a decade, operating five premier auto dealerships throughout LA.
2 Mercedes locations – Mercedes of Encino and Mercedes of Valencia
Universal City Nissan
2 Kia locations – Kia of Carson and Kia of Downtown LA.
Kia of Downtown LA is currently building (probably) the largest, most glamorous indoor Kia service and showroom in the world! It’s 4 stories tall and 40,000 square feet per floor. 160,000 square feet!
Avner Gat has been a public adjuster for over 15 years, fighting on behalf of clients in front of large insurance companies that are often trying to avoid their responsibilities. He has personally trained the team at Avner Gat Inc. in both negotiations and in understanding complex insurance contracts and other legal documents. We are confident when we say that you will be working with the most knowledgeable, ethical, and hardworking group of adjusters you will ever meet.
Paul Corvino sits down with the CEO of MiraMar Health, a company inside the MacArthur Group. MiraMar Health's mission is to free veterans from America's Mental health and addiction crisis. As well as empower them to create a better future for themselves and their families.
Paul Corvino speaks with CEO of F&M Bank, Henry Walker, this week on Southern California's CEOs You Should Know.
Sinan Kanatsiz is the Founder & CEO of KCOMM, a full-service marketing agency based in Irvine, California. The company has had over 1,500 clients from progressive startups to well-known fortune 100 brand. The firm is known for its expertise in Internet Marketing, Government Affairs, Public Relations, and Strategic Relationships.
Sinan is also the Founder and Chairman of the Internet Marketing Association (also known as “IMA”), which has gained over 1.5 million members and hosts an annual conference called ‘IMPACT’ which this year registered over 127,000 professionals. In its 37th episode, the company has its own TV series called ‘IMPACT SHOW’ and has an app which targets the top 1% of LinkedIn, focused on personal, one-to-one connections, where users meet at Starbucks, WeWork and via Zoom.
His belief in the power of entrepreneurism and politics led him start Generation NeXt in 2004, a network of young business and community leaders committed to making a difference by empowering others for the betterment of the next generation.
Sinan is also founder of the International Executive Council (IEC) which has a founding membership roster of over 150 leaders throughout Southern California. The group meets monthly and is one of the most influential leadership groups in the country.
As a graduate of Chapman University with an undergraduate degree in public relations with a minor in Computer Science, and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Human Resources, Sinan founded Chapman50, a unique group of alumni donors under the age of 50 who provide student support through mentorships and scholarships. The group has raised millions for Chapman and is one of Sinan’s proudest organizations.
Recognized for his philanthropic involvement, Sinan was appointed a Knighthood and became one of the youngest members of the Royal House of Savoy.
He also received the 2019 Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work in non-profit organizations, public relations, and internet marketing.
Other notable achievements include being Chapman University’s young alumnus of the year, founding member of the board of Pretend City Children’s Museum, a member of the Board of Governors of Chapman University and a Member of the Graziadio Board of Directors for Pepperdine University.
On a personal note, Sinan enjoys coding websites to this day, building news distribution platforms, playing golf with friends, and spending time with his wife and children in their hometown of San Clemente.
Sinan credits his success to four pillars, Personal Integrity, Family, Mentors and Education.
CEO Patrick Herning of 11 Honoré is Jane Wells' latest guest on CEOs You Should Know.
Herning is the founder and CEO of the first multi-designer e-commerce platform for the 'plus' customer. What does that mean? It's for customers who wear sizes 12-24 who want to shop for comfortable casual weekend essentials, as well as dresses that can suit any occasion. From big formal wear events, to workwear essentials and flowy feminine dresses, the dresses are from some of most sought after designers in the world including: Marc Jacobs, Mara Hoffman, Tanya Taylor, Christian Siriano, Milly, Jason Wu and Monique Lhuillier.
Herning says he knows he'll never understand what life as a plus-sized woman is like, but he can relate to the marginalization they must feel, due to his experience as a gay man.
"A gay man in his 40s is very different from a gay man coming up professionally today," Herning said. "And having that sense of judgment around who you are, for being who you are. I share that with the customer and it's that bond that has connected me to her, much more so, than the clothes themselves."
When asked if he always wanted to be a entrepreneur, Herning pauses, before answering with a smile.
"I don't know if I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, I just knew I didn't like having a boss," he said.
If you grew up wanting to learn how to play guitar, the drums, or any other type of musical instrument, then you don't need any kind of introduction to Guitar Center. With 13,000 employees and around 293 Guitar Center stores and another 225 Music & Arts stores, the $2.2 billion company is well-known around the country as a place for music enthusiasts get the gear they need.
Ron Japinga, the CEO of Guitar Center is Jane Wells' latest guest on CEOs You Should Know and tells us the history of the company that was originally founded in 1959 as "The Organ Center."
"Wayne Mitchell, he was selling organs, and all of a sudden, guitars started to happen with The Beatles," Japinga said. "So he started carrying a few Vox amplifiers and some guitars and then the rest is history."
Guitars, music and retail weren't on Japinga's mind for what he wanted to do as a career. In fact, he tells Jane Wells that he initially went to school to be a pilot and run an airport, but those dreams were diverted when the CEO of Macy's offered him a different line of work.
"I sent a resume to the CEO of Macys (Ed Finklestien), to fly his corporate jet, and he was dismantling the corporate jet program and said, 'How about an opportunity at retail?'" Japinga said.
"I went and interviewed and everybody said 'You can run your own business' which was important to me at that time. And I started the executive training program at Macy's and the rest is history," Japinga said.
Jeff Dailey of Farmer's Insurance, is Jane Wells' latest guest on CEOs You Should Know. With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance business, Dailey worked his way up, starting as an adjuster, and moving through a variety of management and leadership roles during his illustrious career.
Originally from Detroit, Dailey attended college at the University of Wisconsin and earned a bachelor of science degree the university's Economics program, and went on to earn his Masters of Business Administration. After leaving his first job for Progressive in 1981, Dailey was promoted several times during his 14 year tenure with the company, where he ultimately was appointed the President of their Northeast Division.
In May 2001, Dailey went on to join Bristol West Holdings Inc. as their Chief Operating Officer and was later promoted to the president of the company and Chief Executive Officer. When Bristol West Holdings Inc. merged with Farmers Insurance in July 2007, Dailey was retained by the new company as the President of Personal Lines at Farmers Group, Inc.
"I would say that was the first time in my career, outside of the company I started, that I ever really had the goal of being the CEO," Dailey said of the merger between Bristol West Holdings Inc. "The idea of going into a big company and not being the CEO, was something that wouldn't have worked very well for me."
Chris Simms, the CEO and founder of Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar is Jane Wells' guest this week on CEOs You Should Know.
Simms, a "fourth-generation restaurateur," describes Lazy Dog as the "next generation of casual dining," where a people-focused, innovative restaurant can provide all-scratch cooking for guests who are welcome to come as they are.
With 36 restaurants and roughly 5,000 employees, the chain has seen enormous success with over $2 million in sales this year.
After attending Cornell University's prestigous Hospitality Program, Simms says he didn't want to work for his father and decided to strike out on his own. At one point, Simms recalls a great lesson taught to him by Paul Fleming (the P.F. in PF Changs) when he was working as a manager at their location in La Jolla.
"[Fleming] walks in one night, and I'm managing in La Jolla and it's about 10 o'clock and the place looks like a bomb went off," Simms says with a chuckle. "And he walks me around the restaurant and it was a great lesson."
Simms says after Fleming pointed everything that was wrong, he told Simms that "A person who comes in at 10 o'clock is paying the exact same amount of money as someone coming in at 7 o'clock, why would they deserve an experience that is so messed up and dirty?"
Learn more about Simms' experience as the CEO of Lazy Dog in the latest episode of CEOs You Should Know.
Bill Hornbuckle, the President/Chief Operating Officer for MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas joins Jane Wells this week for CEOs You Should Know to talk about his experience coming up and running one of the largest entertainment companies in the world right in the middle of America's Playground - Las Vegas.
After graduating from the University of Nevada with a BS in Hotel Administration, Hornbuckle came up through the industry working for Steve Wynn, serving as President and COO for Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, spending the majority of his career with Mirage Resorts in various senior management positions.
With 83,000 employees over 20 operating properties, Hornbuckle has seen the entertainment company's growing revenues to $12 and a half billion dollars just last year.
John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care joins Jane Wells this week for CEOs You Should Know to talk about how his organization offers affordable health coverage to more than 2.2 million people in Los Angeles County.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Baackes earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University before beginning his professional career in the northeast working for various healthcare companies - where it became clear to him that that not all patients were being treated equally under the current healthcare system.
"I was involved in the beginning with what we would call a 'full-service' health plan," Baackes says. "And it was great, but as I went along through the years, I began to see we were discriminating against people on the basis of the plastic card in their wallet. So if you were uninsured, you couldn't get in to see certain doctors. If you were on Medicaid, certain doctors wouldn't take payment from Medicaid and you couldn't see them. And even Medicare, which pays more generously, there were doctors that said, 'We don't want anything to do with it.' So it seemed to me that was not right."
For many people, healthcare can be complicated and costs difficult to understand. When asked about this, Baackes chuckles and offers this perspective on his chosen career.
"First of all, Health care is not rocket science, it's way more complicated," Baackes says. "Certainly if anyone were starting out with a blank piece of paper, you would never design what we have now."
If Baakes were king of the world and given the opportunity to design a healthcare system from scratch, he'd go with a "single payer" system, describing one organization that would run healthcare and ensure everyone healthcare needs were met.
However, as Baackes warns, that's not exactly something the country can create out of whole cloth.
In the latest episode of CEO's You Should Know, Jane Wells interviews CEO Michael West, of 686 Technical Apparel, a company that makes winter apparel for skiers, snowboarders and anyone who likes to go outside. Or, as they like to say on their website, 686 Technical Apparel seeks to push current boundaries of "design construction and interaction."
Over the years, 686 Technical Apparel has grown into a worldwide brand, with clothing being sold by nearly 3,000 retailers worldwide. It's a long way from when he sewed his first pieces of clothing, and created a catalog on his own - something that would eventually land him an order for $100,000.
His company's name has a dual, personal meaning for him. He started the business at age 20 (6+8+6) and in June 1986, his Japanese mother and grandmother reconciled.
When asked what he believes his biggest mistake has been over the years, Michael has to think about it for a moment.
"I'm constantly making mistakes, " he says with a laugh. "I think the biggest mistake we have is when we take on too much and you lose focus."
In the latest episode of CEOs You Should Know, Jane Wells interviews Meryl Kern, the CEO of Liftique, a company Kern describes as a "brand-new triangular offering for women to look, live and feel their best life."
Started in 2017, Liftique grew quickly, thanks to the wide variety of services and offerings for women using the latest technology for minimally invasive proceedures for the face, the body and "below the belt." But the story of Liftique goes far beyond the cutting-edge technology and techniques.
Kern says she's always seen herself as an entrepreneur CEO, especially when she found herself needing to "reinvent herself." After a series of jobs, Kern started her first boutique agency that eventually brought her back to Los Angeles.
"I just always had that in me, that drive," Kern says.
But, her path wasn't easy. In 2015, Kern says she was dealt a "huge basket of lemons" after she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. The cancer meant she had to have a double mastectomy,14 rounds of chemotherapy and 36 rounds of radiation. Recovery wasn't easy either.
That's when Kern started the Meryl Kern Survivorship Program within Cedars and Tower Oncology to help women post-recovery and understand their new normal.
"It allowed me to realize I needed to reach a broader audience," Kern said. "I needed to help more women."
"I looked in the mirror and I didn't like what I saw," she says. "And I knew I didn't want to have another surgery."
Kern started Liftique in 2017 and Kern says things really began to take off for her company after she started her foundation. When she held a "Blush Panel" that would explain Liftique's procedures for women with vaginal health issues, she knew she was onto something.
If you've ever needed to order flowers online, chances are, you've heard of The Bouqs. Launched in November 2012, The Bouqs is an online market place created by two friends who noticed several problems within the floral industry and decided that they could do better. John Tabis and his partner, Juan Pablo Montufar, set out to create an online experience that brought the farm-to-table philosophy to flower deliveries.
"Bouqs is the modern, digitized version of the florist," Tabis says describing his company. "But, what we do that is really different, is we connect the consumer to the farmer at the other end of the supply chain. A typical florist might buy flowers from a wholesaler, who buys flowers from an importer, who buys flowers from an exporter, who buys flowers from a farmer, we're always getting our flowers directly from the farm so we can ensure a level of freshness and quality and sustainability than is typical."
Cutting out all those levels has allowed Tabis and his partner to reinvest into the farms and pay their workers more money, faster.
"We pay our farmers 20-25 percent more than anyone else and we pay them twice as fast," Tabis said.
Tabis wasn't always a budding online florist. When asked how he went from Bain Capital into a flower delivery business, Tabis said he has no idea.
"It's one of these things that happens," Tabis says with a laugh.
With plenty of experience in advertising and marketing, Tabis says he decided to focus on the things that really mattered to people.
In the latest episode of CEO's You Should Know, Steve Van Doren, the CEO (or Chief Entertainment Officer) for Vans, joins KFI's Jane Wells to talk about the unique shoe company that grew from surfers and skaters all over the world know and love.
First started by his father and uncle in 1966, Vans grew from a small family operation into a $3 billion juggernaut and pop culture icon - success that Steve credits to the company's "free spirit."
Now in charge of building Van's brand, Steve travels all over the world to oversee the company's many events, including the famed Vans Warped Tour. But that's just the latest title he's held at a company he's worked at since he was 10-years-old.
"I would pass flyers out at the Swap Meet, because we had no stores except for the factory," Steve told Jane Wells. "Then, we'd get a store, and my dad would get a manager, and a second store and third store, and a fourth store. On the fifth store he didn't have a manager to put in there on Saturday and Sunday so he put me in."
"That time, I was eleven."
When asked why skaters became so associated with Vans, Steve says the group actually adopted them in the mid-70s because they loved the shoe's durable construction.
"[Skaters] gave our company purpose. They gave our company reason to be. Surfers went from the surf in the afternoon to skateboarding and they wore our shoes because it wore better, it gripped better, and the waffle sole is something that grips the sole better," he says. "That's how we kind of started off meeting the skaters."
Nick Desai the CEO of Peatos joined KFI's Jane Wells to talk about his innovative new company that's taking on the junk food snack industry by offering a much healthy alternative to other types of snacks.
Desai describes his product as a crunchy puff snack (like Cheetos), made with peas instead of corn. The snack was born out of Desai's many visits to his grandparents' home in India, where he says he was introduced to the Indian world of junk food snacks.
"When we go to India, I was exposed to the India world of junk food snacks - also fried, also crunchy, also delicious," said Desai. However, he says there was a key difference between American snacks and the ones he ate in India - the Indian junk food snacks were made out of peas and lentils, which as it turns out, is much healthier for people than the ones made of corn or potatoes like we find in the United States.
When Desai examined the nutritional profiles of American snacks vs the ones made out of peas and lentils, he realized Indian junk food snacks had 2x the protein and 3x the fiber. The peas/lentils snacks were also non-GMO and naturally gluten-free.
While he had a great product, Desai says he still needed money and expertise to make his company succeed. To do that, he turned to the network he'd created during his time as an investment banker. After dozens of cold calls and some rejections, Desai found the money he needed to get his company off the ground.
Meet Tom Ripley, the Chairman and CEO of Lids, the popular retail chain of stores primarily known as the #1 seller of hats. With nearly 1,200 stores located across North America, the chain brings in just under $700 million in revenue.
KFI's Jane Wells spoke with Ripley and asked him about his time as CEO of Lids - a whopping 90 days after his company acquired Lids earlier this year.
"We acquired Fans, a small chain in 2018, and later that year, Lids came up for sale ... we put in an offer, went back and forth for the better part of seven months, and we were lucky enough to win and purchased it, and close on February 2nd this year," Ripley says.
CEOs You Should Know returns with Therese Tucker, of Blackline.
KFI's Jane Wells spoke with Tucker about her journey her love of programming, why she left her previous job to start Blackline, and how it was challenging to find the right people to build her business.
"I worked at a much larger company and it was not a great environment in terms of wanting to promote women. I didn't see much of a career there, so I decided to start my own (business)," Tucker says.
"I believe that being an entrepreneur is the ultimate in American Dream," says Tucker. "It's not just owning a house, it's being able to build something from the ground up."
The founder of Hudson Jeans, Peter Kim, joined KFI's Jane Wells to talk about how he went from working for his family's business to building Hudson Jeans into one of the most popular clothing companies in business today.
But Kim says it wasn't an easy path to success.
"I had a lot of trouble with school, and I ended up not doing well in school. I ended up getting into a lot of trouble as a youth," Kim says. "I got written off as you're dumb, you're stupid. I think those things really shaped me to be like 'Well, I just want to be me then.'"
"When I realized I had nothing to lose, it's like, OK, I'll do whatever I want,"
After a year and a half of living in Dallas and going to college at SMU, Kim transferred back to USC where he graduated with a business degree. After finishing school, Kim went to work for his parent's business where he found himself working up to 120 hours a week at the age of 23.
"I'm 23-years-old, I have no idea what I'm doing, and I've been commissioned to fix it," Kim said. "It was one of those defining moments in my life because I was miserable, we were fighting all the time. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. It was like a washing machine that never turned off."
Kim says his epiphany came as he was driving to work one day and got a new perspective on what his parents went through at his age, versus what he had to go through.
"When I started looking at that picture, I was like 'Oh, I'm kinda not feeling so proud of myself right now, at least this isn't so bad,'" Kim says with a chuckle. "Then that shifted into me thinking, 'Well you know what? If I'm going to do this, let's do this and I'll put up the biggest fight anyone has ever seen.'"
Eno Polo, the president of Havaianas joined KFI's Jane Wells for an interview about how he's turned his company into the No. 1 sandal brand in Europe and how he plans to import that success here to the United States. Havaianas is a Brazilian flip flop company that has sold almost 250 million pairs of flip flops - which is about 10 pairs every second!
Havaianas are already hugely successful around the world, but here in the United States, the company about a 5 percent market share. When asked how he plans on making Havaianas as indispensable to Americans as they are everywhere else in the world, Polo said it comes down to cooperation.
"I think like all things in life, you've got to keep a simple vision, get everyone pushing the cart in the same direction," said Polo.
In 1988, Wing Lam and his brothers Ed and Mingo, joined forces to open the very first Wahoo's Tacos in Costa Mesa, California with the goal of creating a menu that reflected their unique heritage.
Drawing on influences that ranged from China to Brazil and Baja California, the bold fresh flavors found on their menu reflect the Lee brother's memories of growing up in Brazil, surfing in Baja, and working in their family's Chinese restaurant.
KFI's Jane Wells spoke with co-founder and CEO Wing Lam to learn more about his incredible story of creating one of the most beloved taco franchises in Southern California.
"Chronic Tacos is unique, customized, fast-casual Mexican food," is how Michael Mohammed, the CEO of Chronic Tacos describes his food to KFI's Jane Wells. Mohammad says that he and his brothers were looking for a good investment and when they discovered the taco shop in Vancouver, they felt like they saw a good opportunity.
"Randy, who is one of the founders, called me up, and said, 'Hey, I want to meet with you, I want to talk about you guys getting involved, and about five months later, we owned the company," said Mohammed.
The first thing Mohammed wanted to do with the brand is refocus and hone in on the authenticity that people found so endearing about the restaurant.
"We had to put our money with our mouth was," Mohammed says. "We stopped selling franchises right away, for three years. I truly believe we needed to set the foundation. We needed to build the model, we needed to build corporate restaurants. We needed to, not completely rebrand, but hone in on the brand, because it was a little bit all over the place. So we wanted to hone in on what really was important to us, which was the authenticity of the brand, which we call the 'taco life.'
"I think it took time to prove ourselves, that we are, we do what we say," said Mohammed. "I think people have to get used to you."
And people did. The company based out of Orange County, California now has more than 60 locations across the U.S.
Eric Shanks, the CEO and Executive Producer of Fox Sports sat down with KFI's Jane Wells to talk about what it's like to oversee all entities within Fox Sports.
"It's irreplaceable content," No matter how bad the AL Central in Major League Baseball does, they're not going to cancel it," Shanks says with a grin. "There were 166 canceled shows last year that were scripted or reality. But you know what? They're just going to make 435 new ones this year."
Shanks joined Fox Sports in 1994 as a broadcast associate during the network's inaugural season and working for years in various positions in media until being appointed CEO last year. The busy CEO also served as executive vice president for entertainment for DIRECTTV between 2004 and 2010 overseeing the development of many original entertainment products.
"I've had the philosophy of just "Never say no" to a new opportunity," Shanks says. "Whether you think it's sideways - I think people get too trapped in their mind of thinking, 'Is this a lateral move? What's the next step after this?' I've just always said yes to the next thing."