EP 84: Procurement Power: How SoCal’s Alliance Is Changing the Game

EP 86: A Conversation with Chuong Vo CA - 45th Congressional District 2026 Candidate

He arrived in America as a one-year-old on a crowded boat, saved from the sea by a mother’s refusal to leave her child, a moment that becomes the heartbeat of this episode. Chuong Vo [https://www.vo4congress.com/] traces that perilous beginning through nights on patrol, years in city halls, and quiet acts like bringing Santa to every street, explaining how hardship and service shaped his sense of duty. Listen as Chuong moves from frontline encounters and planning meetings to hard-earned victories on the council and is running for Congress. This is a candid, human story about public safety, family values, and why one refugee turned lawman believes America must remain the place where people can rebuild, work, and be heard.

EP 85: First Year in Washington: Congressman Derek Tran on Family, Fires, and Fighting for Small Business

On a long flight from LAX to Washington, Congressman Derek Tran [https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanTran] reflects on his first year in Congress, juggling votes, family dinners with three young children, and the fierce partisanship of the Capitol. He takes listeners inside urgent moments: touring the charred neighborhoods of Altadena after devastating wildfires, fighting to exempt baby essentials from erratic tariffs, and using his roles on Armed Services and Small Business to protect a local base and help Main Street entrepreneurs. Through small wins and stubborn fights, a storm pump to protect homes, funding for a HOPE Center, and a veterans’ job restored, Tran’s story unfolds as a portrait of persistence, service, and the everyday work of making Washington deliver for California’s 45th District [https://tran.house.gov/].

EP 84: Procurement Power: How SoCal’s Alliance Is Changing the Game

In this episode of ChamberTalk, Andrew [https://www.linkedin.com/in/awg/]sits down with Nicole Swain [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleswain/], the Senior Procurement Contracts Manager for the County of Orange [https://cpo.oc.gov/], to trace a practical, human story behind government purchasing. From pandemic-era urgencies to a bold rebrand as the SoCal Procurement Alliance [https://cpo.oc.gov/socal-procurement-alliance], Nicole reveals how collaboration, empathy, and grit turned fragmented buying into a shared solution that saves taxpayers money and opens doors for small businesses. Listeners follow the evolution of the annual Supplier Outreach event, born under a tent, now filling convention halls—and learn the secrets of contract sharing, matchmaking sessions, and simple steps businesses can take to win municipal work. The conversation culminates in an invitation: come to the Anaheim Convention Center [https://www.anaheim.net/1117/Anaheim-Convention-Center], meet the decision-makers, and discover how doing business with public agencies can be simpler, fairer, and more rewarding than you think.

EP 83: Don’t Suffer in Silence — Menopause & Hormonal Health with Dr. Jenn Roelands

On this episode of ChamberTalk, Dr. Jenn Roelands MD, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-roelands-md-74813b59/]a double board-certified OBGYN [https://precisionhealthmdoc.com/] turned integrative women’s health physician, shares how a nontraditional path and stubborn curiosity led her to challenge medicine’s blind spots. Raised in a family where women weren’t expected to pursue careers, she found her calling first in delivering babies and later in solving the overlooked mysteries of perimenopause and hormonal health. Through vivid patient stories, Dr. Jenn highlights the reality faced by countless women: being told they’re “normal” by lab results while quietly losing sleep, focus, relationships, and momentum at work. She reveals how reactive, checkbox-style care leaves too many behind. In this conversation, she debunks common myths about hormone therapy, explains why prevention matters, and explores the critical roles of nutrition, genetics, sleep, and lifestyle. Most importantly, she shows how small, targeted interventions can protect brain health, bone density, and long-term career performance. This episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. Learn how to recognize the perimenopause roller coaster, separate fear from fact, and take practical steps toward a longer, healthier health span. Don’t accept feeling “off” as your normal, find the right partner in care and reclaim your life.

EP 82: The Ripple Effect of Showing Up: How Cypress College Changes Lives

Join Andrew Gregson as he sits down with Howard Kummerman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardkummerman/], the compassionate force behind the Cypress College Foundation [https://www.cypresscollege.edu/foundation/], to explore how a tight-knit campus community keeps students in the classroom and changes lives. Through candid stories, Howard shares the journey of a former Cypress College [https://www.cypresscollege.edu/] student in his 30s who was living in his car while attending classes, a student who, with the right support, went on to transfer to Stanford, alongside the story of a beloved professor whose lasting legacy brought hundreds together to celebrate her life. Together, these moments illustrate how small acts of care can create life-changing outcomes. Howard also walks listeners through the traditions and fundraising efforts that sustain the college, including the Americana Awards [https://www.cypresscollege.edu/foundation/majorevents/americana-awards/], alumni engagement, and scholarship programs that thoughtfully connect students with donors. Along the way, he reveals the deeply human side of philanthropy: donors who once needed help themselves, committed board members, and dedicated staff quietly working behind the scenes to hold the campus together. It’s a hopeful, human story about education, community, and the powerful ripple effects of giving back.