Office Hours with David Meltzer

John Lex Robinson John Lex Robinson is a bestselling author, Army veteran, and technology executive with over 30 years of leadership experience across the military, financial services, and high-stakes technology sectors. As the founder of The Viros Group, he helps executives build the clarity, systems, and resilience needed to lead effectively in a world defined by rapid change and constant disruption. His work blends neuroscience, peak performance science, and the ethical use of AI to help leaders develop real influence and create organizations that are both future-ready and deeply human-centered. Through his writing, advisory work, and executive coaching, John empowers leaders to navigate complexity with confidence and build cultures rooted in integrity, innovation, and high performance. Richard Greco Richard Greco is a finance expert and former corporate CFO with over 40 years of experience helping individuals and companies gain clarity, confidence, and control over their financial lives. Known for making money conversations simple and judgment-free, he has guided organizations of all sizes in building financial stability, strong systems, and healthy cultures. After decades in corporate leadership, Rich opened his own CPA practice in Tarpon Springs, FL, where he helps entrepreneurs create the businesses they’ve always envisioned—sustainable, scalable, and aligned with their goals. Beyond his work with businesses, Rich is dedicated to reshaping financial education at its roots. He is developing a comprehensive financial curriculum designed for every age and stage of life—from elementary students and teens to adults, business owners, individuals in foster care, and those in second-chance programs. Jason Jaggard Jason Jaggard is a USA Today bestselling author of Beyond High Performance and the Founder & CEO of Novus Global, one of the fastest-growing executive coaching firms worldwide. Leading a team of more than 50 coaches, he supports Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, elite athletes, and government leaders. Jason also chairs The Noble Company, a portfolio that includes Novus Global, the Meta Performance Institute, and Multidox Media. His work—featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and The New York Times—positions him as a leadership futurist who helps individuals and organizations break through invisible ceilings that limit growth.

Chitra Nawbatt Chitra Nawbatt is a multidisciplinary executive known for her ability to launch, build, and scale businesses across industries. With deep expertise as a growth operator, investor, and media creator, she has established herself as a trusted voice on innovation, leadership, and value creation. She is the author of The CodeBreaker Mindset, a framework designed to strengthen professional judgment and decision-making during times of change, career pivots, and business expansion. As the creator and host of The CodeBreaker Mindset show, along with several other media platforms, Chitra interviews global CEOs, founders, and investors about opportunity, strategy, and transformation. Johanna Laurent Johanna Laurent is the founder of Positive Phrases, a movement inspired by her belief in the healing and transformative power of words. Growing up in Brooklyn taught her resilience, gratitude, and the importance of uplifting others—values that eventually shaped her mission. Determined to spread positivity, she launched Positive Phrases and published her pocket-sized books Everything Is Perfect and Stop., each designed to offer simple but powerful reminders for daily life. With over 12,000 books sold, 25K TikTok followers, and media appearances nationwide (including KATU Portland, WUSADC, WGN Chicago, PHL17 Philadelphia, and KBTX Texas), Johanna is leading a growing national movement. Positive Phrases has become a thriving community built around mindset shifts, self-reflection, and joy—showing people that when they change their words, they can change their world. Marleny Cruz Marleny Cruz is a visionary entrepreneur, media mogul, and community leader with more than 15 years of experience building platforms that empower individuals and elevate human potential. As the founder and CEO of SOS Multi-Media Group, SOS Institute, and SOS Org Inc., she has created a full ecosystem dedicated to education, personal development, and social impact. From launching a global internet radio station with over 1.5 million listeners to providing leadership and life-skills programs for youth across New Jersey, Marleny has built every venture from the ground up, guided by resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to service. Widely recognized for her leadership, she has earned awards such as the Meritorious Dominican Award, Women on Fire, and Business Woman of the Year, and has been featured on Univision, Telemundo, and News 12.

Brian T. Franco Brian T. Franco is the founder of Meritage Partners and the author of Inevitable Exit, specializing in helping business owners plan and execute smooth, profitable exits. With more than $2 billion in guided transactions, he transforms owner-run companies into scalable, high-value enterprises by focusing on four fundamentals: documenting processes, building strong leadership teams, maintaining clean financials, and preparing early. His work has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor for founders seeking stability, freedom, and long-term legacy. Brian’s passion for entrepreneurship began at age sixteen, when a series of injuries left his father permanently disabled and he stepped in to help run the family business. That experience sparked his commitment to building resilient companies that can thrive beyond their founders. Dr. Jon Randall Dr. Jon Randall is the founder of eXtraordinary Financial Advisors (XFA), a premier coaching and consulting firm that helps financial advisors accelerate growth and profitability. With over 25 years of experience, Jon has coached many of the industry’s top performers, including Barron’s Top 100 and Hall of Fame advisors, guiding them to streamline operations, optimize client management, and achieve significant, sustainable expansion. What sets Jon apart is his application of the theory of constraints to financial advisory practices, a methodology traditionally used in manufacturing and operations. By identifying the single biggest bottleneck limiting an advisor’s growth, whether it’s too many clients, the wrong clients, or untapped revenue opportunities. Jon’s frameworks empower firms to scale from six to seven figures, seven to eight figures, and beyond. His proven systems help advisors create capacity, generate unsolicited referrals, and consistently reach the next level of success. Derek De Vette Backed by three decades of global communications leadership, Derek has shaped growth for startups, lifestyle brands, A-list celebrities, and iconic names like Harley-Davidson and the Foo Fighters. Featured in major outlets such as Forbes, the LA Times, BET, and MTV, he’s recognized as a trusted reputation architect and one of the “Top 23 Most Influential People on the Value of Exceeding Expectations.” In 2025, after the life-changing arrival of his twins, Derek reinvented his PR and events agency with a clear purpose: to work exclusively with values-driven lifestyle brands that create meaningful impact. That vision became HALO Comms. HALO Comms elevates mission-led lifestyle brands by helping them get seen where it matters most—top-tier media, influential communities, and critical Google searches. The agency specializes in transforming quiet excellence into trusted credibility, ensuring brands appear front and center when their ideal clients are ready to choose.

Pam Meissner Pam Meissner is a distinguished leader in finance and operations, having held CFO, COO, and CEO roles across various industries. Renowned for scaling companies to billion-dollar valuations, she specializes in transforming complex financial data into clear, strategic insights that empower executives to make confident, growth-driven decisions. Her global experience—shaped by extensive travel and exposure to diverse cultures—deepens her approach to leadership, emphasizing adaptability, innovation, and inclusive thinking. Pam’s story is also one of remarkable resilience. Recently widowed after 30 years of marriage, she continues to lead with purpose while honoring the partnership that shaped her life. As a devoted mother and advocate, she celebrates her son’s recent college graduation—a major achievement for him as a young adult with autism. Derek Andersen For the past 15 years, Derek has focused on building and scaling global communities. He is the co-founder and CEO of Bevy, a SaaS platform that helps companies like Salesforce, Atlassian, Google, Snowflake, and Adobe run both virtual and in-person events. Under his leadership, Bevy has raised $60M from investors such as Accel and Upfront Ventures. He also co-founded Startup Grind, now one of the world’s largest entrepreneur communities with 600 chapters in 125 countries and over 20,000 events hosted since 2012. Previously, Derek co-founded Commonred (later acquired by Income.com) and worked as a product manager at Electronic Arts. He also hosts Divot, a community bringing together top investors, founders, and visionaries who are shaping what’s next. Liesel Mertes Liesel Mertes is a nationally recognized keynote speaker, trainer, and workplace empathy expert whose work is rooted in profound personal experience. After the loss of her daughter, Mercy Joan, she gained a deep understanding of what people truly need to feel supported at work during life’s most challenging moments. As the Founder of Handle With Care Consulting, she has pioneered a new category in workplace empathy, helping companies create cultures where compassion, connection, and high performance go hand in hand. Liesel has become a trusted partner to organizations worldwide, including Winnebago, MetLife, the Canadian Government, and Fannie Mae. Her expertise spans grief, change fatigue, and the many disruptions that impact employees’ lives, and she brings this knowledge to her work as a keynote speaker, consultant, writer, and host of the Handle With Care podcast.

Joey Goone Joey Goone is the President of Utopia Experience, a national event production company that transforms conferences, masterminds, and galas into meaningful, unforgettable experiences. His team manages everything from AV and video to event planning and show calling, ensuring each moment is intentional and impactful. Joey is also a board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization in St. Louis and a member of GoBundance, reflecting his dedication to community-building and events that inspire change. A second-generation entrepreneur, Joey successfully transformed his family’s legacy business into a thriving enterprise. Tia Katz Tia Katz is the Founder and CEO of HU-X, a leadership development firm that partners with Fortune 500 companies to cultivate cultures where employees can show up authentically. Her journey is remarkable: she failed every subject until seventh grade due to undiagnosed dyslexia, an experience that taught her to experiment boldly and learn quickly. These traits propelled her from being the only woman on Intel cleanroom crews to executive roles at IBM and Citi, and ultimately to founding her own company. Tia brings a unique perspective to leadership, offering powerful lessons on personal transformation and actionable strategies for creating authentic workplace cultures. Tim and Adam Burke Tim and Adam are a father-son duo and business and technology experts who run a 30-year-old managed IT services firm. They specialize in providing flexible IT solutions that address customer challenges and help businesses adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Their company, which began in a garage, has grown into a global business serving mid- to large-sized organizations for over 35 years. The duo is deeply committed to fostering a work environment that values client and employee satisfaction, company growth, and community engagement. Their story highlights both the legacy and the future of a family-run business, making them ideal candidates for a podcast discussion on entrepreneurship, long-term business growth, and navigating the ever-changing world of technology.