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Peer Groups for CEOs & Entrepreneurs
in Orange County & the Inland Empire
⭐ #1-Ranked Peer Group Facilitator in Orange County & Inland Empire
Gain clarity, connection, and a board of peers to help you work on your business.
No cost, no obligation — just a 30-minute conversation.
We'll learn about your business, answer your questions, and see if a REF Peer Group is the right fit.
✓ Members stay an average of 6 years.
REF-OC/IE Peer Groups
Since 2007, Ric has been a dedicated business coach in Orange County, empowering entrepreneurs and business owners to lead with clarity and confidence. Through his partnership with REF, a global leadership organization, Ric has built and led peer advisory groups designed to help leaders focus on their businesses, without being consumed by them.
Ric’s proven coaching process ensures that business owners invest their time strategically, fostering growth and sustainability rather than getting lost in daily operations. His executive coaching goes beyond surface-level advice—it’s a confidential, immersive partnership that allows Ric to gain a deep understanding of his clients' challenges and provide tailored insights to help them reach the next level.
As a thought leader in peer advisory groups, Ric has broken new ground by writing the first book ever published on the transformative benefits of these groups. His expertise provides entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies, and support they need to accelerate their success.
If you’re ready to move beyond the daily grind and step into strategic leadership, Ric’s peer advisory groups and coaching will give you the clarity, connection, and competitive edge to thrive.
New to peer groups? Watch this first.
In a few minutes, see what a REF peer group actually is, how a meeting works, and whether it's the right move for you.
Which Peer Group Is Right for You?
Entrepreneurs Peer Group
The Entrepreneurs Peer Group is led by Craig Cooke. Craig is a 10-year REF member who successfully exited his digital-first marketing agency, which he co-founded after 26 years. He sold his company to a world-class digital agency and left in 2022. He now leads our peer group for entrepreneurs scaling their firms and seeking a successful exit.
Members come from various industries and share a common desire to grow their businesses and evolve their leadership skills to stay ahead of the growing demands of scaling their firms.
The monthly investment is $1,000.00
Top Executive Peer Groups
Ric leads peer groups in Orange County, Inland Empire, California, for CEOs, business owners, and senior executives leading middle-market companies. His community comprises a diverse group of leading firms in technology, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and professional services.
Members run privately held SMB companies with a minimum revenue of $5 TO $75 million and a common goal of taking their businesses to the next level of performance.
The monthly investment is $1,000.00
Learn about how REF-OC/IE peer groups can help you
Entrepreneurs Peer Group
• Ideal Member: Entrepreneurs & founders
• Business Stage: Early-stage to growth-stage
• Revenue Range: Minimum $1.2M revenue
• Focus: Growth, leadership, exit planning
• Investment: $1,000/month
Top Executive Peer Groups
• Ideal Member: CEOs, owners & senior executives
• Business Stage: Established companies
• Revenue Range: Typically $5M to $75M revenue
• Focus: Strategy, leadership, accountability
• Investment: $1,000/month
Is a peer group right for you?
These groups aren't for everyone — and that's exactly why they work. You'll likely get the most from a REF-OC/IE peer group if:
You're successful, but it's lonely at the top — there's no one to talk through the hard calls with.
You're stuck working IN your business when you should be working ON it.
You've hit a plateau, and what got you here won't get you to the next level.
Your team and family can't fully relate, and your competitors aren't an option.
You want honest feedback and accountability from people with nothing to sell you.
If you nodded at even one of these, you're exactly who these groups are built for.
How a REF-OC/IE Peer Group Works
You'll meet monthly with a confidential group of 8–15 business owners and CEOs who understand the challenges you're facing. Every meeting is focused on helping one another solve real business problems—not networking or sales pitches.
What to Expect
✓ Who's in the room? ➝ CEOs and business owners from established, non-competing companies across a variety of industries.
✓ Meeting rhythm ➝ One focused half-day meeting each month using REF's proven meeting format.
✓ Monthly coaching ➝ Every member receives monthly one-on-one coaching with Ric to maximize progress between meetings.
✓ The experience ➝ Honest feedback, practical advice, accountability, and a confidential room where leaders genuinely enjoy learning together.
Is it worth it? Here's the honest truth.
There's a monthly investment — but the bigger commitment is your time and your willingness to show up, contribute, and act on what you hear. These groups work because every member is all in.
That's also why every candidate is personally screened. Ric makes sure your goals, stage, and experience fit the group you'd join — so the room stays valuable for everyone in it. Groups are capped at 15 and membership is by invitation. This isn't networking. It's a trusted, vetted board of peers invested in each other's success.
Led by Southern California's #1-Ranked Peer Group Facilitator
Ric Franzi has led more CEO peer group sessions than any other facilitator in Orange County or the Inland Empire—the result of facilitating continuously since 2007. He's also the author of the first book ever written on the power of CEO peer groups, host of Orange County's longest-running business talk show, and REF's Business Partner for the region—part of a global community of 3,000+ CEO members.
What Happens When You Stop Leading Alone?
Member Outcome Story
He wanted out — but the business couldn't run without him.
A founder was ready to exit, but he and his key executive made every decision themselves; the company couldn't function without them, and past attempts to change that had failed. Through their peer groups, they built a real strategic planning process, developed a management team, installed a board of directors, and mapped a clean exit. The result: he sold the business to his employees through an ESOP, fully cashed out, and handed the new president a plan to double revenue in five years — leaving behind a profitable, growing company built to outlast him.
That's what it looks like to build a business that runs without you.
What REF Members Say
“Ric has assembled a group of business professionals, each unique from the others, yet sharing similar experiences. It is this relationship that has proved invaluable to me as I manage the next stage of a 40+ year insurance agency. It amazes me how the perspective of a situation from different types of businesses can open eyes to a solution within my company. Without Ric, I would still have far too many unanswered questions. I highly recommend participating in REF-OC.”
“Ric Franzi is passionate about making an impact on people's lives. He runs a great REF community
in Orange County, of which I am part. He is a master facilitator and always works to provide value.
I appreciate everything Ric puts into his community, so I have been a member for over eight years.”
“Ric is an inspiring community leader with whom I have consistently met over the last six years. As a
member of his REF-OC Trusted Advisor and Executive Groups, I can attest to his community's value
for personal and professional growth. Many of the vendors and partners I work with daily are directly
related to his relationships and introductions through the reputation he has built in Orange County.”
“I tried several peer groups before joining REF-OC, and I’m so glad I finally found Ric’s group. Unlike
others, there’s no pressure to sell or constantly promote yourself. Instead, I found a community of
genuine entrepreneurs who openly share their experiences so we can all learn and grow together.
Ric is a fantastic facilitator—always supportive and encouraging us to stay engaged. It’s been one of
the most valuable communities I’ve joined, personally and professionally.”
“As a member of the OC REF peer group, I must say that it is a particularly rich and rewarding
professional experience for me personally and professionally. Ric brings a thoughtful and seasoned
perspective as my business coach, consistently offering guidance that enhances my thinking.
Each monthly session leaves me with fresh insights I can immediately apply to my business.
Dedicating this focused time every month has significantly impacted me and my business. I will be
forever grateful for the professional guidance and friendship that Ric has brought to my life!”
“As a REF-OC member for some time now, I have found incredible value in being a part of this
style of peer advisory group community.
My chair, Ric Franzi, has been an outstanding source of insight as a mentor and business
coach. Engaging with group members in our monthly meetings often leads to meaningful
discussions about relatable topics that I can immediately apply in my business.
I often leave these meetings with more clarity on navigating any current business challenges.
It’s well worth the one morning a month to focus strategically on my business.”
“I am a member of Ric’s REF-OC peer group community and have found this peer advisory
group highly valuable. Ric has been an insightful and steady presence as a business coach,
offering perspective and practical advice.
When I attend the monthly meeting, I leave with renewed clarity, thoughtful feedback,
and often a fresh angle on my challenge. It's beneficial to set aside one morning a month to
think strategically about my business and work on it, rather than in it..”
“Being part of REF has given me access to a community with the most
amazing group of leaders and executives across the world."
"It has been my great pleasure to work with Richard Franzi and to be part of his REF-OC Trusted Advisors Peer Group. Ric facilitates conversations to guide and support his REF-OC peer group members in growing their businesses. He helps members solve problems so we can thrive and be successful. He is motivational, insightful, and generous. He brings in exceptional speakers and shares key resources to help his members grow their businesses. I highly recommend Ric Franzi and REF-OC. "
"I am a member of Ric’s REF-OC peer group community. The value that this peer advisory group and Ric's coaching have provided to my business is beyond what I had imagined when I joined. Ric has been an insightful and excellent business coach.
I value his leadership of this group, and I find that when I attend the monthly meeting, I leave with renewed connection to others in the group and more clarity on my business. It's beneficial to set aside one morning a month to think strategically about my business and work on it, rather than in it."
"Being part of the REF-OC peer group has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Ric brings a thoughtful and seasoned perspective as a business coach, consistently offering guidance that challenges and sharpens my thinking.
Each monthly session leaves me with fresh insights and actionable ideas that I can immediately apply to my business. It’s a rare opportunity to step back, reflect, and engage with a group of like-minded professionals who genuinely understand the ups and downs of leadership.
Dedicating this focused time once a month has made a noticeable impact on how I approach both strategy and decision-making."
Companies I've Worked With
Ric has coached, advised, and spoken for leaders across technology, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, professional services, and more.
Orange County Executive Coaching
Executive Coaching
