Lina Mills worked in the catering business for 25 years. Then she had to go on disability leave for three months due to a back injury. While out on leave, her clients kept calling to ask where she was going next. They wanted to hire her again.
Category: Success Story
Sana Javeri Kadri, Diaspora Co.
Everything about Diaspora Co exudes passion. From the company’s growing line of consciously sourced and sustainably grown spices and its vibrant digital media channels to several creative product partnerships.
Leah Park Fierro, Milkfarm
After six years as manager of Silverlake Cheese Shop, Leah Park Fierro knew she wanted to start her own business. She wanted to express her passion for educating the community on the fine tastes of artisan cheese. Her startup, Milkfarm, is a neighborhood cheese shop that sells hundreds of international cheeses. They also sell artisanal wine, beer and charcuterie from small, independent local producers.
Shani Jones, Peaches Patties
Peaches Patties is owned and operated by Shani Jones and Yeheyis Bedada. The duo bake and cater traditional Jamaican dishes and patties. The name for Peaches Patties comes from Shani’s mother, who is lovingly referred to as “Peaches” by friends and family. According to Shani, if you visited the Jones family household anytime in the late ’80s or ’90s, you might have found a Jamaican beef patty shoved in between the sofa cushions.
Annika and Robert Corbin – I Like Pie
Most small business owners face some obstacles on the road to Startup, but Annika Corbin feels like their “commitment was tested on a daily basis and often the obstacles seemed like they would be impossible to overcome. Having a good idea was not enough. It took a strong business plan, proper funding, guidance from professional resources, and very thick skin.”
Shannon Saathoff, Once in a Licetime
Entrepreneur Shannon Saathoff launched Once in a Licetime in 2014 to answer the needs of parents searching for support and treatment to eradicate lice. She now has seven locations across Southern California. The Orange County Small Business Development Center (OC SBDC) presented the official grand opening for Once in a Licetime’s location in San Juan Capistrano on June 8th, 2018.
Teri Beckett, SKS Engineering and Planning, Inc.
Teri Beckett is the founder, President, and Chief Engineer of SKS Engineering and Planning, Inc. As a civil engineer, ocean engineer, and arborist leading a team of four, Teri works to ensure coastal construction projects are environmentally compliant.
Deanna Hurn, Miracle Math Coaching
When Deanna Hurn opened Fairfield’s Miracle Math Coaching 12 years ago, she was only in her mid-twenties. She did not know the first thing about running her own business.
Black Entrepreneurs Making History
SÜPRMARKT started out as a pop-up produce store located in farmer’s markets, offering low-cost organic food to Olympia Auset’s community. When she decided it was time for a permanent spot, she enlisted the help of CDC Small Business Finance.
Renata Maculans, Renata’s Creperie
Renata Maculans started her dream business in a truck. Her idea was to offer people in her town inexpensive, nutritious food that was also interesting and tasty. She went to the North Coast SBDC in 2000 for initial assistance in concept development and bookkeeping setup.