Every year, we celebrate the achievements of our clients and their contribution to the local economy at our annual success celebration. This year, we will celebrate the 15th anniversary of EGBI helping area businesses become profitable, sustainable, and an asset to the community through our training, coaching, and support services. Leading up to our big anniversary celebration, we will interview clients every week to feature a total of 15 success stories. If you missed last week, you can read about Christina Paz HERE.
Raymond Walker is owner of Original Walkers Barbershop, offering great haircuts and customer service to their clients. Visitors to the shop come in and relax from the hassle of life and get well groomed by a professional barber.
Below is a Question & Answer we recently had with Raymond.
Q: How has your
career added value to your life? To the community around you?
A: I can spend more time and work for my family. I provide a place to be comfortable at the barbershop with good service for our community.
Q: How long have you
been working with EGBI and how have they helped you?
A: I have been working with EGBI since last October. I went to business school and had overall knowledge about starting a business, but I didn’t know how to open my own business. I wanted to reinforce my knowledge with EGBI. I took a class at EGBI to learn how to run my barbershop. I have worked with Anwuli, EGBI’s Accounting Specialist, on setting up QuickBooks for my business.
Q: What would you
like everyone to know about you or your business?
A: I have had my own business since 2016. I invite not only men, but also women and children to my barbershop and provide good/friendly service. The place is created to be a pleasure for everyone.
Q: What is your
greatest wish?
A: I want to continue to grow my business. I have another goal to open a barber school to educate other barbers to provide quality, friendly service.
Raymond Walker is the second of the 15 clients we will share stories about each week leading up to our 15 year celebration. Please continue to follow us to read more about the businesses we assist. If you would like to further encourage these businesses, contemplate using the products and services of our alumni. To do so, visit our CLIENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
SAVE THE DATE! Celebrating Success Luncheon will be on September 6th, 2019. If you are interested in attending, reserving a table, or sponsoring our annual event, please contact Monica Peña at monica@egbi.org and 512-928-2594 . More information about the event HERE.
Every year, we honor the achievements of our clients and their contributions to the local economy at our annual Celebrating Success event. This year we will be celebrating our 15 year anniversary from when we were initially created to improve the technology digital divide in our community to now evolved to help business owners better understand how to run a successful business. Leading to our big commemoration we will be interviewing a client to highlight their success story each week, 15 in total .
Christina Paz is owner of Siller Preferred Services, an employment agency that specializes in the hospitality and warehouse industry. Her company works closely with their clients to help them secure and maintain jobs that will allow their workers to grow their financial freedom.
Below is a Question & Answer we recently had with Christina.
Q: How has your
career added value to your life? To the community around you?
A: I have more freedom, independence, and can support my
family. Also, I take pride knowing my business helps workers support their
family.
Q: What are struggles
you have overcome?
A: Originally I had a partner. Now I have my business alone without my old business partner. It was hard to start, but now running my business is better.
Q: How long have you
been working with EGBI and how have they helped you?
A: I have been working with EGBI for 5 years. I took a class in which Barbra Boeta was an instructor, as a Program Coordinator (now Executive Director). EGBI helped me successfully establish my business. They gave me a huge help and much support as far as business coaching and we office out of their incubation space. EGBI is always available when I need them. I highly recommend EGBI to others.
Q: What would you
like everyone to know about you or your business?
A: I approach every client with customized advice to fit their situation and I pride myself on treating each client individually. Additionally, I greatly value my employees and create a family environment for the business.
Christina Paz is the first of the 15 clients we will share stories about each week leading up to our 15 year celebration. Please continue to follow us to read more about the businesses we serve. If you would like to further support these businesses, consider using the products and services of our alumni. To do so, visit our CLIENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
SAVE THE DATE! Celebrating Success Luncheon will be on September 6th, 2019. If you are interested in attending, reserving a table, or sponsoring our annual event, please contact Monica Peña at monica@egbi.org and 512-928-2594 . More information about the event HERE.
As summer approaches,
water activities in Austin are very popular. Before enjoying in on the summer
fun, you should learn to swim and take into consideration if the places you are
visiting have a lifeguard for extra safety.
Seeing the need in these
areas, Miranda Melendez, the owner of I AM Ready Swim, offers pool monitors,
lifeguards, and teaches swim lessons. Her ideal customers are people or organizations
in need of these aquatic services.
She has tips to handle
clients who are afraid of water. “We try and get on our client’s level such as
holding their hands and going underwater together, or doing minimal things that
they are comfortable with until we can achieve the next level,” she continued.
Her favorite moment was when she had taught a 68-year-old woman how to swim
after being so scared of the water after a traumatic experience. It was on her
bucket list before she died to learn how to swim. “Now when I go to the pool I
see her swimming laps with her grandson and it brings me so much joy. I love
that there is no age limit on a person learning how to swim.”
Although she knew about
the aquatic business, she was limited on how to get started. Her lawyer
referred her to Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) and everyone there
pitched in to help her. “I learned how to build a new business module,
budgeting skills and how to run my books. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am
without these guys.”
One day she would like to open her own indoor pool facility. Her goals for this business is to reach as many lives as possible by teaching water safety, and prevent as many drownings as she can. As long as she can change clients’ perspective of the water and make them less afraid of it, her job is done. For more information about I Am Ready Swim, visit www.iamreadyswim.com.
Conforme el
verano se acerca, las actividades acuáticas en Austin se vuelven muy populares.
Antes de disfrutar lo divertido del verano debes aprender a nadar y para mayor
seguridad tener en cuenta que los lugares que visitarás tienen un salvavidas.
Al ver la
necesidad en estas áreas, Miranda Melendez, dueña de I Am Ready Swim, ofrece
monitores para piscinas, salvavidas y da lecciones de natación. Sus clientes
ideales son personas u organizaciones que necesitan de estos servicios
acuáticos.
Ella tiene
consejos de cómo manejar a clientes que le tienen miedo al agua. Nosotros
tratamos de estar al nivel del cliente así como: sostenerlos de la mano y
sumergirse en el agua con ellos o hacer lo más mínimo con lo cual ellos se
sientan cómodos hasta que logremos alcanzar el siguiente nivel”. Ella continuó.
Su momento
favorito fue cuando ella le enseñó a nadar a una mujer de 68 años de edad a
quien debido a una experiencia traumática le tenía mucho miedo al agua .
Aprender a nadar era algo que estaba en su lista de deseos antes de morir.
“Ahora que voy a la piscina y la veo nadando con su nieto me da mucha alegría.
Me encanta que no hay una edad límite para que una persona aprenda a nadar”.
Pero a
pesar de que ella sabía sobre el negocio acuatico ella estaba limitaba de cómo
empezar. Su abogado la recomendó a EGBI (Economic Growth Business
Incubator) y ahí todos le ayudaron.
“Aprendí cómo construir un nuevo módulo de negocios, aprendí habilidades de
presupuesto y cómo administrar mis libros de contabilidad. Definitivamente no
estaría donde estoy ahora sin estos chicos”
Algun dia le gustaría abrir sus propias instalaciones con piscina. Su objetivo de negocios es poder llegar a la mayor cantidad de vidas posibles enseñando sobre la seguridad del agua y prevenir tantos ahogamientos como sea posible. Mientras ella pueda cambiar la perspectiva de los clientes sobre el agua y hacerlos menos temerosos de esta, su trabajo está hecho. para mas informacion sobre I Am Ready Swim, Visita www.iamreadyswim.com
Traditional Mexican candy
is a great treat that all families and friends can eat together. Local made
artisan candies by Sweet Tsopelik have a variety of ingredients from fruits,
nuts, honey, syrup, flour, and corn which makes it perfect for anyone with a
sweet tooth.
Daniela Ariza, the owner
of Sweet Tsopelik, specializes in creating her own artisan candies that people
may have not seen in the United States before. Tsopelik means sweet or candy in Nahuatl, an
ancestral language from Mexico. She uses
organic ingredients and less sugar than the original candies from Mexico. She
also gives the option for vegans as well. “I didn’t want to use ingredients that
need refrigeration like milk or eggs. So now, anyone from a toddler to a senior
can try my candies.”
She started her business
after taking one of Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) workshop series,
“I took the class which helped me find business ideas.”
“I created “Garapiñados”
which are peanuts covered with sugar from my town. Even though it is my first
time to make candies, I read books, did research, and taught myself. I had many
failures to make perfect ones, but what I needed was more patience. Finally, I
shared good ones with my sisters in law and they loved the sweet treats. That
is how I decided to make my business about candies,” she explained.
Starting a business was
not always easy and Daniela had some obstacles. Due to her lack of transportation,
the venues she could sell her products to were limited. EGBI connected her to
organizations such as The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Las
Comadres para las Americas, and Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas. Daniela has
received help and support from those resources and the community to reach more
customers. Her next goal is to reach a broader, worldwide audience that will
buy her products.
These special artisan candies can be found when shopping at HOPE Farmer’s Market located in 412 Comal St, Austin every Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. For more information about Sweet Tsopelik, visit sweetsopelik.com.
Alicia’s Tacorriendo de Austin agrega algo extra a su
comida; ¡Amor!
Max Varela, dueño de Alicia’s Tacoriendo. Cocina todas
las comidas con pasión y amor por el gusto de una comida deliciosa. Alicia,
quien es famosa en Mustang Ridge por sus tamales, es su madre. Así que él
utiliza las recetas de ella. Su negocio local, de propiedad familiar se
especializa en auténtica comida mexicana de Monterrey, México a un precio
accesible. Él ofrece servicio de alimentos para cualquier tipo de ocasión o
lugar, junto con tamales disponibles para tu deleite.
“Yo he trabajado al lado de mi madre en muchos
festivales y eventos de venta de alimentos. Mi madre tiene más de 30 años en la
industria del servicio de alimentos y es propietaria de su propio carrito de comida.
Quiero ofrecerle oportunidades a mi familia a medida que vamos creciendo “, el comentó. La comunidad que visita su carrito de comida
recibe el amor que él le pone a cada platillo.
A pesar de que él tenía la experiencia, le fue muy
difícil establecer y promover su negocio. Para resolver su problema, Economic Growth
Business Incubator (EGBI), le ayudó a refinar su plan de negocio y le brindó
ideas de mercadeo. Pero más importante aún, es que continúan ofreciéndole
consejos y asesoramiento empresarial. Al completar la serie de talleres para
pequeños negocios de EGBI. Él fue elegible para una
membresía de un año en la Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC).
Y al ser parte de (GAHCC) le daría mayor exposición a su negocio a posibles clientes.
Puedes visitar su carrito de comida el cual está ubicado en 8503 Hilmoore Drive,
Austin, Texas 78719. Para más información sobre Alicia’s Tacoriendo
visita: www.facebook.com/aliciastacoriendo.
