Rocke Sanchez
April 22, 2024
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Rocke Sanchez is the creator & owner of SHÄDÖW Sun Covers and a DJ Tech for major music festivals across the US.
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Rocke Sanchez is the creator & owner of SHÄDÖW Sun Covers and a DJ Tech for major music festivals across the US.
Vanessa has settled into her newfound home in Pasadena alongside her husband and business partner, Thomas Kalb, and their beloved pets. Together, the Tilaka Kalbs helm the independent venture Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery in Old Town Pasadena, serving classic American regional dishes alongside artisan cheeses and provisions. Vanessa is officially Head Cheese, focused on the cheesery offerings that span day to evening, takeaway wines, and overall operations.
Grace Takayama was born to a Korean mother and a Japanese Father. Nearly all her friends and family had traditional roles installed in them, the husband worked and the wife took charge of the household. Most of the men in her family were Bookkeepers, which inspired her to do the same.
Ryan Fletes is a 25-year-old entrepreneur based in San Gabriel, CA. In 2020, he launched his spicy seasoning company driven by his love for hot sauce. Before Ryan co-founded his new company, he worked in advertisement and sales at different companies in Southern California. Today, he applies the knowledge and experience he gained into Camp Scoville.
Nigel Williams’ artistic journey began at the age of nine, selling his watercolors to tourists on the island of St. Maarten where he grew up. With a passion for both art and music, Nigel pursued a degree in Music Education at Berklee College of Music in 1992. During his time at Berklee, his pastel work was showcased in an exhibition featuring musician-artists. Upon returning to St. Maarten in 1997, he studied under prominent local artist Ruby Bute, learning the importance of color in storytelling.
Alvaro Ontiveros is an immigrant from Mexico who first came over to spend time with his friends. During the pandemic in 2020 Alvaro started Birria Master when he lost his job in the tea industry. He started in Ave 26 with his own version of birria tacos and then soon made his way back to Pasadena as a taco truck.
Hugo Garicia was born in LA and grew up in the city of El Monte where he attended school from Cogswell Elementary, Kranz Middle School, El Monte Highschool, and later graduated from East LA College. While in high school and into college Hugo held a variety of different jobs all around the SGV – El Monte, West Covina, Rosemead, City of Industry, Monterey Park, Pasadena. He began his career in fitness in 2010 working for a big box gym in the personal training department in the city of Monterey Park and has now been a self-employed Fitness Trainer since 2013 in the city of Pasadena.
Ryan Lopez was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He created Lord Empanada as a necessity after losing his job due during the Pandemic in 2020. Ryan started Lord Empanada out as a popup in August of 2020, prepping the Empanadas out of his parent’s kitchen and frying them in a portable fryer on the weekends outside of local breweries. He was fortunate to quickly gain a positive following and was able to open a brick & mortar on October 21, 2021. He and his team have been blessed with good business and fortune ever since February 2023, when Yelp named Lord Empanada #61 on their Top 100 Places to Eat in the Country. Ryan feels he owes all and any future success he has to his parents, friends, family, community and his TEAM. They continue to support other local small businesses and those who helped guide Ryan when he was first starting out by selling their products in our storefront and also promote their brands on our growing social media platforms. Without the help of his community, there would be no Lord Empanada, and Ryan is forever grateful.
Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo was born and raised in San Gabriel to Mexican immigrant parents. She is author of Posada: Offerings of Witness and Refuge (Sundress Publications 2016) and Incantation: Love Poems for Battle Sites (Mouthfeel Press 2023). She considers herself an experiential, witness poet and place, including the SGV, is a regular theme in her work. A former Steinbeck Fellow and Poets & Writers California Writers Exchange winner, she’s received residencies from Hedgebrook, Ragdale, National Parks Arts Foundation in partnership with Gettysburg National Military Park and Poetry Foundation. Her poem “Battlegrounds” was featured at Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day, On Being’s Poetry Unbound, and the anthology, Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World (W.W. Norton). She is the director of Women Who Submit and teaches poetry and creative writing with Antioch University, MFA and UCLA Extension. Inspired by her Chicana identity, she works to cultivate love and comfort in chaotic times.
Edward Rodarte’s journey from the streets of Compton to becoming a prominent figure in both politics and corporate America is a testament to the power of resilience, transformation, and a relentless pursuit of a better life. One of the most challenging chapters of Edward’s life involved being a cold hearted narcissist who had a detrimental impact on his family. The mental and emotional toll was immense, He understood that he needed to heal not only for himself but for the sake of his loved ones.
