Episodes - Page 19 of 28

Jesse Torres

April 11, 2023 No Comments

Jesse Torres is principal and founder of ArroyoWest LLC, a minority-owned management consulting firm specializing in economic and workforce development. ArroyoWest clients include major economic development agencies, community colleges, chambers of commerce, corporations, and other organizations, and the project have range from helping to stand up COVID-19 relief programs for small businesses to helping to devise strategy for the implementation of regional workforce initiatives. Jesse is also the co-founder and president of Small Business Front Inc., a community building and media startup focused on small business, and he is the creator and co-host of the entrepreneurship podcast “Hack My Business.”

Aida Dimejian

April 4, 2023 No Comments

A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Aida Dimejian immigrated to the U.S. in 1976 and settled in Pasadena with her family. Aida is a former Huntington Hospital Registered Nurse who found her niche and her passion in the field of Real Estate, joining her husband Hovig who founded Century 21 Golden Realty in 1987, which is not Berkshire Hathaway Home Service Golden Properties. Aida oversees the management of their 3 businesses which are Real Estate, Mortgage and Escrow. She was the president of the Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors in 2002 and currently serves the organization with various committees and task forces.

Hector Pinto

March 28, 2023 No Comments

As founder and CEO of Quality Material Handling, Inc., Hector Pinto’s dedication and determination over the past 31 years has taken his business from a small one-man show to the growing multi-million dollar company it is today.

Alex Strauss

March 22, 2023 No Comments

Alexandra (Alex) Strauss was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. In High School Alex first encountered meth, which she later turned to after school, hanging around and out in South Central LA. During that time Alex found out she was pregnant at 19 years old, soon after she started going to school again at PCC, found a job, and concentrated on raising her daughter. Through severe medical conditions that her daughter was born with Alex found solace in God when she was tired and angry. As her daughter has grown Alex has found a love for hiking in the mountains, content creation, and photography.

Drew Girton

March 14, 2023 No Comments

Coaching people is a hobby for some but, Drew has been coaching since 2001. He was one of the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coaches at Western Michigan University from 2002-2004, then went on to personal training and management of a corporate gym from 2007-2013. In 2014 he founded and opened his gym Pendulum Fitness with his wife and business partner. Outside the gym Drew and his wife, Chris, have 2 children and he loves to pour over coffee, & Michigan Football.

Peter Chan

March 7, 2023 No Comments

Monterey Park Council member Peter Chan was first elected to the City Council in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He was the mayor three times in 2015, 2018 and 2020. Prior to his elected position, he graduated from La Salle College, Hong Kong and received a BA in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin. He is an accountant by profession.

Robert Simon

March 3, 2023 No Comments

Robert Simon was born at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. He is a Cal (UC Berkley) graduate and a Chez Panisse alum. He is inspired by all things sustainable and organic when it comes to food. Robert has judged wine for 12 years and operated two restaurants in Napa Valley plus four different locations in San Gabriel Valley. He has two kids, Max and Rachel, 27 and 28 respectively. Robert and Deborah have been married for 31 years and operate and own Bistro 45 for 33 years.

Joanna Jimenez

February 21, 2023 No Comments

Joanna M Jimenez was born in San Antonio Texas. She lived in Texas till the age of 6. Her family moved to Pasadena California in 1980 and that is where she completed high school. Joanna married her high school sweetheart right out of high school and had five children. Throughout her children’s education she volunteered in the PTA and was engaged in volunteering in her kids’ classrooms during their elementary school years. Joanna and her husband started a small swimming pool company which in time grew and became successful and is still in operation to this day. Joanna and husband also opened a small restaurant and two flower shops. The restaurant did not last long. However, the two flower shops were solely run by Joanna and became successful.

Nancy Davidson

February 14, 2023 No Comments

Nancy Davidson is the Executive Director of The Foundation for Living Beauty, a Pasadena-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of women with cancer. After graduating from The University of Redlands, Nancy began working in the corporate world, but quickly learned that her passion was in helping nonprofit organizations flourish. She has spent the past 35 years in nonprofit management, serving as the Executive Director of Escalon School in Altadena and CASA Los Angeles before assuming the reins of Living Beauty in 2016. For seven years, Nancy also had her own consulting company, assisting nonprofit organizations in strategic planning, fundraising and board recruitment and training.

Joan De Souza – B4B for Small Businesses

February 7, 2023 No Comments

Joan De Souza has 20 years managerial experience as the Customer Service Manager at the Los Angeles Times, managing and leading more than 200 staff. She was a decision-maker responsible for implementing a firm wide circulation system, which became the central hub of the subscription and delivery process. Currently she is the founder of a local business support group, Business4Business, which assists businesses to continuously succeed. Joan is extensively involved with her community. She served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce in which she was the Vice Chair of Membership.

Archives: Episodes