When Priya Kumar talks about financial literacy, she isn’t just talking about making money—she is talking about true liberation and empowerment.  

Having grown up in Fiji, Kumar immigrated to the United States with her family when she was young. She watched her parents work diligently to create a comfortable, prosperous life for her and her siblings, and she saw how she could do the same: work a government job, climb the ranks, and retire with a 401(k). But while working as a business investigator for the Franchise Tax Board, Priya saw the alarming rate at which small businesses fail, and she noticed that the cause was often mismanaged revenue and insufficient planning for profit and growth. As a survivor of domestic violence, Priya had become an expert in financial literacy, investments, and the importance of having informed control over one’s income. She had come to understand that prosperity and security means more than just a steady corporate paycheck—and she knew she could make a difference for entrepreneurs by empowering them with the same financial management tools she had used to cultivate her own independence.

The Emotional Side of Money

Thus, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pivot My Profit was born. Through consultations, workshops, classes and partnerships with nonprofits, Kumar is on a mission to demystify money and help entrepreneurs and fellow abuse survivors to overcome financial trauma. “We dive into the emotional side of money,” Kumar says about her approach to shifting her clients’ perspectives. “Small business owners are very emotionally involved in their work– they’re trying to break generational curses and cycles of poverty. So, they have this emotional relationship, but many have never asked themselves about the relationship with money. Because of past trauma, they bring a scarcity mindset into their business.”  

 Combining financial strategy with business and life coaching principles, Kumar empowers client—many of whom are women from disadvantaged backgrounds—to analyze their mindset around money. She coaches them to face their finances head-on, understand how money flows through their business, and ultimately make a plan to ensure profitability and sustainability so that their business works for them.

“It all started when I had my own mindset shift,” she explains. “I realized that I was not looking at my opportunities correctly. I needed to build myself up and create new tools to be able to access these opportunities.” 

Partnership to Expand Her Network

In 2023, Kumar began working with the California Capital Women’s Business Center (WBC) to expand her offerings. As a speaker at the WBC’s Motivated Entrepreneur series, Kumar has grown her network of business owners and brought her holistic approach to finances to new audiences.  

“[My first experience with the WBC] really motivated me to keep working with them, because a lot of times when women are sitting around a table with predominantly men, there is little vulnerability,” she says. “But when women are coaching each other, they talk about family, sacrifices they have to make, guilt and shame over having to divide their attention.”  

Kumar found the environment cultivated by women entrepreneurs supporting and learning from one another to be ideal for her mix of technical financial education and empowerment. “They give everyone a chance to shine their light.”

To be sure, creating space for others to shine is the crux of Kumar’s entrepreneurship–and her life. “I love to say that I refuse to waste my journey, my education, my experience,” she explains when reflecting on her vision for the future of Pivot My Profit. “My life’s mission is anyone I meet, I want to leave them better than I found them. That’s what drives me – even if I’m just talking to someone at a coffee shop, I want to make a difference.” 

For Krystyna Kubran, her business, 352 Innovation, is the beginning of a paradigm shift of how vehicles are powered around the world. A mechanical engineer by trade, Krystyna is passionate about increasing access to electric vehicles while empowering automotive mechanics to maintain their service offerings as the industry shifts away from internal combustion car engines.  In partnership with her brother, an experienced mechanic, Kubran offers custom engine retrofitting and consults with automotive shops to provide education on servicing electric vehicle engines. 

Meeting a Need for Upskilling

Kubran’s idea for a business focused on electric vehicle retrofitting and education came about when she saw the need to ensure that the economy’s transition away from fossil fuel engines would be inclusive of the entrepreneurs who have made their livelihoods as mechanics. “I asked myself, ‘What would someone need to know to work on an EV effectively and reduce their liability while working on the car?’,” Kubran explains.  

From there, in collaboration with her brother, she set out to upskill mechanics and demystify electric vehicles. With a solid idea but needing insight into the best practices of business operations, Kubran connected with Charles Thomas, a counselor at the California Capital Women’s Business Center (WBC). “[Charles] has been my main guy,” she says about their work. “He’s had ideas that have completely transformed my business.” Through one-on-one business counseling, Kubran created her website, made her service offerings more specific, and learned the basics of cash flow analysis and profit and loss statement tracking. 

In launching her business, Kubran created a training program that she made available for subscription, and created a “Roadmap to the Clean Vehicle World” that envisions the process of undoing society’s reliance on fossil fuels. To increase her credibility and hone her knowledge, she became certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence.  

As she continues to build her clientele and position herself as a resource for education on electric vehicles, Kubran is looking forward to broadening her impact by opening her own shop for converting internal combustion engines.  

In many ways, Diala Jawhary’s entrepreneurial journey began decades before she started on the path to business ownership. Established in 2021, Jawhary’s business, A & D Solutions, is a management consulting firm that helps businesses and agencies support their work of climate stewardship and environmental justice—but her vision for ensuring that organizations achieve their development and sustainability goals with authentic inclusion of frontline communities started during her work in international community development.  

Now, with A & D Solutions, Jawhary supports this vision for large agencies through contract project management in areas like community outreach, stakeholder engagement, grant and report writing, research and more. Working with a procurement counselor at the California Capital APEX Accelerator, Jawhary has built a network of clients and collaborators that allow her to work towards a vision of sustainability and resilience.  

Listening to Communities

After earning her master’s degree in environment and resource studies, Jawhary began working for large agencies charged with building sustainable projects in underdeveloped communities—and she noticed a marked disconnect between the work that was reported and the work that was undertaken. “I noticed that there is always a way to present things in a way where it’s not actually what is happening on the ground,” says Jawhary, reflecting on the illuminating early years of her career. “There was no listening to the communities – the projects were just meant to check boxes.”  

Working in conflict areas and with groups sensitive to local corruption, civil war, and distrust of institutions, Jawhary wanted to know what caused this gap, knowing that the aid workers in the field had the best intentions. “I noticed that the communities opened up to me and told me things they wouldn’t tell others, and worked with me when they wouldn’t work with others,” she explains. “Because I was transparent and actually listened and treated them like real partners in reaching the common good.” 

In this way, Jawhary developed her philosophy that projects meant to benefit communities must be led by the priorities of those communities, and solidified her belief that approaches to environmental sustainability must be holistically grounded in community impact.   

From Philosophy to Practice

In 2021, when she was ready to reenter the workforce after several years as a stay-at-home mother, Jawhary explored her options for putting her skillset to use. With her educational background, experience in the field, and natural ability to build connections, creating a consultancy that would allow her to reach multiple agencies and organizations felt like a natural choice. “I always had my way of doing things that didn’t always line up with what happens with larger orgs,” she explains. “I didn’t want to go to a company and have to convince them of my way. So, I thought, ‘Why don’t I start my own thing?’”.   

From this vision, A & D Solutions was launched, and Jawhary put her passion for environmental social governance into action. After attaining the certifications necessary to contract with entities like Caltrans, the State of California, and the California Public Utilities Commission, Jawhary connected with the California Capital APEX Accelerator. Part of a national program under management of the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, the APEX Accelerator helps businesses prepare for, pursue, and perform on contracts with government agencies. For Jawhary, this meant mentorship, networking, and encouragement.  

Jawhary was matched with procurement counselor Alex McCracken, and the pair got to work immediately. Because Jawhary had already self-certified, McCracken began by helping her refine her offerings, access educational opportunities, and respond to requests for proposal. 

“[My counselor] was able to engage me at the level I was at rather than treating me like a computer. She made it customized and personalized,” says Jawhary, reflecting on how working with a counselor led her to opportunities she did not foresee. “She would tell me what research to do, but she also went beyond that and introduced me to other businesses that she thought would be good partners for the proposals I was submitting.” 

A Bright Future Grounded in Partnership

As an entrepreneur new to the consulting field, these partnerships were key in helping Jawhary land some of her first contracts. With this network of support, Jawhary has brought her grant writing, community engagement, and end-to-end project management services to clients including the California State University system, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the State of California Coastal Conservancy.  

Looking ahead to the future of A & D Solutions, Jawhary hopes to continue educating agencies and corporations about the importance of environmental social governance that fit the criteria for citizen engagement and sustainability.   

“We need meaningful engagement of all stakeholders, and not just checking the box,” she says when envisioning how she can scale the impact of A & D Solutions. “I believe this is the only way forward with the problems we’re facing—we need the whole community to be partners.”

The sustainability of small businesses is always worth celebrating—and when that comes with an official award, all the better. On Friday, May 3rd, two small businesses that have worked with California Capital programs were honored at the 2024 SBA Sacramento District Small Business Awards, as part of National Small Business Week. The awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony in distinct categories.

ExcelDent Dentistry, owned by Gabriela Solano and her husband Dr. Miguel Guerra, won Startup of the Year.

From the beginning of their business journey, Gabriela has worked with Charles Thomas, a California Capital Women’s Business Center business counselor. Charles nominated ExcelDent for the award and presented the award at the ceremony. As they navigated the purchase and operation of their dental practice in Sacramento, Charles helped Gabriela and Dr. Guerra understand their finances, business planning, and permit requirements. “Charles brought a mix of professionalism and encouragement right from the start, which was exactly what I needed to get our dental office off the ground,” says Gabriela. “He guided me through all the essential resources and made sure we dotted our i’s and crossed our t’s with every agency involved.”

Anvaya Solutions, owned by Shobha Mallarapu, was named Contractor of the Year. has worked with California Capital APEX Accelerator counselor James Aldea over the years to prepare to bid (and perform!) on government contracts, and she has grown to be a major player in the cybersecurity space.

As entrepreneurs continue to power our local economies and communities, California Capital is proud to put their stories at the forefront and ensure they get the recognition they deserve.

A typical morning for Patrick Bellard begins at 3:45: he is up, finished with his workout, and ready to take on the day’s work orders by 6.  He’ll start his shift at a hauling service, delivering materials for various construction projects including freeways and community development, attend classes in business administration at CSU Sacramento in the afternoon, and return home to spend time with his two daughters. With this ambition and dedication to providing a steady livelihood for his family, Patrick decided in late 2023 to purchase a semi-truck and trailer of his own to begin building his own construction delivery company, Timeless 500.  

With in-depth advising from Sacramento Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and funding from the California Capital Direct Lending center,Patrick purchased his truck in early 2024 and has begun building his clientele operating Timeless 500.  

As Patrick recalibrated his plans for the future after a move to Sacramento from the Bay Area, his studies in business and his experience with the trucking industry led him to a vision of himself as a multi-industry entrepreneur, with a brand that incapsulates his values of hard work, empowerment, and service. He decided to start by launching his own long-haul trucking company—but he knew he would need funding to get started.  

At the recommendation of a friend, Patrick connected with Sacramento Valley SBDC for training on the technical aspects of running a business and preparing to apply for a loan. Patrick’s business advisor, Kevin Herndon, helped him write a strong business plan and realistic two-year financial projections, two documents that every business owner needs when seeking financing.  

“[Kevin] was awesome. He really helped me go through the process” says Patrick.  “I was new to it, and for a while it seemed tedious to me, but it was a great learning process for me.” 

In addition to the technical assistance, Kevin helped Patrick foster a relationship with the California Capital Direct Lending team, knowing that non-traditional financing would be a better fit for a start-up like Patrick’s. 

“I was having a hard time with conventional banks trying to get a conventional loan, so I came over to California Capital,” explains Patrick, reflecting on the importance of working with a team that believed in his vision. “Through them, they made it happen for me. They helped me make my dream come true.”  

Thanks to his perseverence, and the expertise that he tapped into at Sacramento Valley SBDC, Patrick accessed a $50,000 loan to purchase a semi-truck and cover working capital expenses to get Timeless 500 off the ground.  

As he expands his business and his story, he is quick to shout out those who helped him lay the foundations.  

“Sacramento Valley SBDC and California Capital helped me every step of the way,” he reflects, adding that the support has continued after his loan closed. “I didn’t have to do everything myself. It always takes a team.” 

While he sub-contracts with his previous employer to build his clientele, Patrick continues to dream of ways to expand the Timeless brand and provide motivation for other aspiring entrepreneurs.  

“I’m looking for sustainability in my business, and I’m also into teaching and helping people,” he says. “I’m just here to say that you can do it—I’m living proof. Stick to the prayers, work hard, make it happen.” 

California Capital’s no-cost resources are made possible in part with support from JP Morgan Chase. 

For Joe Wilson and Jesse Ledin, owners of Bear & Crown Pub, opening a British eatery in Northern California was a new endeavor in their personal and professional lives—but in many ways, it was familiar territory.  The restaurant, which celebrated its grand opening in August of 2023, is an embrace of the unique backgrounds of each of its founders.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Ledin has worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for nearly two decades, with experience ranging from banquet catering to overseeing restaurant openings, while Wilson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) bringing extensive accounting experience and his British heritage to the enterprise.  Despite their experience, being a start-up restaurant presented challenges for accessing capital through a traditional bank loan—so when they were looking for funding to finalize their launch, they turned to California Capital and secured a loan that allowed them to complete their renovations of their Old Sacramento location.

BRITISH ROOTS, CALIFORNIA VIBE

Born in London to English parents, Wilson grew up eating—and enjoying—beloved British dishes. When Ledin stepped back from his role at another local restaurant, and the couple realized that their combined skillsets would translate well into operating a restaurant together, the idea of opening a traditional British pub immediately came to mind.

“We saw a gap for a British pub in Sacramento, and we were craving that homey feel,” explains Ledin, adding that they were intent on opening near midtown or downtown Sacramento, where they live.

What was originally envisioned as a hole-in-the-wall canteen, says Wilson, has developed into more of a California spin on the time-honored public houses of the United Kingdom. “It reflects my upbringing, because I’m both British and American, and the playful modern spin fits us more,” he says.

To be sure, the brand itself is a deliberate nod to both locales. Bear & Crown follows the usual naming convention of pubs by having two nouns joined together, says Wilson, explaining that they chose bear to honor California and crown as a salute to hometown NBA team, The Kings. With a logo designed by local artist Spencer Parry, Bear & Crown is as Sacramento as a British-themed eatery can be.

SEEKING MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

When they began to pursue the project in earnest, Ledin’s connections in the Sacramento restaurant industry proved to be invaluable mentors, and Wilson’s knowledge of accounting and business management made the planning s

eamless. Both of their families are supportive of the vision as well, and have invested in the start-up costs. With support from California Capital, they were able to finish their tenant improvements and open on schedule.

“Working with [California Capital] was really easy, and it was great to have them visit the site and see the behind-the-scenes of how we were putting the money to use,” explains Wilson. “Working with a nonprofit lender was also a reflection of our love for the local community.”

HUSTLE, BUSTLE, AND PLANS FOR GROWTH

Since their grand opening, the founders have kept their staff—and themselves—busy.  They are running promotions for Sacramento Kings fans heading to games at nearby Golden 1 Center, hosting private events and preparing to host more community events with their new entertainment permit.  In the coming months, they also plan to pilot a seasonal initiative in which they will partner with local nonprofits to offer a special menu item whose sales will support the nonprofit of the season.

Add this to their regular happy hours and weekly, rotating Sunday Roast menu, and it is clear that Wilson and Ledin are staying true to the long-established tradition of pubs being more than a restaurant: Bear & Crown is quickly becoming a hub for entertainment, community building and inclusivity.

Edwin Balli isn’t new to business ownership—but with the purchase of Rio Pub in Rio Linda, California, he is taking on restaurant ownership for the first time. This year, Balli worked with Sacramento Valley SBDC and the California Capital Lending Center to enter the restaurant business and relaunch Rio Pub as a neighborhood institution.   

With a background in the tech industry, Balli launched his first business building custom computers and point-of-sale systems for small businesses with a college friend in 2012. From there, working as a business systems analyst for firms like LinkedIn and Facebook, Balli refined his skills of keeping a business running, so that by November of 2022 when he was ready for a pivot away from Silicon Valley, he was prepared to step back into business ownership.  

Knowing that he did not want to start a new enterprise from scratch, Balli worked with a broker to search for turnkey businesses on the market to buy. His one stipulation: he was not looking for businesses in the restaurant industry. “Then Rio Pub came up,” Balli says, laughing. “We came to see it and instantly fell in love with the neighborly vibe and the friendly people.”

Tapping Into Resources

Balli instantly envisioned the ways that he could revamp the space—he was sold, and he was looking to buy. To prepare to make an offer and enter unfamiliar business terrain, Balli worked with Panda Morgan, a business advisor with Sacramento Valley SBDC, a program of California Capital FDC.   “I had built business plans for start-ups, but never for an existing business,” he says, explaining that different considerations in the formatting and growth projections. “Working with Panda is what helped me realizing that [the business] was viable.”  

After working out what his purchase offer would be and the capital infusion he would need to make it possible, Balli was referred to the California Capital Lending Center to apply for a loan. Without restaurant industry experience, Balli had a hard time finding funding opportunities from traditional lenders—but as a mission-based lender, California Capital was able to take a holistic approach and consider Balli’s business experience and detailed business plan. Ultimately, Balli was approved for funding and celebrated the grand re-opening of Rio Pub in October of 2023. Continuing to work with his business advisor, Balli is honing his skills in accounting, managing inventory, and is applying his business analyst background to assess his progress and plan for growth.  

Creating a Community Hot Spot

Since opening, Balli has worked hard to build trust in the local community and establish a steady clientele base. “I want to get the ‘new owner, new mentality’ message to the community,” explains Balli. “We’re hosting events and making the space more family-friendly. The first thing I bought when I got the place was an arcade machine.” 

To be sure, Balli is well on his way to hosting events every night of the week: their current calendar boasts brunch on Sundays, Taco Tuesdays, Trivia Wednesdays and Karaoke Thursdays. Another local business, D-Dub’s Grubs, rents the kitchen space and serves up innovative and indulgent eats for the pub’s customers.  The consistency is paying off, says Balli. “My goal is to pub Rio Pub on the map beyond Rio Linda and get clients from areas like Natomas, Antelope, and Elverta.  I’m getting feedback from bartenders that they’re seeing new faces.”   

With a clear vision and the skills, expert advisors, and community buy-in to make it a reality, Edwin Balli is well on his way to making Rio Pub a destination for family-friendly fun.

Next month, the Women’s Business Center will host the Final Round of their Small Business Showcase Pitch Competition, the capstone event of their Motivated Entrepreneurs networking program. Five entrepreneurs will present their business pitches at the free event, and the top three will receive cash prizes. The competing business owners were selected after completing the first round of the Small Business Showcase in November, where 13 total businesses presented for the chance to pitch at the larger event. 

Preparing for a pitch competition is an impressive feat: the businesses owners you’ll meet below worked hard to finalize their business plans and translate that into a succinct, 3-minute presentation that demonstrates who they are, knowledge of their industry, and how their business solves a problem in that market.

The Final Round will take place on Tuesday, December 12 from 5pm-8pm at 1442 on the Blvd. We hope you’ll join us to cheer on the finalists, learn what it takes to effectively pitch a business, and network with local small business champions.

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In the meantime, let’s meet the businesses who will pitch at The Final Round!

Itacate, founded by Martha y. Díaz

After falling in love with backpacking and realizing that options for Latin-inspired meals in the back country were limited, Martha Y. Díaz created Itacate – a Latin backpacking food company for adventurers with great taste and strong values.

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DRVA Emergency Rescue, Founded by Taneika Jones

Taneika Jones is squashing any and all stereotypes of women in the automotive industry with her company, DRVA – a certified green, woman owned and operated Emergency Roadside business dedicated to rescuing stranded motorists experiencing roadside emergencies. 

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The Lux Barber Lounge, Founded by Ron Burt

Ron Burt, proud founder of The Lux Lounge, has over 10+ years of barber experience and is dedicated to helping clients look and feel their absolute best. 

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TAP Wine Lounge, Founded by Cynthia Dees Brooks

With her love for food, wine, art, music, & community, Cynthia Dees Brooks opened up the The Artisan Pour (TAP) Wine Lounge where guests live in the moment and enjoy luxury wines from Black-Owned wineries 

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Best In Tents, Founded by John Miller and Seth Abbott

John Miller used his passion for nature and live music to create Best in Tents with his business partner, Seth Abbott – luxury camping with full power accommodations at music festivals along the west coast. 

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We hope you’ll join us on December 12th to hear more from these inspiring, visionary entrepreneurs!

RSVP

Like we said, preparing for a pitch competition is no easy feat. Let’s meet all of the participants from Round 1 who are working hard on their businesses!

Bahiya Spaulding, Founder of Rock Your Crown Beauty

Specialized products and support services for women of color experiencing hair loss. 

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Ashley Geoffrey, Founder of The Suite Spot Collective

Commercial real estate and turnkey rental services for beauty industry entrepreneurs. 

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Da’Shena Payne, Creator of The Moisture Oil Comb (MOC)

An innovative hair care tool designed to make hair oiling fast and easy. Part of CAGED. 

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Iyanna Jennings, founder of Nouvelle Healing

An inclusive reiki healing studio offering other mind-body healing services. 

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La Toya Holmes-Green, Founder of g4 All Access Transport

Non-emergency medical transportation designed to increase accessibility. 

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Pamela Marquez, Founder of Puzz e Gata Jamaica

Homemade, authentic agua de jamaica inspired by the flavors of Mexico.

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Naeemah Capers, founder of House of Priti

A membership-based community for women and moms to learn the basics of investing.  

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Christa Lee, Founder of Priti Mobile Notary

A remote and mobile notary service to make notarization quick and accessible. 

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These entrepreneurs are the reason our local small business ecosystem is vibrant and growing!

Like many industries have in recent years, construction companies are beginning to understand the importance of cultivating a diverse workforce. The Associated General Contractors of America released a report in 2018 detailing the business advantages of diversity and inclusion (including increased innovation and safety and reduced employee turnover), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Construction Inclusion Week October 16 through 20. Recognizing the need to prepare the industry for evolutions in workplace culture, environmental health and safety professional Tiana Drisker founded Hazard Eliminators, creating occupational safety trainings and bringing a holistic approach to occupational safety that focuses on communication, situational awareness, and other soft skills.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVOLUTION

In an industry that has historically lacked ethnic and gender diversity, change cannot be expected to occur overnight—as of 2020, only about 10% of workers in the industry were women, while only 5.1% were Black. So when Drisker first entered the construction industry as an environmental health and safety professional, she knew that her outlook would stand out.  “Through my lens as a Black woman, I’ve been able to contribute to the field with a holistic approach of mindfulness, encouraging self-awareness, and situational awareness,” says Drisker, who also has a background in healthcare which increases her attention to personal health as safety. “My approach towards safety has been to look at the bigger picture and not just the skills of the workers.” This approach, she felt, was not always valued in the workplaces she would train.

Drisker saw an opportunity to elevate what traditional environmental health and safety (EHS) training entails. Knowing the importance of strong communication about personal comfort and mindset, Tiana imagined an approach to standard EHS training–about how to alert coworkers of immediate hazards, how to operate machinery safely, and more–that integrated behavioral safety, encouraged workers to see themselves as leaders in workplace safety and was inclusive of diverse identities and perspectives. “I wanted to empower the construction field to be prepared for the influx of all different types of people,” says Drisker.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR CHANGE

Without the opportunity to implement these changes in her workplace, Drisker turned to the Women’s Business Center (WBC) for guidance on starting her own business. Working with a business counselor, Charles Thomas, Drisker solidified her vision into a business idea, wrote a business plan and a budget, and launched Hazard Eliminators in 2020.

As the CEO of her own business, Drisker is able to leverage her professional certifications and technical knowledge to create unique training programs that cover the requisite safety information and include education on interpersonal communication, self-awareness and diversity. With her programs, Drisker also educates clients on how to create safe workplaces for women, including appropriately fitted personal protective equipment.

“It’s not just about how well you can drive a forklift, it’s your awareness when you use those tools,” she explains. “It’s your communication style and how you spoke with other people in your environment about the hazards that they would be engaging with during that task.”

GROWING LEADERS

Beyond ensuring a safe workplace, Drisker knows she is an advocate for employees and their rights. She sees her methods for safety training as a way that employees can feel empowered to communicate their needs and boundaries and confident that their colleagues understand them as well. “I want to grow leaders, grow people, grow their perspective,” she says, adding that her programs are also accessible to businesses experiencing growth and need to integrate safety plans for the first time.

Through her work with the WBC, Drisker has gained contracts with repeat clients and continued to acquire her business certifications. “[Charles] has connected me with other professionals that I’ve been able to do business with, and I don’t know where I would be without his guidance,” she says. Looking forward, Drisker is hoping to work on her business full-time. In the meantime, she is expanding her clientele and teaching classes to repeat clients. As the construction industry continues to become more diverse, the knowledge and innovation of leaders like Tiana Drisker will be in ever-greater demand.

      Ask Pamela Marquez about the first time she drank agua de jamaica in Mexico,  and the answer will span generations. “It did elicit ancestral memories in me,” says the Sacramento local, reflecting on her travels across the country. “It empowered my body.”  Marquez founded Puzz e Gata Jamaica in 2020 to share the benefits of the sweetened, cinnamon-spiced hibiscus flower tea across Northern California, after being unable to find any product that matched the traditional recipes she had encountered in Mexico. This year, she began working with the Women’s Business Center to develop strategies for the sustainable growth and innovation of her mission. 

Global History, Personal Mission

As Marquez learned during her research, the hibiscus flower is not native to North America. The flower and its tea came to Central America from West Africa by way of the Caribbean, and variations of the beverage are still enjoyed widely across those regions. In fact, the differing recipes from regions within Mexico was a major inspiration for Marquez to bring a traditional brew to Sacramento. Traveling twice a year to different states, she spoke with the women selling their home-brewed agua de jamaica, absorbing the rich cultural significance of the drink as well as their unique recipes.   

Puzz e Gata at the Sacramento Farm to Fork Festival in 2022.

“I learned the cultural healing properties, the folk medicine uses of the past, and even the current medicinal qualities,” Marquez explains, pointing out that hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants, can fight inflammation and has been associated—in her personal experience—with alleviation of symptoms of depression. Benefits, she adds, that aren’t present in the sugary drink mixes that merely mimic the flavors of jamaica that she found outside of Mexico. “My purpose is to get real, authentic, hibiscus flower tea to the Sacramento community.”   

Growing Flowers (And a Business)

After developing her own recipe, a combination of methods and ingredients she learned during her travels, Marquez successfully launched Puzz e Gata Jamaica through the Alchemist Community Development Corporation’s Alchemist Kitchen Incubator Program. This gave her access to a commercial kitchen where she could brew and bottle her recipes, made from flowers grown organically in her home garden.  

Pamela Marquez brews four variations of jamaica tea.

With this early success, Marquez was able to begin selling at local grocery stores, including the Sacramento Natural Foods Cooperative and the Davis Food Cooperative. But without a background in running a business, creating a pathway to sustainability and growth was a separate challenge. She turned to the Women’s Business Center and began working with business counselor Prashante Bailey-Lewis.  

“I accept as much help as I can with my business, so whenever I see an opportunity to ask for help, I do,” says Marquez, adding that with Bailey-Lewis’s guidance, she raised her prices and developed new strategies for marketing her product to restaurants. “She’s just a well of knowledge.” Marquez has also received support with grant proposals, pitch deck creation, and attended WBC networking events to build her community connections.  

Preparing for a Sweet Future

Marquez grows and harvests her ingredients by hand.

The whole of Marquez’s operation seeks to elevate the culture and flavors of Mexico: from the name Puzz e Gata, her favorite Spanglish phrase for “pussy cat” with a feminized twist, to the recipe variations she offers. In addition to traditional agua de jamaica with cinnamon, Marquez also offers a less-sweetened “tart” brew, a jalapeno infusion, and an infusion with cactus or nopales.  

As a Chicana founder, Marquez’s impact on the empowerment of Mexican heritage goes beyond her personal mission. Studies have cited Latino-owned businesses as the fastest growing segment of small businesses in the country, with the number of Hispanic women entrepreneurs growing 137 percent between 2007 and 2016. By bringing her product to the marketplace, Marquez is contributing not only to the celebration of a staple of Central American culture, but to the visibility of Latina entrepreneurs in our small business economy. 

In the years ahead, Marquez’s main goal is to secure her own brick and mortar store where she can create new recipes, test innovative uses for hibiscus flower, and feature local artists. “I know I’m going in the right direction,” she says, “I can see all of the creativity that’s going to come out of this business.” 

And an insider tip? Try any of Puzz e Gata’s bottled blends poured over ice with a rim of Tajin or Chamoy, says Marquez, and keep your eyes peeled for hibiscus rim sugar for holiday specialty beverages.