Twenty years ago, Gomez came to this exact hair salon in search of a job opportunity. Many obstacles came her way but that did not stop her from loving her job. Her employer saw the potential that Lilia had as a women entrepreneur and her passion towards her work. A...

When it comes to diesel engines and the vehicles they power, Alfredo Garcia is a bonafide expert. But when it came to the business side, taxes, payroll, licenses, permits and such, Garcia was lost. That’s when he approached El Pájaro CDC for help with marketing,...

After a divorce and loss of her stake in an insurance business, Erica Lopez returned to her hometown of Watsonville, a single mother with little money and limited options. She knew she didn’t want to work for anyone, but wanted to start her own business. She was...

With a 30-pound box of cactus paddles (nopales) and his kitchen at home, Vicente Quintana started a business, El Nopalito Produce, that now employs 10 workers, processing 10,000 pounds a week and distributing in more than 30 markets across central California. While...