Small Business Concierge, Silicon Valley Edition, Spring 2018 (Official Launch 1st Edition) by Small Business Concierge Magazine

M a g a z i n e | Silicon Valley

Catrina Blair

State of California DGS

Dennis King

Small Business Certifications

Executive Director

of the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center

More. Better. Faster. Prevent Violent Crime on Campuses

Margaret Jackson #1 Small Business

“Are you not entertained?” Boost your business with employee engagement

Radio Personality AM 1220 KDOW

Silicon Valley’s

THREE MUSKETEERS for small business Spring 2018

Choose a Membership Package Get Your Flexible Digital Category Listings 2018-2019 Slicon Valley Editions

Table of Features

10| cover story More. Better. Faster. get your business off the ground

SVSBDC, Executive Director Dennis King talks Small Business

Boost your business with employee engagement

Young and Savvy

Preventing Violent Crime on Campuses

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you not entertained?â&#x20AC;?

Introducing Margaret Jackson Small Business Concierge

California DGS Small Business Certification and Procurement is Bridging the Gap

Understanding your FICO score

Departments

Small Business Science Lab

Y/E 2.0

S.T.E.A.M.

Women In Small Business

Bridging the Gap

The Bottom Line

Small Business Concierge Advantage Guide

Upcoming Events

Silicon Valley SNUG 25

Entrepreneurship and Family

Unfolding the SBC Magazine and Pancakes Part I

Business and Politics: 5 tips to build important relationships for your business

Contents 06

A Letter From

Where is the money for my business hiding?

Seven Things to consider before creating your visual identity

Business and Politics: 5 tips to build important relationships for your business

How is Your Business Image?

Why Use a Travel Agent Instead of The Internet?

City of San José Small Business Ally Program

Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace

4 or More F’s, No G.P.A. Required

Boundaries in the Workplace

The Advance Health Care Directive and Why You Need One

How SMBs Can Catch the Blockchain Revolution | An Introduction

Mobile Application Replaces Traditional Whistleblower Hotlines

How to reach your sales goals?

Successful Women Entrepreneurs Find Support Resources

Small Business Dilemma: To Save, or Not to Save, is that the Priority?

#MeToo. What’s Next?

Doing Business with California Utilities

Margaret Jackson

Editorial A Letter From Margaret Jackson, Radio Personality Welcome to the Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine official launch. We have filled our pages with your stories, your expertise, your events, your businesses, and your concierge listings to build and grow your business through this publication. Our goal was to provide a flexible mass media platform for their small business. It is the small business voice. The magazine ties into our Silicon Valley radio platforms. The smartest move that a dreamer, innovator, aspiring entrepreneur, the business owner could do is to leverage this magazine to propel their business success goals. The science lab is the go-to spot for learning about the science of business. The Y/E 2.0 is for the young entrepreneur. We want to support our young people to dream bigger and to give them the tools, support, and inspiration to go for it! The S.T.E.A.M., adventure is staying in-tuned to the global revolution in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics without losing and appreciation the arts role in the revolution. Women In Business is our crown jewel of the magazine. It is our centerpiece to showcasing Silicon Valley’s businesswomen as formidable business leaders and CEOs. Bridging the Gap is our going head-to-head on diverse topics and differences in the workplace. It is about time for us to start building bridges. The Bottomline is the bottom line for small business owners to understand investing, finances, sales, credit, debt how money works, and so much more. What we have done with our digital magazine has not been done. We have given the small business owner an advantage. We are disrupting the small business world using mass mediums, global platforms, and today’s technology. Meet our Small Business Concierge Advantage members through the contributing articles, advertisements, upcoming events, and the Small Business Concierge Advantage listing. Small businesses are the backbone of America; we are the force that makes our Country great. Don’t miss an opportunity to engage and support small business owners throughout the globe. Invest in your communities around the world. Enjoy our first edition of the Small Business Concierge Magazine, Silicon Valley. Sincerly,

Margaret Jackson Margaret Jackson Bay Area’s #1 Small business radio personality AM 1220 KDOW | Money 2.0 Business on the Edge Romans 10:9

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FOUNDER AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Margaret A. JACKSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jesse L. Lee SBC MAGAZINE DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Devin Oten CREATIVE OUTREACH DIRECTOR & NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Daniel R. Herd

ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTING ART DESIGN

La Toya Hardy

ANIMATOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Olivia Hancock

Alvie C. J. Jackson

CONTRIBUTING SBC WRITERS Mardin Amiri, Catrina Blair, Chandra Brooks, Chante Dent, Nancy Franklin, Xuan Ha, Bradley Hamada, La Toya Hardy, Margaret A. Jackson, Keith Koo Jesse L. Lee, Tim McLaughlin, Cheryl Lynn Nelson, Daniel Newell, Devin Oten Alicia Owens, Marilyn Randolph, Cyril Rayan, Anita Rubio, Adam Ruch Kelly Sheahan, Elizabeth Stewart, Ruth VanDerostyne COVER PHOTO Minnis Professional Building Milpitas, California CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & STOCK PHOTOS Vennessa Arellane, Roberto Flamenco Alvie C. J. Jackson, Mike Rodriguez, Digital Juice, Shutterstock SBC SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS Facebook, Instagram LinkedIn, Twitter #MySBCMagazine #MyConciergeAdvantage RELEVANT WEBSITES www.businessontheedge.biz www.smallbusinessconcierge.biz www.kdow.biz www.kfax.com PUBLISHED BY Business On the Edge, Incorporated (BOTE) Quarterly Magazine 2018 Â© Copyright, All Rights Reserved Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Small Business Science Lab

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Exploration, Innovation, Creation, Big Ideas, Organization, Infrastructure and more, you will find it in the Small Business Science Lab.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

More. Better. Faster. By: Jesse L. Lee, Jr. | Editor In Chief

et’s face it, business is easy. You sell a service or product, collect your money, and make a profit. As easy as it sounds, when you combine the complexities of law, accounting, sales and marketing, operations, human resources, purchasing, information technology, as well as research and development things get increasingly more complicated. If you’re a neophyte entrepreneur, the key is to eliminate as much risk as possible to realize an opportunity’s full potential. This article is about what an entrepreneur must do to develop a better organization and to create a firm that can withstand volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous marketplaces. Many business organizations fail because they do not execute one or more of the basic critical success factors well enough to survive. Remember, the basics are simply to sell, collect your money, and make a profit. You may be wondering exactly where to start to get your business off the ground. Consider your unique value and current position. People possess one or more of three types of experiences that will propel an individual into business. The first is the person who has journeyman skills and who knows a trade or profession. Sufficient experience can be gained by getting an education in a professional or technical field as well as by performing on-the-job training. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have an industry standard certification under hand too. Second, a person may

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have managerial experience or may know the ins and outs of a trade or industry that gives him/her valuable insight that can be marketed. Third is the inventor, who has an idea that can be patented and exploited. A proof of concept can be developed while raising sufficient capital to go to market. Maybe you have already started a business (ad) venture. You may be frustrated because your business is not where you want it to be. You may be having time management trouble because you are being pulled in several different directions throughout the day and find that there is not enough time to complete your job. Perhaps, you realize you cannot do it all by yourself. You may be banging your head against a wall and need a real breakthrough. We will present clear, concise, bleeding-edge business advice as if we are your partners – because we are. At Business Concierge, we are serial entrepreneurs who have been there, done that, and wanted more, better, faster. Some things don’t change. Success in business means having the ability to plan, execute, and innovate so that customers get what they need and demand as well as to solve customer problems that other suppliers haven’t figured out yet. Success also means quickly finding out the underhanded things people do who do not have your best interests at heart or who have motives contrary to your company’s vision and mission. It’s not at all about how much money you make, it’s about how much you are able to keep. When practical, learning the fine points of finance, legal tax avoidance, how to double your money as quickly and safely as possible, as well as other topics are also important.

When starting a company, think about how much money you are ready to spend on your business.

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Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Seven Things to consider before creating your visual identity by: La Toya Hardy | Eclektik Designs | SBC Advantage | info@eclektikdesigns.com

4. What colors represent your company?

1. What is the name of your company?

5. What are your primary and secondary target audiences?

ou have decided to take your ideas to the next level and start a business, so the “to-do” list now seems a mile long. Many new business owners think the first step is to design a logo, but here are seven things you should establish, for your brand, before hiring a design professional to work on your visual identity.

It may seem like a “no-brainer,” but the name of your company and its spelling is essential. Researching to see if a business is already operating under that name is detrimental, therefore do your homework before settling on a name for your new business.

2. What is your mission, vision, and value proposition statements?

Your statements help to define the reason for your company’s existence. You should have an idea of one or all of these before branding your business so you can ensure that your visual identity aligns with your company’s purpose. A company void of vision is destined to fail.

3. What is your company’s online presence?

It includes the website domain, email addresses, social media accounts, and other ways to be contacted and marketed. It is critical to know if these accounts are available for you to secure and use for your new business.

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The color scheme that you choose for your visual identity is also a top priority because different colors convey different emotions and influence a person’s first impression of your company. You only get one chance to make a first impression so make it count.

Knowing the age range, gender, culture and other aspects concerning the audience that your products or services are to market to, is enormous. You want to make sure that your brand catches the attention of the audience you need to attract, to sell your products and services more successfully.

6. What other design, collateral pieces will you need?

You can budget and prepare for additional pieces once your logo design is ready. Depending on what your company does, you may need business cards, a flyer, a website, social media collateral and so on, so you can successfully market your business through the different channels, once you are officially up and running.

7. What is your budget?

Always maintain a budget for additional collateral to strengthen your brand identity, as your business grows. Every company, regardless of the industry need a well-branded image. The needs will change depending on the distribution platform, such as; print, web content, social media distribution, and so on. A well thought out marketing plan for your small business will help with the process saving time and money. Of course, there are many more aspects to consider when creating your brand identity. Taking the time to secure a few of the major points above will have you well on your way, to directly working with a design professional, making your brand’s visual identity a success.

lektik d e s i g n s

professional graphic designers, dedicated to

Creating your brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visual identity... and more

Logoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Professional Presentations

Branding & Identity Packages

Eclektikdesigns.com

Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center,

Executive Director Dennis King talks Small Business by : Margaret Jackson | AM 1220 KDOW & BOTE | SBC Advantage (408) 205-4056 I sat down with Dennis King, the Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to talk about small business and SBDCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in supporting those small businesses.

MJ: What are the most significant challenges facing small businesses? King: There are several challenges, the first biggest challenge is the sense of isolation. Business people feel like they are taking on the whole world and there is no end of problems and challenges on a day by day basis. Sometimes they forget who their friends

are and who they can turn to for advice to deal with particular issues. It is more of a cultural thing, and people need to realize how important they are for the community, not just for their families, but to those that they serve, to their customers and their community at large. I think that is one of the most significant challenges, is to stay connected. Then there are lots of things around it; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technology that is continually changing there supposed to be labor-saving devices no matter what industry that you are in, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential that you stay involved. Your education does not stop because you start a business it is just the beginning of a whole new plane.

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MJ: There is some confusion around the difference between SBA and SBDC what are they? King: SBA is the Small Business Administration, it is a federal department. The Director, Linda McMahon is appointed by the President of the United States and is ratified by Congress to serve in that position. She serves as a Cabinet, and on the Cabinet-level they are supposed to provide guidance to the President about matters that impact business. It is a political appointee, but it is a department with the government with its budget and offices spread out throughout the United States. San Jose, California is the largest city in the United States that does not have an SBA office in the City of San Jose. The closest SBA office, which includes the City of San Jose and this county is in San Francisco. SBA has many programs that have a wide variety of partners that deal with those programs. One of those programs is called the (SBDC) or the Small Business Development Center that program itself began under President Carter back in 1980. The original purpose was to be a coalition between colleges, universities, and the local business communities because they felt there could be a lot of training that could be of value to business owners as they get started, and along the way, that was the basic concept of it. Here in California, there are about 46 SBDCs, and almost all of those are hosted and managed by colleges. California was broken up into different regions to represent an SBDC office, by a state college or university, but the local programs were done by most of the local community colleges at least until we came along.

MJ: Right, which leads me to an interesting question, you’re an anomaly, why? King: We became the first Chamber of Commerce in California to host an SBDC program. We became the first Chamber of Commerce, and of course, the first ethnic Chamber of Commerce as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce became the host and the manager of the program. They were a little reluctant to think that we could handle that because we are not a bureaucratic organization. Therefore, they came up with a compromise for us back in 2011, and that is to host and manage an SBDC Hispanic Satellite thinking that we could promote it to the community that we serve and that would be a natural extension. As a result, we were able to launch and manage the very first Hispanic SBDC Satellite in the Nation. Now, we don’t discriminate, so we do a lot more than the Latino community. In fact, when we first started out, we were particularly focused on communities of color, immigrant communities, mostly the marginalized business communities that have difficulty getting access to the mainstream resources like banking, loans, and investments those kinds of things; we thought that there was a genuine need for that. After doing that for two years, and exceeded expectations in all the metrics that they gave to us, job creation, job retention, new business starts, they gave us the right to host a second SBDC program which we are now doing, and that is the SBDC Silicon Valley. We are honored to have two of those programs, and they serve the whole community.

MJ: SBDC has its goals, but you have a reputation for having additional goals. What are those goals? King: Each SBDC has a list of metrics that we are supposed to hit. Let me give you a more specific example, the Silicon Valley SBDC our goal for this year is to serve, 420 clients, independent business people, either people in business which are the first choice or people on the edge of getting into a business. We are supposed to help at least thirtysix new businesses get created; this is only for Santa Clara County. SBA also measures in jobs; this is essentially a job creation program. Our goal for the Silicon Valley side, we are supposed to create a 132 new jobs, new positions. We are also supposed

to save 114 jobs that are at risk of getting lost. The differences are measured, and if we don’t make a difference when we are interacting with a business owner, then we are not doing our job. SBA measures on loans and equity investments; the goal is to generate six million dollars in loans and six million dollars in capital investment in those small businesses. For the Hispanic Satellite it’s the same metrics, so double that for Santa Clara County.

MJ: Do you believe that the small business is the backbone of America? King: Absolutely! Underneath the success of great companies here in Silicon Valley that have worldwide significance, people will look at those, but the small businesses that were here long before them and probably long after are the small businesses that provide the life of the community.

MJ: Is there an upswing of young entrepreneurs, emerging because of technology? King: Yes and no. The yes, is that the younger generation does not need an education on the value of technology the young people have grown up with it. Technology has allowed the world to connect regarding promoting small businesses, with the ability to sell products and services internationally on a level that has never happened before in the world. Young people don’t need to be in awe of it; they are already used to it, and it’s easy to get the word out using a local company like eBay. Young people have more technology options and more familiarity than generations passed in using technology.

MJ: What is your best advice to an aspiring entrepreneur? King: Probably, the challenge to stay connected to people that you trust. It’s one thing to work for yourself than by yourself. Therefore, you need to surround yourself with people that have skills that can help you grow your business. Running your own business is not nine to five activities, and you have to draw the line somewhere. Remember, that there is a whole community to support you and we want you to succeed.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Boost your business with employee engagement by: Kelly Sheahan |Sling Shot Connections | SBC Advantage (408) 247-8233

oost your business with employee engagement Reach out and connect with someone may sound a little like Hallmark. However, when the life and soul of your business depends on attracting talent, retaining good employees, reaching out and connecting, employee engagement is the number one priority. What exactly is employee engagement? How can it boost your business? Employee engagement is the extent to which employees feel passionate about their jobs and are committed to working in your organization. Ask yourself these quick questions to find out if your employees are engaged. Do your employees know the goals and objectives of the company? Do employees see a clear link between their work and the company goals and objectives? Are your employees proud to be working with you and the other members of their team? Why should employee engagement be vital to you? Employee engagement is essential to the success of every business. Statistics show that each year companies lose over 20% of their employees and replacing an employee can cost as much as 150% of their annual salary. When employees are engaged not only do they have a pleasant work environment, customer service improves, and productivity increases. Successful employee engagement leads to increased profits and contributes to future growth. Everybody wins! In Silicon Valley, it is easy to be intimidated by the benefits that larger companies offer. How do you compete with a fully-stocked food court or the fancy commuter shuttles that some Silicon Valley giants provide? Studies show that benefits attract, but

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culture builds commitment. In short, food is a great perk but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the recognition, job satisfaction, and company culture that retain employees. Six years ago, when we started SlingShot Connections in Silicon Valley, our budget seemed very David to othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Goliath budgets, yet we have built an engaged and vital culture where everyone works hard with creativity, camaraderie, and dedication. Based on our own experience and the experiences of our diverse and varied clients, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found the following to be critical factors in employee engagement. Most of them are small, low-cost changes that can yield a high reward. Create a sense of community. Make it personal. Celebrate birthdays, acknowledge work anniversaries. Foster a we-are-all-in-thistogether environment by recognizing individual and team contributions. Encourage collaboration and communication. Take the time to ask employees if they understand their job functions and if they understand how their jobs contribute to the overall goals of the company. Solicit and consider their opinions and recommendations. Try them out. Provide opportunities for professional development and to make creative contributions. Invest in training and this does not have to cost money. Check out the Internet for articles, podcasts, and other relevant employee engagement related information. YouTube gives numerous ideas for training, free trials, and access to all kinds of how-tos. Set monthly 1:1s with your team members. Ask employees to share their goals and create plans that help them achieve them. Finally, set goals together, recognize hard work, promote from within your company.

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䘀刀䔀䔀吀伀䄀吀吀䔀一䐀䰀攀愀爀渀洀漀爀攀愀渀搀刀匀嘀倀䘀刀䔀䔀愀琀㨀

吀栀攀匀洀愀氀氀䈀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀䔀砀瀀漀⸀挀漀洀⼀䰀漀猀ⴀ䄀渀最攀氀攀猀 Small Business Concierge Magazine |

How is Your Business Image? by : Mardin Amiri |Realty One Group Infinity | SBC Advantage (408) 210-2073

have worked with small and medium businesses for over 15 years. I have seen startup- companies that have grown their businesses, tremendously, that started with nothing. A Few things to consider when you are a small business. Identity is a big one. You need to market your brand. You need to look credible. You need to identify yourself. You need to create a professional image. How do you get there? Hire a business brand image consultant. Does that make sense? The most significant mistake that I have seen with small companies is the lack of brand IDENTITY development. When thinking about opening a business, the first thought or question that comes to mind is where to work? Where will my company be located? Many times business owners rely on their home address for their business. How crazy is that? Think about it, do you want people invading your privacy at any time of the day? In fact, check your local laws on customer traffic to your home, there are real rules and city ordinances that restrict business activities from a home-based business. For example, there is no sufficient parking. You are limited, in some states, on how many support staff can work with you in the home. Also, you may, according to some laws, have to work with a family member that lives in the house, for support. Check your local laws. When I want to do business with a company, the first thing that I check is their location. A Google search will show if it’s a house or a UPS store (Mailbox). If it is either, their credibility becomes a question of

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whether to do business with them or not. Are they a credible business or not? With so many companies out there that scam people, it’s easier to deal with a company that is credible and a company that you can trust. Did you know that Scamwatch, reported that the monetary loss had reached almost $30M? Your brand identity and credibility are what builds trust with the customer. I want to be able to talk to someone if I have an issue. How many times have you called a company because you wanted to speak to a support person and have been, hugely, disappointed because you could not get a hold of anyone? When starting a company, think about how much money you are ready to spend on your business. What is your budget? You must create a budget. There are several companies out there that help create that professional image for you and will provide an excellent experience for your clients. Some companies offer business products, office space, and customer services that can help with your startup needs. What does that mean? Imagine a professional voice answering phones for you, imagine a professional address where you can receive your mail, a professional conference room or office you can meet with your clients. You can have all this for under a couple of hundred of dollars. Many companies offer such services. I worked at Regus for over 15 years a workspace solutions company and had helped over 1000 companies do precisely this. The best thing we did was grow with them and grow with their needs. Do business like a large company, think big! Don’t avoid these must haves’. If your excuse is that you don’t have the budget, then create a budget. Sacrifice a couple of meals or coffee, spend the time to develop your brand image, establish trust with your prospective customers, and build your business legacy.

When starting a company, think about how much money you are ready to spend on your business.

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Small Business Concierge Magazine |

City of San José Small Business Ally Program by: Xuan Ha | City of San Jose | SBC Advantage (408) 975-2655

re you ready to launch your small business in the City of San José, and wondering about business registration and permits? San José welcomes your business and provides free guidance on getting through the registration and permitting process quickly, so you can be open for business as soon as possible. Through San José’s award-winning Small Business Ally Program, you can speak – in English, Spanish or Vietnamese – with an “ally” or business coach and get clear guidance on your project. From restaurants to dry cleaners to retail shops and more, the City’s business coaches will help you and your design consultants with all stages of the permit process, from how to fill out the proper application forms to getting through plan review to being ready for building inspections. Created in 2013, the Small Business Ally Program has now guided thousands of small businesses through the steps to a successful grand opening in San José. For its accomplishments, in 2015 this program won the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s “Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet” Award and Work2future’s “Outstanding Community Partner” award. To learn more about the Small Business Ally Program, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/businesscoach. This webpage takes you through three simple, interactive steps: begin, coaching, and launch. It will help you understand the City’s requirements for locating, relocating, or expanding a small business in San José, and the criteria for home-based businesses.

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Winner of the 2017-18 CALBO “Building Department of the Year” award, San José’s Permit Center works hard to offer excellent and efficient services. An expedited plan review option is available for all customers. And small business restaurants will benefit from the unique Streamlined Restaurant Program that coordinates the permit process between the City and the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. San José recognizes that especially for small businesses, opening the doors to business as soon as possible is critical. The City’s business coaches are here to help. You’ll find them in the Permit Center on the First Floor at City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San José. The Permit Center can be reached at 408-535-3555. About the San José Department of Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE) - The Department of Planning, Building & Code Enforcement guides the physical change of San José to create and maintain a safe, healthy, attractive, and vital place in which to live, work, and play. PBCE is responsible for longrange land-use planning and proposed project reviews; issuing permits and inspecting projects for conformance with building codes; and enforcing ordinances that promote the health, safety, and appearance of buildings and neighborhoods. Learn more at www.sanjoseca.gov/pbce.

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吀栀攀匀洀愀氀氀䈀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀䔀砀瀀漀⸀挀漀洀⼀匀愀渀ⴀ䐀椀攀最漀 Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Y/E 2.0

(Young Entrepreneur)

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Young Entrepreneurs 2.0 are radical thinkers and bungee jumping risk takers, dive in for a high impact experience!

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Young and Savvy by : Devin Oten | Devin Oten Enterprises | SBC Advantage (504) 319-6079

ill Gates was 20 years old when he founded Microsoft in 1975. Mark Zuckerberg was 19 when he launched Facebook in 2004. Microsoft and Facebook have valuations exceeding $500 billion. Bill represents my generation and Mark is of the millennial generation and both were young and savvy in their own time and unique style. Both men dropped out of Ivy League schools to pursue their respective tech visions. In no way, shape, form, or fashion am I suggesting for anyone to drop out of school, but I am suggesting that everyone follow and pursue your passion. Follow and pursue what wakes you up at night and causes you to rise early in the morning. Follow and pursue what makes you happy and satisfied. Follow the path that creates generational wealth and pave the way and support the next generation as they pursue their passion and purpose! The very best years of my professional adult life came when I worked for myself as a partner in a magazine, or as an owner of a landscaping business, or as an owner of real estate ventures. These opportunities afforded me a great quality of life. Yes, I may have made more money working for someone else but as an entrepreneur I set the pace, created more time for family and philanthropic pursuits. Young, savvy entrepreneurs are much needed for several reasons in any community. Making mistakes when one is younger provides more time to recover, plus you have youthful exuberance on your side. And making mistakes early gives one a head start on experience, knowledge base, and information built into a metrics which helps one evaluate future ventures through figures and statistics learned from said failures or mistakes.

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Creating a path to generational wealth will eliminate and or stay the tide of so many ills that plague my community, the African American Community. My community consumes everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products and services, yet in the grand scheme of things we produce very little to sell to a market that loves our creativity in music, fashion, marketing and the list goes on. I have been asked many times by non African Americans, how can I/we help. My answer has changed over the years as I have matured and my answer today is simple; help us learn how to create a vision with know how and resources and support. Why should another community do so? Because we deserve a shot at correcting our on issues and creating sustainability, sufficiency and grit to create a path to generational success! Albert Einstein once said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Try not to be the most successful person, try to be the person that brings value.â&#x20AC;? The reason I love this quote is because young aspiring entrepreneurs may believe you have to be the smartest person in the room to be heard or present a well-versed and valuable idea to the table. No, find a niche and bring value to the subscribers of that niche. Continue to use resources like this wonderful magazine and let me know how things are going by shooting me an email or connecting with me on social media. Good Luck and enjoy the journey.

Silicon Valley SNUG Entrepreneurship and Family by: Marilyn Randolph | Marilyn Randolph | SBC Advantage pg. (408) 389-8672

ow could you make your business a reality? Invest in yourself, accept that you have something to offer, and then do it! When you walk in your destiny and move into your calling the reward is great. You can do what you want when owning your own business and take care of your family. One of the benefits of becoming a business owner is that you will be able to do what you love, create your own schedule, and be in the comfort of your own home. I am a Family Child Care Provider and Coach. I care and nurturer children daily as well as help future and current providers in building their FCCP organizations. To become an entrepreneur, you will have to consider the “amount of time” you will have to put in to get it started. Then, you may want to ask yourself if it’s worth it? For me, it was a Yes! It was worth it.

Entrepreneur’s and their families sacrifice to work for and see their dreams to become a reality. Yes, I will say this again, becoming an entrepreneur will take time, and yes it can become a reality, you just have put in the time, especially when it’s doing what you love. Entrepreneurship is exciting yet challenging, however, when you have done the work it is rewarding and fun. By becoming an FCCP, coach, and author I can stay home and raise my family and I am helping to raise communities of children through my Family Child Care business. Becoming an FCCP is a passion and surely a calling. Not only am I raising, nurturing, educating, and loving children, I am also helping others who are interested in FCCP create and start their own business working with children. Small Business Concierge Magazine |

4 or More F’s, No G.P.A. Required by : Anita Rubio | Firehouse Community Dev. Ctr.| SBC Advantage (408) 327-9622

our or more F’s, truancy, and disciplinary issues are the primary, criteria for participating in the Firehouse school program, in San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley. Students in jeopardy of failing academically, have a bit of an attitude, angry, and unsure of their future reliable mentor’s challenging them to turn that future around. The program is not for the valedictorian. It is for the student who possesses the ability to be the valedictorian, but doesn’t know it: “Yet.” It’s the beginning of the new school year. A student that failed her freshman year, with a 1.2 GPA entered the Fire House program Igniting Youth for Success. She enters the office with a whole lot of attitude and head shaking going on. She blurts out “Why am I here?” Firehouse staff replies, “One of your teachers saw the exceptional ability and potential you possess and thought you could use some help with your academic performance.” “Really.” the student replies. “What do you think you can do for me? I don’t have time.” Her eyes scan the room and notice that it’s not a typical classroom setting. There’s a refrigerator; a microwave, boxes of snacks and food are on the shelves. Cases of water are under the tables. She also spots some board games, cards and a set of dominoes on a desk. “This doesn’t look like a normal classroom.” “What do you do in here?” She asks. “ We work with students who are struggling with keeping up their grades. We are here to help and

| Spring 2018

encourage you.” We were interrupted by the lunch bell, and the Firehouse office is soon buzzing with youth coming in for a lunch break. They head straight for the snack shelf and help themselves while others are pulling out a deck of cards and dominoes and getting ready to enjoy the lunch break in a safe place. The sounds of chatter and laughter fill the space. Staff is available if anyone needs to slip out for a private talk. In 30 minutes the bell rings and students are off to class. As our guest walks out, she says “call me for the group.” Many of Firehouse participants come in with what appears to be a bad attitude or uninterested in their education. These youth once had a childhood dream. Due to circumstances beyond their control, those dreams faded away. It’s heartbreaking to see a 15-year-old think that their life is hopeless and what’s the use in trying. Many of these teens are suffering from some trauma due to, poverty, tragedy or life’s disappointments. While others just need a place to unwind and be themselves. It is a remarkable sight to witness the transformation that takes place. This young girl referred to Firehouse due to failing grades, is on her new success path. She came in with a big attitude, rude and shaking her head. Firehouse staff smiled, ignored the remarks and let her vent. Our focus is the youth, not the behavior. She has raised her grades and currently has a 3.0 GPA and is one of our most prominent advocates.

Building Your Dreams

Building Your Dreams is designed to inspire and motivate you to believe in, initiate and accomplish your dreams and goals.

Devin Oten

Writer | Public Speaker | Philanthropist www.Devinoten.com 27 Small Business Concierge Magazine |

The Advance Health Care Directive and Why You Need One by : Cheryl Lynn Nelson, CP. | Plan-18 | SBC Advantage (408) 614-1628

s an estate planning paralegal, on occasion, I will conduct trust signing meetings with clients to review and explain the documents that comprise his or her estate plan. The last document that is discussed is the Advance Health Care Directive. Why? Because it is the one document that generates the most conversation. Really. If you aren’t already familiar, the Advance Health Care Directive is a document that provides the principal (you) with an opportunity to express your wishes about your medical care in advance of a medical emergency. Most people don’t like to think about, or discuss, this particular document because it reminds him or her of their mortality. I get it. But… buses and trucks don’t discriminate. In other words, an accident can happen to you at anytime and most likely it won’t be a part of your plan. However, you have the ability to plan what happens after a possible accident; and your family will thank you for it. Visualize yourself in these real-life scenarios…. You receive a call that mom has suffered a heart attack and the ambulance has taken her to the hospital. You rush to the hospital and the doctor informs you that your mother has complete heart failure and that the only thing keeping her alive is that machine that she is hooked up to. The doctor further explains that due to her age and

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physical condition, your mother won’t survive heart replacement surgery; essentially, your mother will be confined to that hospital bed for the remainder of her life. You know that your mom wouldn’t want to be kept alive by a machine, she even wrote it out in her Advance Health Care Directive. As much as you don’t want to let her go, you know that this was her wish so you inform the physician and allow your mother to be removed from life support and pass away peacefully. This recently happened to a friend of mine and he was relieved that he did not have to make a decision about whether or not to keep his mother on life support because she had already expressed her wishes in her Advanced Health Care Directive. You receive a call that your loved one has been in an automobile accident and he or she is in surgery, but the chances of survival are very low. By the time you reach the hospital, your loved one is out of the operating room, but hooked up to every life-saving device imaginable because he or she can’t breathe without it and the prognosis is grim, at best. The doctor then informs you that your loved one has suffered irreversible brain damage and the only thing keeping him or her alive are those machines. What do you do next? Keep your loved one on life support and hope for a miracle? Take him or her off of life support? What would he or she want? I don’t know what to do! This happened to my family. My brother was only 21 years of age when he was in a fatal motorcycle accident and guess what? He did not have an Advance Health Care Directive; I mean who does at 21 right? Nonetheless, my mother had to try

...the Advance Health Care Directive is a document that provides the principal (you) with an opportunity to express your wishes about your medical care in advance...

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and answer all of the questions posted earlier while trying to grieve and grasp reality that her child was going to die. My goal isn’t to scare you. My goal is to simply make you aware that horrible accidents and medical emergencies occur every day to families everywhere. The point is, to relieve you and your family of the burden of having to answer difficult questions and guessing what you would want should you be in an accident or have a medical emergency. Would my brother have survived if he had an Advance Health Care Directive? No. But if he did have one, my mother would have known if he wanted to be kept alive or not, on life support, with no chance of recovery. I know that preparing an Advance Health Care Directive isn’t a fun task; in fact, I’m sure that it’s on your list, just way at the bottom. I encourage you to try and make it a priority. Actually, every adult in your household over 18 years of age should have one. Oh yes, this means the new, young adult in the family should also prepare his or her own Advance Health Care Directive so that he or she can express his or her wishes and alleviate mom and dad from the burden of trying to make decisions during serious a medical crisis. Remember, accidents and medical emergencies happen to adults and to children… buses and trucks don’t discriminate.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Preventing Violent Crime on Campuses by : Cyril Rayan | TipNow Inc. | SBC Advantage (877) 395-5095

ampuses -- whether for schools, hospitals or businesses -- face a surge in violence, but a simple technology solution can, possibly, prevent the problem. Violent crime, a major and growing problem in this country, is exacerbated by the fact that many crimes go unreported. But there’s a simple fix to the lack of reporting: Make it easier for people to tip off authorities anonymously. Developments in communications technology and social media can play a decisive role in increasing reporting, especially among young people. With more information, authorities can track down more criminals. They can develop a fuller picture of criminal activity, where, and under what, conditions violent crimes occur. As a result, they can develop better prevention programs.

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Three-fifths of campus attacks in a 108-year span occurred in the past two decades.

In California, the Visalia campus of the College of the Sequoias has a program allowing individuals to report suspicious behavior on campus to local police anonymously via text, voicemail or email. “Our best resource, by far, is the students and faculty right here on campus,” Chief of the Police department Bob Masterson told the student newspaper. “Even if you’re not the victim, you could be a great witness.” Many students said the program, TipNow, keeps them safer; they also consider it a good idea for all campuses.

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Such programs are essential because violent crime remains an unfortunate truth in the U.S. According to the FBI’s national crime statistics, 1.2 million violent crimes were committed in the U.S. in 2012, and even seemingly safe, self-contained campus environments like schools, colleges, hotels, hospitals, and corporations are not immune. At U.S. hospitals, the violent crime rate per 100 hospital beds rose 25%, from 2.0 incidents in 2012 to 2.5 incidents in 2013, according to research released by the IHSS Foundation at the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS). The rate of disorderly conduct incidents experienced the most significant jump, from 28 per 100 hospital beds in 2012 to 39.2 in 2013 (a rise of 40%). A separate IHSS Foundation study found that 89% of the hospitals surveyed had at least one event of workplace violence in the previous 12 months. The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey reported the following statistics for workplace violence between 1993 and 1999: While working or on duty, U.S. residents experienced 1.7 million violent victimizations annually, including 1.3 million simple assaults, 325,000 aggravated assaults, 36,500 rapes and sexual assaults, 70,000 robberies and 900 homicides. Workplace violence accounted for 18% of all violent crime. From 1997 through 2009, 335 murders occurred on college campuses, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education (2010). Three-fifths of campus attacks in a 108-year span occurred in the past two decades. Yet many crimes go unreported to campus authorities. A 1997 study about campus violence by Sloan, Fisher, and Cullen found that only 35% of violent crimes on college campuses were reported to authorities.

There are various reasons for not reporting crimes. For example, many may regard a small crime as too minor a matter to report or may consider it a private matter. Many studies have shown a reluctance to report crimes or other suspicious activities out of fear of the authorities or of criminal retribution. For instance, in February 2009 in San Gabriel, Calif., two gunmen opened fire inside a coffee shop, killing one and wounding six others, but police had trouble finding witnesses to what appeared to be a gangrelated attack regardless of the crowd of 40 possible witnesses. Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore was quoted as saying, “We know people saw something, and we need them to come forward and help us solve this crime.” Inculcated Americans, many have the belief that “the authorities will attend to it” – without considering that, in many cases, the appropriate law enforcement agency is unaware of the danger. Although many domestic terrorist events and campus

shootings are committed by those whose previous actions were seen by those around them as odd, or even threatening, too often these observations go unreported. Therefore, the concept of anonymous reporting is essential: to get more information from the campus community. This anonymity is now possible. TipNow receives tips via SMS/text, email, voice, and mobile app. When the tips hit the TipNow server, the sender’s information is encrypted. The anonymous tip is disseminated to a pre-defined set of administrators that are on the system via email and SMS/text. The administrators can ask for more information from the tipster, still anonymously. In a recent interview, an anti-terrorism official (name withheld at his request) expressed his view on prevention. “The ability to gather information, sift through it to find what is useful intelligence – and then rapidly get that information to the right people – can and has made the difference between tragedy and that tragedy being-averted.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

S.T.E.A.M. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathmatetics

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S.T.E.A.M up! Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics a global revolution, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss it!

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Mobile Application Replaces Traditional Whistleblower Hotlines by : Nancy L. Franklin |Franklin’s Consulting | SBC Advantage (801) 910-5605

n a column published on Forbes.com on January 8th, 2014, contributor Steven Katz declared 2014 “The Year of the Whistleblower.” Noting recent large cash payouts from the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower, Katz urges companies to protect themselves by following best business practices for reporting and non-retaliation concerning whistleblowers.

2014 Supreme Court Ruling and Requirements for Small Business In March 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Lawson v. FMR LLC which expands Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) whistleblower protections to the employees of a public company’s private contractors and subcontractors. For many small businesses, establishing formal procedures for employees to report abuse, fraud anonymously, and retaliation is therefore not only a recommended “best practice,” but also a legal requirement. The information obtained via a hotline can be invaluable in today’s business climate, as private companies face growing risks stemming from unlawful and unethical behavior. A 2018 survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (AFCE) reported that small businesses lost almost twice as much per scheme to fraud with 42% of the organizations being private companies. The median fraud-related loss to small businesses in the study was $200,000. The survey by the AFCE reports that only 29% of all cases were detected by tips versus 44% in large companies. The report also states that 42% of frauds are caused by lack of internal controls.

outsourcing to a third-party hotline provider is costprohibitive. Too often, owners and HR directors of small businesses “roll the dice” and hope that complaints and investigations will happen to someone else’s companies instead of theirs. Intentionally or unintentionally, these individuals are assuming a high risk. In the event of an official complaint and investigation, their firms could be punished severely for non-compliance, in addition to any penalties arising directly from the specific nature of the complaint.

Limitations of Traditional Hotlines and Web-Based Reporting Those companies which have adopted a hotline/ reporting system have protected themselves, and they are to be commended. However, the traditional whistleblower hotline, while effective, is a costly and ultimately limited solution. Historically, whistleblower hotlines have consisted of toll-free numbers staffed 24/7 by trained operators speaking multiple languages. The advent of the Internet resulted in the additional ability to report violations online via hotline websites. However, both options have limitations. For example, to ensure that their conversation is not overheard, employees may have to wait until they have left company premises before calling a hotline. Similarly, internet reporting via a standard web browser presents privacy concerns, particularly if the reporting party is using a work computer and the official company network, either or both of which may be monitored without his or her knowledge.

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Regardless of whether a business is just starting up or is planning for growth, the importance of creating and sustaining an organizational culture resistant to fraud and retaliation is undeniable. Also, for many small businesses, the option of

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The advent of the Internet resulted in the additional ability to report violations online via hotline websites

The Next Generation of Hotlines and Reporting Building upon the best features of existing whistleblower hotlines and websites tools are moving to mobile applications. Easily downloaded and installed onto virtually any device that has the technology to enable anonymous tips which capture high-quality images and video of conditions or incidents in possible violation. It allows the whistleblower to provide physical evidence in support of their witness account of the violation. Furthermore, the data and messages transmitted from a whistleblowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobile device via a cell phone network are outside of a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proprietary network, affording an additional level of privacy and peace of mind to the reporting party. Another benefit of mobile apps such as TipNow and Whispli is the ability to report anytime, anywhere without having to wait to go to a computer or make a phone call. Additionally, using the app will not appear suspicious, as it is reasonable behavior for most people to send texts, take photos and videos from their device throughout the day. In the ever-changing world of regulation and compliance, small businesses need to protect themselves against claims of fraud; harassment and retaliation businesses are looking at safety. Integrated solutions that encompass many features help companies optimize expenses while providing tools that provide anonymity, convenience, and functionality accessible from a mobile device.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Silicon Valley SNUG Unfolding the Small Business Concierge Magazine and Pancakes Part I by: Margaret Jackson | AM 1220 KDOW & BOTE | SBC Advantage (408) 205-4056

mall businesses often tire in their efforts to bring new products and services to market. Is there a secret sauce to improving the arduous process of launching a product or service? Not really. Our Small Business Concierge story is not much different than any other visionary’s story. This story dates back six years while sitting at IHOP eating strawberry pancakes, listening to old R&B soulful sounds. As I sat there, I asked myself several questions about the plight of the small business entrepreneur. I asked myself questions like, why do small businesses fail at 10%-12% each year, according to the SBA, at the time? What are their most similar problems? How can I solve their ability to increase sustainability, and in a shorter span of time? As I considered many other questions, I began drawing a small business hub on a napkin. If there were a business hub, what would it provide for the small business owner, that the SBA, SBDC, and SCORE could not offer? I came up with several product and service ideas that night and one evolved into the Small Business Concierge Magazine. If you want to get a product or service to market, it is going to take time, money, and perseverance. You can’t think about quitting. If you are not going to stop, make sure that you are choosing to bring the right product or service to market that you will not abandon. The magazine, currently, is incomplete. It is incomplete because I wanted to share this unfolding story with you, it is our story, as small business owners. 36

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I knew it was coming. When? Soon. Was I ready? Not really. Could I do it? I have to do it! It was a scary moment when I decided to pull the trigger to develop a small business magazine. A magazine that is for small business owners, by small business owners, to give them exposure, relevance, mass communication, brand awareness, advertising consistency, and most importantly a voice. How would I bring your voice to the pages of a magazine? The first thing that I did was rallied together a team. A team of skilled professionals that would believe in my magazine vision. Of course, you always have those nearby naysayers, being a radio host doesn’t stop the voice of the naysayers. I have my naysayers, too. Naysayers and doubters struggle with risktaking in their own lives, so they respond with words of discouragement and pragmatism. Entrepreneurs do not live in the pragmatic zone; they live in the risk-taker arena. It is the difference between WWE Monday Night Raw and Monk. Keep moving your dream forward and don’t engage the naysayer about your vision they do not get it. If it fails, get back up, and get back to work. Learn from your mistakes and incorporate new ideas, techniques, and strategies to do it better next time. You have to decide that giving up is not your option.

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“Are you not entertained?”

Video game Streamer “Ninja” Reportedly Earning $500,000 Per Month by : Dr. Adam Ruch | SAE Expression College | SBC Advantage (510) 654-2934

n March, gaming streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins claimed to be making $500,000 a month streaming Epic Games’ newest title, Fortnite, a new battle royale title that was released only a few weeks ago. At first blush, this statement seems almost absurd making money by playing video games, especially such a new one, and especially at such an astonishing rate is enough to give anyone pause. It was no overnight success. Blevins is not the first game player to broadcast his entertaining videos to a wide audience, nor did he just plug in his first webcam yesterday.

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The practice of ‘streaming’ is a relatively new, internet-enabled type of live broadcast, more like a live radio show than television. The host of a stream will select a game to play (the features of a “good” streaming game is an article of its own!), and using a service such as Twitch, will broadcast a real-time image of their screen to whoever tunes in. Usually, streamers will use some chroma-key (green screen) technology to overlay their, own, face into one corner of the screen, in order to interact with the game and audience simultaneously.

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There are hundreds of popular streamers, thousands of middling “B-list” celebrities, and uncountable aspiring hobbyists. Blevins is at the top of the scene, with nearly 6.2 million YouTube subscribers, 4.3 million followers on Twitch, and, according to Forbes magazine, 160,000 subscribers who pay $4.99 a month for premium access to Blevins’ channel. There is no doubt that Ninja has tapped into a rich vein, a zeitgeist that is making him very wealthy. The question is, why? To understand streaming culture, Blevins’, own, history serves as a starting point. His gaming career began a decade ago as a professional Halo player, in the world of competitive eSports. These organized tournaments of various games (from strategy, sci-fi war games such as StarCraft, to 1vs1 fighters like Street Fighter, to first or third-person shoots such as Counter-Strike or Overwatch, draw audiences in much the same way as any other competitive game. The matches are organized between dedicated players who practice becoming as skilled as possible, in games that their viewers are

Successful stream channels are invariably entertaining in the same way a lively sports broadcast is.

deeply familiar with. The matches, then, are exciting due to the high-level play involved and relies on the audience’s familiarity with the game rules to create suspense and drama. The prize money and accolades are substantial, but as in traditional sports, fans aren’t enthusiastic about the paycheck the champions receive. They want to see their team win spectacularly. For fans of action-packed third-person shooter games, Blevins represents a skilled master at the top of the field. His ability to navigate a battlefield, staying out of sight of his enemies, meanwhile manipulating various objects or items, and of course, hitting his targets, is extremely compelling. Much like Steph Curry’s ability to drain a half-court shot with barely a flick of the wrist, Blevins can run across the Fortnite landscape, building wooden ramps and platforms to create a path into the sky, and without hesitation, pop off a long-distance sniper rifle shot with unnerving accuracy. His technical prowess is only a small part of the package, though. Successful stream channels are invariably entertaining in the same way a lively sports broadcast is. Instead of a third-party, though, it is the player himself providing colorful commentary, reacting to their own success or failure, and interacting in real-time with the audience. Compare this to the celebrations of players on the football field, when after a touchdown, the player leaps into the stands to give fans high-fives. The interactive nature of the various platforms

creates a community among the audience of a good streamer. The player himself will interact with fans, and by subscribing, donating or otherwise paying for it, truly dedicated fans can gain greater access to this nouvelle célébrité in exactly the same way a cashed-up fan might pay for ringside or season tickets, or buy an autographed ball. Blevins seems to have found an extraordinarily successful groove: he is colorful, entertaining, very talented, and seems to walk a careful line of ‘family-friendly’ content. This is not always the case-some streamers are substantially more ‘blue’ than Blevins, and parents are well-advised to monitor their younger children’s consumption of YouTube or Twitch streamers. Even if the game itself is child-friendly (Minecraft, for example), the streaming personality might not be. Consider if Howard Stern were to narrate an otherwise innocuous volleyball game. The combination of competition, unpredictability, and personality have converged in online streaming culture. The interactive foundation of the web not only allows for bilateral communication between audience and streamer but also collective reciprocity among the audience community itself. It’s also incredibly easy to just give it a try, as easy as https://www.twitch.tv/ninja in a web browser. So next time someone asks “Why would you pay to watch someone else play a videogame?” you might just ask why anyone pays to watch some tall people try to throw a ball through a hoop.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Women in small business

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Silicon Valley POWER women in Small Business meet them here!

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Successful Women Entrepreneurs Find Support Resources by : Margaret Jackson | AM 1220 KDOW & BOTE | SBC Advantage (408) 205-4056

oday, women business owners are afforded opportunities to access capital through various programs. If you want to start, grow, or expand your business you will have to start looking in the right places. Finding money to build your business involves wide-ranging research of funding opportunities. The search for capital can take time, but over time your search will narrow down. The fact is, money is all around you. How to attract the funding needed, is not always clear or simple. It is important to take the time to research how you become the right candidate for funding. Where is the money for my business hiding? It is hiding in plain sight. Ask yourself the following questions • Do you really want to acquire funding? Why or Why not?What kind of funding do you want to pursue? Is it grants, loans, angel funders, crowdfunding, venture capitalists or a mix of funders? • Do you have a business plan? • How much do you want to invest into your business? • Do you need help in preparing your business to acquire funding?

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A great place to start the journey to find funding, is at the Small Business Administration’s website. The SBA has resources that support women entrepreneurship and their ability to compete in the global marketplace. Connecting your business with the right organizations, resources, and tools, is a huge leap in the right direction. The SBA has partnered with many organizations that benefit the start, growth, and expansion of women businesses, to include NAWBO. The National Association of Women Business Owners, 2014 State of Women Owned Business Report, predicted that 92% of more women would venture to start their own businesses. The world of funding your business does not have to be a tedious lonely journey. It doesn’t have to be scary, confusing, or overwhelming. When you choose to access available resources, online education and training on business funding is the first step, get involved with your business growth.

A great place to start the journey to find funding, is at the Small Business Administration’s website.

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Small Business Concierge Magazine |

#MeToo. What’s Next? by : Chante Dent | Earnerst Love, NPO | SBC Advantage (678) 835-7572

hen #metoo flooded social media, I applauded the individuals who joined the movement, choosing not to stay silent about the sexual trauma they experienced. I also realize some individuals did not post #metoo on their social media page and had spoken out in different ways, and then there are those who choose to remain silent. If you have spoken out or continue to stay silent, the question remains, now what? When raped, I did not want to deal with it. Even after acknowledging, I was not sure about the next step. In many ways, I did not know there was the next step. I felt damaged and did not think I would ever be ok. Former co-workers connected me with a rape crisis counselor, and I began seeing a psychologist. If you are asking, “where do I go from here?” I have listed a few tips on how to start your healing process. As you consider the following tips, remember, healing is a process. Trust yourself and be patient with your journey.

1. It was not your fault

It is common for victims, to blame themselves for being victimized. “I should not have,” “I should have,” and “if only” statements are continually on their minds. It is imperative to know that you did not make anyone victimize you, it was their choice, their fault, not yours.

2. Talk to someone

Who is in your circle? It is essential to identify who will support you during your healing process. Consider talking to a professional therapist, support group, family member or close friend who can encourage you on your journey.

3. Self- Care

Release how you feel - sometimes we think suppressing our pain will help us move on in life and somehow forget. The reality is, suppressing the pain will eventually lead to an overflow of unmanaged and unhealthy emotions. Taking good care of yourself can include, but is not limited to: • Journal • Talk about it • Workout • Spa Treatment • Read an inspiring book

4. Address the Triggers

I often say, “denial leads to destruction.” There are people, places, things, smells, etc. that will remind you of your trauma. When you feel triggered, process your feelings. Remind yourself that you are safe and acknowledge the memory.

5. Rebuild Your Self-Esteem

Healing is a process. It is a process that takes courage and stamina. Feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth can be complicated during the healing process. Remind yourself that you are worth it. Speak and think highly of yourself.

6. Regain a Sense of Safety and Trust

Sexual trauma can quickly change our perception of people and our environment. We often feel threatened physically, emotionally and relationally. Here are a few tips on what you can do to regain your sense of safety and trust. • Go out with a group of people while rebuilding trust • Confidently leave environments that make you feel uncomfortable and triggered • Enroll in a self-defense class to gain a sense of empowerment 44

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MARGARET A. JACKSON CEO Business On the Edge, Incorporated Radio Personality: AM 1220 KDOW Publisher: Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine No one gives you Power they give you Authority! Identified Passion Develops Purpose Ignites Power Awards Authority

21st CENTURY POWER TITAN

POWER WOMEN LEADERSHIP COACH

The 21st women are the NEXT legacy of Power Titans!

Coach Margaret is disrupting the belief systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose of women professionals, women leaders, female college students, and women CEOs/business owners. Coach Margaret is an on the edge thinker, she repositions, shifts, and cultivates the dynamic-value of women and their required influence needed in the global community. Coach Margaret is a graceful, methodical, and humorous lecturer that not only suggests but predicts the future of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woman. The Titan strength of the woman and her role as a female leader, student, mother, and wife. The magnificent, self-assured, and self-confident woman is the woman that has stepped into her true-self, true-belief, and has undone the cloak that has held her back from her optimum self. The woman that accepts the primary authenticity of her genesis before she is anything else, she must recognize that she is and will always be a Titan. Coach Margaret inspires women with the powerful truth of why they are on the planet, at this time, and in this hour.

BOOKING CONTACT DANIEL R. HERD Creative Outreach Director 408.205.4056 (San Jose)

dherd@businessontheedge.biz www.businessontheedge.biz Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Where is the money for my business hiding? by : Margaret Jackson | AM 1220 KDOW & BOTE| SBC Advantage (408) 205-4056

omen business owners have opportunities to access capital through various programs. If you want to start, grow or expand your business, you will have to start looking in the right places. Finding money to build your business revolves, much, around the wide-ranging research of funding opportunities, that can be narrowed down over time. The fact is, money is all around you. How to attract the funding needed, is not always clear or straightforward. It is essential to take the time to research, how you become the right candidate for funding. Where is the money for my business hiding? It is hiding in plain sight. Ask yourself the following questions, • Do you want to acquire funding? Why or Why not? • What kind of funding do you want to pursue? Is it grants, loans, angel funders, crowdfunding, venture capitalists or a mix of funders? • Do you have a business plan? • How much do you want to invest in your business? • Do you need help in preparing your business to acquire funding?

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A great place to start the journey on finding funding is at the Small Business Administration’s website. The SBA has resources that support women entrepreneurship, and their ability to compete in the global marketplace. Connecting your business with the right organizations, resources, and tools, is a massive leap in the right direction. SBA has partnered with many organizations that benefit the start, growth, and expansion of women businesses, to include NAWBO. The National Association of Women Business Owners, 2014 State of Women-Owned Business Report, predicted that 92% of more women would venture to start businesses. The world of funding your business does not have to be a lonely journey. It doesn’t have to be scary, confusing or overwhelming. When you choose to access available resources, online education, and training on business funding, like Creative Funding for Your Small Business webinars, it can help eliminate business funding stresses.

Silicon Valley SNUG Business and Politics:

5 tips to build important relationships for your business by: Chandra Brooks | Socialpreneur | SBC Advantage www.chandra-brooks.com

s a new business owner, we may not realize how important politics can be to the development, growth, visibility, and opportunity for our business. We may not understand that having connections in the political circles and good relationships with local elected officials could be a great benefit to your business. Furthermore, you should also have these relationships to hold them accountable. You won’t be able to get much done if you have zero contacts, connections, and partnerships with your local elected officials. You’re not “in the know” with specific regulations, ordinances or fees? Well, it all comes down to politics. Politics has to do with everything, and as a business owner, you should know that. If not, it’s about time you figure it out. Here are a few tips to help get you started.

“

Politics has to do with everything, and as a business owner, you should know that.

1. Join your local Business associations 2. Find out who your local elected officials are

that represent the area your place of business is occupying

3. Invite your local officials to your grand

openings and to possibly host an event at your establishment (I/e. Ribbon cutting, the launching of a new product)

4. Schedule a meeting with the official’s staff or elected official to get to know them

5. Study the local status of business politics in your

city. What’s important, what are the guidelines, ordinances, and issues facing businesses in your local city and county.

Oh, you don’t have time to do this? Yeah, I know. Entrepreneurship and business ownership is tough and can take over your life, leaving you no time for the extracurricular activities, but this critical activity is not extra, it's a business priority. These are just a few ways to get started.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Introducing Margaret Jackson, Small Business Concierge by : Jesse L. Lee| Editor-In-Chief The meeting with Margaret Jackson, Publisher of the Small Business Concierge took place over the phone. I had set up the phone interview at a time when she was as busy as she could be with tight deadlines set and no wiggle room to work with. Likewise, for me, I was up against a very tight deadline to satisfy a dissertation deliverable. Margaret was gracious and patient. I had shared with her the focus of this initial interview would be to share about her, this Small Business Concierge company, and tidbits of interesting business experiences she has had that propelled her on to this big stage. At about the time when deadlines were so close it seemed almost impossible to get the interview completed, a way out of no way happened. We burned the midnight oil to make it happen. Jesse Lee: Thank you for this opportunity to interview you and pick your brain. Margaret, tell us who is Margaret Jackson? Margaret Jackson: Thank you, Jesse. I was born as a twin and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois. I grew up thinking that I was not ever going to be smart enough to have a career that I could be proud of until my high school drama teacher Arlene Hawks gave me advice on going to a top junior college in Illinois. I knew at that moment that she saw something in me and believed in me. When I graduated from high school, my grades were not good, and I got rejected from every college that I applied for admission to. But, I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t properly prepared, and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that I needed to prepare for life after highschool as a student. I keep my high school transcript as a reminder of where I started and where I am today. I am not at the finish line, but I am not where I used to

| Spring 2018

be. It took all the courage that I could muster-up to take that first step after all of the college rejections and then going to the top community college in Illinois, College of DuPage it changed and shaped my life. I became a high preforming student, and I fell in love with the art of learning. Thank you, Arlene Hawks for seeing my value, when no-one else could see it, including me. Jesse Lee: What is your background? Margaret Jackson: I have formal training in Film, Film/ TV, and Business. I used those disciplines to start my first small business in 2001, as a multi-media television/ audio production company. In 2007, we were on the success path. I had built the company from $150.00 to a six-figure company, wrote a 54-page business plan that allowed us to secure $225,000.00 in bank loan and line funding, as the economy was crashing. Little did we know, that our run at becoming a $1 million production company was going to be thwarted by a severe economic downturn. Jesse Lee: Margaret, tell me what drives you? Margaret Jackson: My faith and the destiny that God put on my life. I believe that I am supposed to be the small business, women in business, youth advocate/cheerleader and mass-media platform provider that supports the next generation of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. I subscribe to everyone living the most optimal career life possible. I believe you only have one shot at it, so make it count. The realization that one life has the power to change the world and focusing on it eliminates the roadblocks of race, gender, discrimination of all kinds and all excuses.

Jesse Lee: Why did you start the Small Business Concierge? Margaret Jackson: About five years ago, I was sitting at IHOP, having my strawberries and pancakes. I began asking myself, what obstacles do small businesses face? I came up with a mix of answers. I wanted to develop solutions that changed the game for small businesses and women in business. Jesse Lee: What are the pros and cons of business ownership? Margaret Jackson: Pros 1. You own your own business Cons 2. You own your own business. It is a great responsibility to own your own business the pros and cons are endless. If a person chooses business ownership, count the cost, grow a thick skin, it will come in handy and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give up on building your business dream.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Introducing Margaret Jackson, Small Business Concierge, cont. Jesse Lee: In the past, what was the most significant obstacle to the success of one of your businesses and how did you overcome it? Margaret Jackson: The most significant obstacle is getting past business ownership fears. Learning my true value through my faith and believing that I am born for greatness made all the difference. I focused on the truth about who I am and my self-worth. Obstacles will always be there, so I lean into the barriers and jump over them as they come.

responsibility and should not be entered into lightly. A well thought out business plan helps because it is the roadmap for their business. A business owner should critically think through and document how they intend to manage and operate their business. There arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a one-size fit all managing and operation styles, but there are fundamental principles relevant to all companies, take the time to learn them. Personnel, remember, they are the team for the dream treat them well. Stay in compliance with employment and contractor laws. Your personnel will perform with commitment and confidence at a higher capacity knowing that the leadership of the company appreciates them. Make it a priority to tell your team, how they are appreciated and valued. Win together. Build a workplace community that your personnel will want to be each day. Google and Salesforce are excellent models on how well they treat their people. Jesse Lee: What do you think it takes to maintain growth? Margaret Jackson: Develop a solid

Jesse Lee: What do you think small businesses need to know about management, operations, and personnel? Margaret Jackson: Great question. Learn all that you can about how to operate a small business. Use local resources, like SCORE, SBDC, SBA, Workto-Future, Small Business Allys within your city. A small business owner does not have to go it alone. Managing and operating a business is a serious

| Spring 2018

brand image. Marketing, Branding and consistently advertising seems to be a low priority for small business owners. Small businesses hop around hoping to hit that mother load, and it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen that way. Sales studyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tell us that customers need 5-12 contacts with your brand to think about buying, some say 18 contacts. The point is, customers need consistency and frequency in becoming familiar with your product and brand. You want growth, develop your brand, work the brand, plan your marketing, and monitor your advertising. Growth is not by accident; it is strategic and methodical.

Jesse Lee: Does strategy need a strategy? Margaret Jackson: Yes, your strategy needs a strategy starting with the master strategy a business plan. Jesse Lee: What pitfalls arise when you do not have a marketing strategy? Margaret Jackson: Budgeting pitfalls, loss of new business opportunities, unmet goals, lack of a clear target market, for starters. Small businesses shun making marketing a top priority and without it, the course, inadvertently, has been set for an under-performance business or limping along. Your marketing strategy has to be a top priority it is the pathway to developing strong brand awareness, branded trust, and ultimately increased revenue, as the company implements their marketing strategy. How do you sell consistently and frequently if customers do not know you’re there? You can’t. Jesse Lee: What are the critical success factors that contribute to business success? Margaret Jackson: First the small business owner has to be committed and focused. Second have an explicit understanding of your business model. 3. Bite the bullet and construct a solid business plan, and marketing plan. 4. Get business support from the local city, county, and state business development resources to build strong business infrastructure at the start of the business. 5. Hire smart, stay away from too much nepotism, select a team for the dream. 6. Execution is strategic make every move count in your journey toward business success. 7. Be patient ebbs and flows happen in the business ride it out. Jesse Lee: What are the biggest business challenges today? Margaret Jackson: Staying relevant with the changing technology and knowing which is the best technology available in supporting small business management and operations. For example, Salesforce for small business CRM sales tool, Fundbox stabilizing the small business cash flow challenges, Intuit Online Quickbooks that supports managing the company’s bookkeeping needs, and Go Payment for on-the-spot customer transactions using your smartphone device.

Jesse Lee: What is your best advice for start-up businesses? Margaret Jackson: Get help! Locate the nearest America SBDC and request their free small business support before starting the business. Sign on as a preventure. Get it right from your very first step. Jesse Lee: What do small businesses need to know about the Small Business Concierge? Margaret Jackson: It is their voice, it is their platform, it is their opportunity to springboard off of it and be the next game changer for their industry. Jesse Lee: Do you have a right to win in your chosen market? Margaret Jackson: Absolutely! If you are going to win you have to go into it knowing that you can, win and that you have a right to win. Jesse Lee: Margaret, thank you for your precious time. I am pleased to hear your responses to my questions. Small businesses are an essential key to the success of our national economy. If possible, I would like to interview you again in the future as your busy schedule permits. Margaret Jackson: Thank you, Jesse for your time as well. Sure thing, let’s do circle-back in the future. So goes the Margaret Jackson interview. I have known Margaret for several years. I am not astonished that she has grown, matured, and prepared herself to win big. Why? I think because she does not stop working to achieve her goals. She is not afraid to dream big. She uses her intuition and ingenuity to work around problems. Plus, she surrounds herself with positive people who believe in and encourages her. You can achieve the extraordinary too; she would be first to tell you.

“

Hire smart, stay away from too much nepotism, select a team for the dream.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Why Use a Travel Agent Instead of The Internet? by : Alicia Owens| Twins Travel Service| SBC Advantage (408) 421-4704 Travel agents make travel less stressful.

When booking a vacation, business trip, company retreat or emergency travel, the last thing a traveler should have to do is to worry about travel reservations. Whatever your travel need is, it should only result in a pleasant experience throughout the reservation process. A travel agent is vital when planning high-demand business travel. Small business owners are busy enough with keeping their doors open. You should eliminate the travel reservation stress, and let an agent focus on the minute details of your next business trip.

Travel agents are time savers.

How many hours have you spent trying to put together a company retreat package? You thought you were going to sit down and knock it out in 15 minutes, just to look up at the clock, and find out it’s been two hours and you’re still not done! Travel agents create a custom itinerary, pulling together flights, transfers, accommodation, tours, visits, meals, and private-exclusive activities based on your preferences so you can spend your time on more important things.

Travel agents give personalized service.

Travel agents, tailor their services to their clients’ individual needs. Have concerns? They will talk you through them. Need a hotel that can cater to your dog? A travel agent can speak to hotel managers to accommodate your dog. Despite all the websites, clients by the truckload are desperate for a real human voice on the phone. Travelers are clamoring for genuinely dedicated, sincere customer service with someone willing and eager to sell them what they want. Travel agents give destination knowledge. Although Google can answer most of your travel questions when planning a trip, a lot of the time, travel agents have already been to the destination and can offer some great tidbits of information on that destination.

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Travel agents create a custom itinerary, pulling together flights, transfers, accommodation, tours, visits, meals, and privateexclusive activities...

| Spring 2018

Travel agents help save you money.

Because of the many vendors that travel agents work with, sometimes travel agents can get wholesale prices and pass them on to the traveler. Remarkable offers abound on the internet, most times, the individual offers are specific restrictive. and have hidden fees.

Travel agents give expert advice.

How many horror stories are there about vacationing, getting out of the office, going on a domestic cruise just to find out that there was a passport requirement needed to return home because they sailed into international waters and the traveler did not know about it? Travel agents would understand that tiny bit of critical information while planning your trip. The travel agent informs the traveler about vital information about their travel requirements. A professional travel agent has a personal understanding of traveling interests and insight into specific destinations and segments of travel. A good travel agent spends time getting to know the traveler so they can make recommendations tailored to what they want and need.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Bridging the Gap

| Spring 2018

Concerned about how to bridge business gaps, gender, race, culture, faith, disabilities, and age into your small business? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Gap, and we will help bridge the differences.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace by : Daniel Newell | Ohlone College Career Center | SBC Advantage (510) 742-2323

iversity in the workplace is a hot topic. Diversity is often viewed as a topic about ethnicity. Ethnicity is only one of many components that make up the differences. Other factors may include gender, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and more.

personal. Protected classes are cultures, and culture often defines people and their values. All it takes is one culturally insensitive employee to disrupt a workplace, and like dominoes, the disruption will spread. It can lead to high turnover, negative branding, and a potential lawsuit.

As a millennial, gay, male, Latino, with a disability, I have encountered discrimination on many levels in both my personal and professional life. Being a feminine gay male, the perception about my sexual orientation has probably been more prevalent than that of a masculine gay male and has resulted in varying degrees of prejudice toward me from name-calling to physical and sexual assault. #metoo

Most forms of discrimination I’ve experienced have occurred regarding others’ perception of how a male professional should look. I dye my hair blond and have brown low-lights, and I prefer to wear foundation on my face. It is not uncommon for professionals to wear foundation. Except for a man, it is. Some may mistake this culturally influenced characteristic as being unprofessional. A new manager with a former employer, for example, implied that I did not have a pleasing appearance that “conveys professionalism.” I was shocked because I wore suits virtually every day, I had been a public spokesperson for over six years and at the time, been featured in magazines, television, newspapers, and radio. I was an appointed government official, an expert in my field who held numerous executive level positions in the community. In this particular case, the new manager removed me from all future public engagement opportunities. If I were a heterosexual woman, I wonder, would I be treated the same way? Why now, after over six years, was my appearance suddenly a problem? Is this, possibly, an example of discrimination based on gender and perhaps sexual orientation?

All workplaces should be free of discrimination – but they’re not. Recent news has showcased that even the highest ranking officials in Corporate America and even the White House are allegedly at fault for discrimination, sexism, and unfair practices. In Silicon Valley, diversity is everywhere, and although it is valued in the workplace, many institutions fail to be inclusive. Diversity and inclusion are two very different things. I once heard an executive of a start-up company speak about this topic at a Silicon Valley conference. She stated that diversity is “inviting everyone to your party,” while inclusion is “making them feel happy they came.” The difference between these two matters is vital because one focuses on making sure a population is represented, the other focuses on making a population feel valued. Diversity and inclusion are

| Spring 2018

Diversity is the first step to leveling the playing field for minorities; the next is inclusion. For employers, I recommend that they make every attempt to treat all applicants and employees equally while being mindful that special considerations exist that are unique to a population. In my case, for example, my attire and appearance were never unprofessional. Instead, it was unconventional â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a considerable difference. For job seekers, I recommend that when they feel they may be experiencing discrimination that they speak up. Many times discriminatory behavior takes place by mistake, an unconscious bias. It does not excuse the behavior; However, it provides an opportunity for the job seeker to educate the employer so they can hopefully learn from their mistake and change their behavior. People are different, that will never change. When we accept these differences and leverage them to promote creativity and innovation, we move our workplace, our community, and our society to the next level.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.

- Malcolm Forbes

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Boundaries in the Workplace by : Elizabeth J. Stewart, LMFT | Kingdom Family Res. | SBC Advantage (408) 800-7821

Here are a few indicators that you may be allowing crossed boundaries:

desire validation. Watch any child as they are being affirmed and validated often and you will see a child who becomes secure in who they are and happy with where they are. If you did not grow up with affirmations and validation, you are bound to look for validation in others, and those others sometimes are not the healthiest people for you to obtain their validation. And in the workplace, the real problem

You go to work wondering who is going to bother you today, or you are the one who can’t wait to clock out? Are you tired of coworkers continually pulling on you to do something that they can do? If this describes you, then it is time for a “boundary check”! Your internal alarm goes off when feeling violated in the workplace and when you are overextended with work responsibilities. What is the sound or voice of your “internal alarm clock”? It is usually that inner voice telling you “I’m so tired of this” or you ask yourself “why am I doing this”?

sets in when your need for validation outweighs your ability to accomplish your current work tasks.

n a work environment, it can be easy to fall into the pattern of allowing crossed boundaries because there is a lot of work to do. However, consider that if you are not careful, you will take on and do what others can do or take on what is not yours to do.

After a while, you become frustrated or resentful because it’s you that ends up being the one to do it. If you examine why you lose track of your tasks and take on other things, you will find you are seeking to gain validation from others. It is human to

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As a small business owner, it is vital that everything within the business points to the vision and mission of the company. In the workplace, there should be key measurable goals that employees should work

toward attaining. If you as a business owner or manager are not communicating clearly what those quantifiable goals and expectations are, you are not helping your employees to stay on track with what they are doing. What if you are reading this and you recognize this is you, and you need a “boundary check”? Do not fear you can make adjustments to help you get back on track with what you need to do.

Here are a few suggestions on what adjustments you can make. 1. Make a workplace daily to-do-list. It can help you stay focused on daily tasks that need completion. Create a list for the next day and include un-completed tasks. 2. Put a “do not disturb” sign on your door or cubicle when it is time to be focused and work. If people knock on your door, don’t answer and if they come over to your cubicle, just tell them you are not available right now. Teach people not to disturb you when they see the sign. 3. Do not commit to helping with anything outside of your tasks without approval from your manager or immediate supervisor. 4. Reward yourself when you accomplish your tasks there is nothing wrong with self-validation and speaking positive words over yourself. 5. Remember, your focus is where you will end up! You will find that as you accomplish your tasks, you are building skill sets that will qualify you to move up to your next level of promotion. Maintaining boundaries by focusing on your responsibilities will lead to you adding value to your company, value to your resume, and value to you as a person. Being an excellent employee is far more profitable than being the employee who does all kinds of tasks but doesn’t get their job done. Keep your boundaries in check!

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As a small business owner, it is vital that everything within the business points to the vision and mission of the company.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

California Department of General Services Small Business Certification and Procurement

is Bridging the Gap

by : Margaret Jackson | AM 1220 KDOW & BOTE | SBC Advantage (408) 205-4056

atrina Blair is the Manager, of Customer Outreach, Training and Advocacy Procurement Unit for the State of California Department of General Services (DGS). Catrina Blair spearheads connecting Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) to the State of California Certification Procurement program. DGS and I set down to talk about how doing business with the State of California benefits an SB or DVBE. How does DGS bridge the procurement contract gaps in doing business with the state?

with the state to move forward on that bid solicitation. An excellent way to do that is to is to participate in an informal solicitation which is when we use the SB/DVBE option, that is considered an informal solicitation option. On the small business side, it may be a small business running into is a state department that has an advocate that is not responsive. It may be that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not responding to their line card or capability statement emailed to them. We have close to two

Margaret Jackson: What are the challenges that California DGS sees with small businesses as it relates to procurement opportunities? Catrina Blair: We survey our buyers often, to see what things small businesses are failing to do and why their contracts are getting rejected. When we hear from our buyers, we are learning that documents are incomplete when they submit. When they are responding to a Request for Proposal (RFP) they are not reading through the document well enough, therefore they are not providing the information that they need. We have terms that we refer to as responsive and responsible that term means you are responding to the bid, and you are providing the exact product or service that the state department is looking for within that bid. Some challenges could be with the insurance requirements or past performance. Small businesses do not realize when responding to a formal solicitation you have to have past performance

| Spring 2018

hundred advocates, sending an email to all of them is not the best way to go. Focus on five departments that have what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re selling, and they are buying what you sell. Then send a more structured email that requires the advocate to take action. Finally, identify and establish a relationship with the advocate or the buyer.

Margaret Jackson: What if you didn’t win the bid? Catrina Blair: If you didn’t win the bid and it was awarded you have access to that information under the Public Information Act. It is okay, to request a copy of that bid, so you can go through it and see what your competitor did differently. It can help you put together a better package next time around. Margaret Jackson: How much does the State of California spend on procuring SB/DVBE contracts? Catrina Blair: We spend about 25 billion dollars, 25% goes to small businesses, and 3% goes to DVBEs. We are seeking to do business with small businesses. We want the businesses to get equipped, experienced, and knowledgeable about what the departments are buying, so you are addressing the state’s needs. Margaret Jackson: What is the typical announcement and response timeline of an RFP? Catrina Blair: It depends on the procurement and the dollar amount. We typically announce and advertise for ten days in Cal e-procurement, then the contract evaluation period starts and could range from a week to six months. It depends, but an informal bid is a much shorter process and timeline. Margaret Jackson: Are small businesses the backbone of America? Catrina Blair: Yes. It is true. I wish small business owners understood that they are the backbone. In California, most businesses are small businesses who employ most of the employees. If we didn’t have small businesses, we wouldn’t be able to function as a state. Most people don’t understand that dollar threshold can go up to 36 million the federal standard for a small business. Our state standard is 15 million for a small business we cover a wide dollar range, so you could fit into that category and employ hundreds of employees that’s pretty significant.

Margaret Jackson: What is the small business community asking? Catrina Blair: We are working on is a new presentation, and it is digging deeper. What we are discovering is that small businesses want to go deeper; they want to understand, they are asking questions like, what is an RFP, RFQ, RFI, and RFO. What is the process? What are my chances of winning if I respond? So, we are in the final stages of creating that presentation called “How to Contract with the State.” Margaret Jackson: What is a Prime Contractor? Catrina Blair: A Prime Contractor is the main contractor on a project; it doesn’t necessarily have to be a large company. He or she is the primary business in contract with the State of California. You have heard the term contractor and subcontractor when our agreement is with the prime contractor, not the subcontractors or the sub-tiers on the contract. It could be a small business, as the prime contractor. Margaret Jackson: What is the best advice would you give to a small business? Catrina Blair: Don’t give up, there are people out there whose sole job is to connect you with opportunities. You are one person away from an opportunity that can propel your business forward. Don’t give up.

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Focus on five departments that have what you’re selling, and they are buying what you sell.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

The Bottom Line

| Spring 2018

Financial intelligence the journey of how money works, amassed, secured, invested, and handled is the bottom line.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Understanding

by : Ruth VanDerostyne | Financial Ed Collections 1. If you pay a collection account, it will drop your credit score. If you want to pay a collection account that is currently on your credit report, it will drop your credit score because it makes the date of activity current. It is best to ask the collection company if they will stop reporting to the bureaus if you agree to pay the bill. 2. It does not make a difference on the FICO score if you settle the account versus paying the bill in full. If there are collection accounts to settle, do not let a mortgage credit be run. Experian has a program where they notify the collection companies if your credit has been run. If you run a mortgage credit report before you settle the collection, you will not get a good deal to settle. They know you want to purchase a home and in order to do that, you need to pay the collection. 3. Settle a collection at the end of the month, so you will get a better settlement. Collection companies have quotas they need to meet, and if you wait until the end of the month, you will pay less for the debt. If you have a collection company calling, tell them â&#x20AC;&#x153;do not contact me by phoneâ&#x20AC;? if they continue, you can sue them. If you have a robot calling your cell phone, that is an automatic reason to sue them also. 4. If you have one or more accounts to settle, do not let a mortgage credit be run.

| Spring 2018

your FICO score.

ducation Services | SBC Advantage (888) 977-1222 Amount of Tradelines you should have:

You should have four accounts in good standing to optimize credit score. It is best to have a home loan, car loan, and two credit cards. If you don’t have a home loan or a car loan, you should have four credit cards. Student loans, if not in deferment count as one of the four trade lines active on your credit report.

Credit Card Balances:

It is important to keep your credit card balances under 30% of its limit (15% is even better). If you keep your balance under 30% of the credit limit, you will receive 5 points to your FICO score, If you keep your balance under 15% of the credit limit, you will receive 15 points to your FICO score. Once you go over 50% of the credit limit, it will drop your score 18 points (per credit card).

Inquiries:

5-9 inquiries in a two-year period will drop your score 20 points. Don’t let anyone run your credit. You can run your credit on the free websites, show that report to the person you are applying for credit and see if they can do the deal. If they can, then allow them to run your report through their company.

Don’t close credit cards:

Once you have eight years worth of credit history on your credit report, you get 40 points added to your FICO score. So don’t close credit cards. If you want to do a “transfer balance” to another credit card, that is ok, don’t close the credit card you moved the balance from. Don’t let the creditor close your account. Use your credit card once every 4 to 6 months, then pay off the balance.

“

If you have a collection company calling, tell them “do not contact me by phone” if they continue, you can sue them.

Authorized User:

The authorized user still works today. Example: Mom has great credit, and she wants to help out her son. She can add him as an authorized user on her credit card, Mom’s great credit will go on the son’s report, son’s bad credit will not hop on Mom’s credit report. The authorized user works for car loans and credit cards. If you want to open a home mortgage, you need to have your own credit established.

Types of Credit Cards:

If you only have major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express), you will get 16 points added to your FICO score. If you add a department store card to your credit, you will then have 27 points added to your FICO score.

Bank Accounts:

If you have a checking account, it will give you 5 points added to your FICO score, savings account gives you 10 points, if you have both, it will give you 20 points added to your FICO score.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

How SMBs Can Catch the Blockchain Revolution An Introduction

by : Keith Koo | Silicon Valley Insider | SBC Advantage (888) 388-6739

“C

hanging the way, we work, live, play and learn.” – Does this phrase sound familiar? For three decades, this has been the tagline for technology giant Cisco Systems, and during the time I spent leading an M&A Integration team, it truly felt like we were revolutionizing the world with our cutting-edge products and solutions as we acquired company after company. Throughout my career working in large banks and marketleading technology companies, I thought that these companies were driving and defining the Third Industrial Revolution aka “digital revolution” which had a brief pause with the dotcom crash that occurred in the 2000s. Even though there were massive dotcom failures like Pets.com, Webvan. com, and eToys.com, companies like Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google, PayPal and Salesforce and many others were able to achieve massive scale despite the dotcom era. Do you know we have already started the next industrial revolution? World Economic Forum Founder and Chairman Klaus Schwab states “The Fourth Industrial Revolution will impact our lives completely. It will not only change how we communicate, how we produce, how we consume, it will actually change us, our own identity.” The fourth industrial revolution is defined by new technologies that combine the physical, digital, and biological realms which lead to technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous vehicles, which fundamentally change the way we work, live, play and learn even further than when Cisco was using this as their tagline.

| Spring 2018

Blockchain as part of the Fourth Revolution has the potential to, greatly, disrupt everything you know about commerce today. Blockchain at its core is an open public distributed ledger that can record any transaction between two parties which is immutable, irrevocable and highly secure. This concept is important because since the 14th century the whole world has been operating under the double-entry accounting rules adopted by the Medicis and their Italian bank. This system as we know has its flaws in accuracy and security. Blockchain in all its current forms disrupts and eliminates the need for double-entry accounting as well as the need for other intermediaries. Why a history lesson on industrial revolutions when this is an article on SMBs and their ability to adopt and utilize blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT)? It’s because innovation didn’t stop with the introduction of the commercial internet over 25 years ago nor does it, now with the introduction of blockchain and DLT. In fact, it’s just the beginning. The blockchain is in its infancy as a technology. One analogy would be like the internet being built but email protocols not being available yet. A crucial point in the dotcom era that you might have missed. SMBs (other than technology startups) had very little to do with the digital revolution. SMBs that survived and thrived

during the post-dotcom era had to rapidly adapt and rely on large centralized service providers to create products that you (small and midsized businesses) would be viable in today’s marketplace. These service providers included infrastructure and application vendors like Salesforce, Amazon, Dropbox, and Evernote as well as Facebook and Google for ads and lead generation which allowed these SMBs to increase sales, lower costs and drive productivity. Blockchain promises that as the technology continues to mature, there is a future scenario in which all other parties beyond a buyer and seller of goods are in fact extras and unnecessary and disintermediated from the transaction cycle. It would result in massive savings and efficiency gains for any business, large or small. Blockchain can “level the playing field” for SMBs. You will be able to compete directly with an Amazon or Alibaba if you can successfully adopt a blockchain solution that cuts out all intermediaries. A teenager in the USA who designs handbags can sell directly to anyone in the world without the normal headaches of cross-border transactions and financial systems. You will also be able to save massive costs by cutting out the associated transaction fees that banks, as well as Amazon or eBay, receive.

It is very early in this Fourth Revolution, and companies of all sizes, including SMBs, can leverage the technology effectively as DLT, and further decentralization occurs. Even if you didn’t invest in Bitcoin at USD 19,000 or your business didn’t adopt an Ethereum-based solution, (the former is a pure cryptocurrency, and the latter is a platform to build other transaction platforms like payment systems). It doesn’t mean you’ve missed “the Curve,” which we refer to in the tech world as a major shift in technology. We are still in a “Wild West” period with lots of fear, uncertainty, and doubt and many fake and flawed ideas. If you are wondering how to take advantage of blockchain technologies, immediate opportunities for SMBs to consider in using blockchain are in the following areas: Payments and Money Transfers, Smart Contracts, Notary, Digital Identity, SupplyChain Management, Cloud Storage, Gift Cards and Loyalty, Networking and IOT. It’s an exciting time for SMBs who thought they had missed the internet generation and can now use the internet via blockchain to re-invent and accelerate their growth.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

How to reach your sales goals? by : Margaret Jackson| AM 1220 KDOW & BOTE | SBC Advantage (408) 205-4056

re you discouraged about not achieving your sales goal? Are you having trouble reaching your sales goals in your small business? Building a business is more than having a great product or service; it is a lot of work to create sustainability. If you own a business, you know it is one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Many people are looking for the shortcut and hoping to get high returns, but that is unrealistic thinking. Have you wondered if there is a magic trick to reaching optimal sales goals? The salesperson that is achieving their sales goals knows that there is no magic trick to accomplishing optimum sales goals. One of the most excellent salesmen that ever lived was Zig Ziglar he stated, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” What is your attitude toward your sales goal plan? Do you have a plan? Are you doing the real work that it takes to take-off in your business or sales career? Here are ten basic tips on how to reach your sales goals. 1. Always keep the right attitude and do not give up. 2. Challenge yourself and set sales goals based off of the company’s, overall, sales goals. 3. Learn the product or service before you try to sell it to a target customer. 4. Believe in the product or service before you try to sell it to a target customer 5. Be patient by remembering the Law of 29. The marketing principal that a customer needs to be exposed to your company 29 times through seeing, hearing, and feeling the services and products offered. 6. Do not be discouraged when customers ask questions. Answer the questions with confidence. 7. 80% of sales are achieved during the fifth to twelfth contact according to the National Sales Executive Association some say 18 contacts. 8. Do not be afraid to talk about the price with confidence and not cockiness. 9. Do not sell a customer a product or service that they do not need. 10. Look for the win-win at every opportunity. The reality of achieving optimal sales begins with your attitude. All of the other steps are considered best practices for winning and reaching your sales goals.

“ 68

If you own a business, you know it is one of the toughest jobs on the planet.

| Spring 2018

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Small Business Dilemma: To Save, or Not to Save, is that the Priority? by : Bradley Hamada | Trans America | SBC Advantage (408) 712-2107

mall business ownership can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person goes through in their lifetime. The challenge of building something from nothing provides moments of exhilaration, utter despair, and everything in-between—and that’s just the first month. It takes all the best qualities of an ideal employee all rolled into essentially one person—YOU. Through all of this, one of the most significant mistakes I have seen many small business owners make is to neglect to build their financial future. Ironically, by not building a financial future in parallel with your business, many people undermine the very reason they started their business in the first place which was to provide more for their family and perhaps, leave a legacy for future generations. A basic principle of building a strong financial foundation is the concept of “pay yourself first.” Never is this more important than as a small business owner, who often assumes all the critical roles within the company and does so often without thought of sufficient compensation. A business owner of a large company must pay their employees. As a small business owner, we must also remember that our “employees” must be paid. Running a sustained business, but living from handto-mouth should not be good enough, and ought not be a part of anyone’s long-term business plans. The priority is to focus the energy of our company, ourselves, and our employees on the journey to financial independence. Until we have an excellent plan, execute flawlessly, and effectively grow our small business is just essentially a flexible dead-end job.

| Spring 2018

Only when we set the right priorities, the financial building can begin. It is not as daunting or as difficult as it may seem. Yes, there are many different financial products, but there are not as many basic financial concepts. Therefore, if we can understand basic financial concepts, we can find the product to suit our needs. If we are looking for a type of product first—we may have heard it from a friend or on the radio—often the sheer number of products to compare can be overwhelming. For example, people often ask, “What is better a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA?” The answer does not lie in the IRA product; instead it lies in the underlying tax concept. Knowing if we want a program that is tax deferred or a program that is tax advantaged is vital. The same can be said about investing when people ask, “Should I be investing more aggressively when I am younger?” The traditional answer is yes, but the better reply depends on if we understand the concept of risk. Do we understand that if we lose 40% on an investment that we need to gain 67% on the balance just to break even? At the end of the day, the small business owner works hard for every penny, sometimes harder and for less income. We owe it to ourselves to properly prioritize our future, and at the same time take full control of our financial future by learning for ourselves the basic concepts of money so we can provide for ourselves, our family, and the life we envision.

Save The Date 2/22/2019 Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Doing Business with California Utilities by : Tim McLaughlin | San Jose Water Company | SBC Advantage (408) 512-4760

“

his article intends to give a very highlevel view of how small and diverse businesses can better position themselves for doing business with California Utilities. To be very specific and provide the reader context, when I say “California Utilities” I mean specifically investorowned utilities (IOUs) within California that are subject to regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). All IOUs within California fall under CPUC regulation called General Order (GO) 156, which requires IOUs to have a Supplier Diversity program, which focuses on providing opportunities to diverse-owned businesses. To be specific, for purposes of GO 156, diverse-owned businesses are defined as women, minority, disabled veteran or LGBT owned businesses, which I will refer to as Diverse Business Enterprises (DBEs) moving forward. The strict definition of “ownership” can be found at the CPUC website and is beyond the scope of this article.

Certification is free and lasts for three years before renewal is required.

If you are a DBE and you wish to do business with one of the many IOUs in California, the first thing I would recommend is to become certified as a DBE with the CPUC. To do this, you will need to seek certification at the Supplier Clearinghouse (http://thesupplierclearinghouse.com/ and click “APPLY”). Certification is free and lasts for three years before renewal is required. To be clear, you do not have to certify your company at the Supplier Clearinghouse to do business with an IOU. However, without this certification, the IOUs will not

| Spring 2018

be able to count you as a DBE in their reports to the CPUC. Certification at the Supplier Clearinghouse is the first box you should check as a diverse business. Now that you are certified, what should you do next? How do you know the players? How do you know if a particular IOU uses your products or services? Again, the CPUC website is a fantastic resource which will get you going. Each year on March 1st, all IOUs within the state of California file a Supplier Diversity Annual Report and Plan to the CPUC. These reports are readily available at the CPUC website. Each companies’ report will tell you how much business they do with DBEs. The data table within the report gets very specific. You will be able to see how much spend was with DBEs by Standard Industry Code (SIC) and identify where potential opportunities exist for each utility. Also, you will be able to see all of the events that each IOU attends throughout the year. With a little effort, you can arrange to meet representatives from each IOU at the many events outlined throughout California and beyond. Applying for the certification should give you a head start when seeking business with California utilities.

Here’s to getting that next contract!

Small Business (SB), Disabled Veteran Register to do business with the State B I D D E (DVBE) R REG ISTR ATION Business Enterprise Certification

S B

Go to www.caleprocure.ca.gov using the latest version of your web browser. In the upper right hand corner, click Login/ Register; on the next page, click Register as a New Bidder.

To get certified as an SB/DVBE, or both, go to Go to www.caleprocure.ca.gov the latest version of your www.caleprocure.ca.gov. You must using be logged in toweb proceed. browser. In the upper right hand corner, click Login/ Register; page, click Registermark, as a Small New Bidder. Clickononthe thenext middle icon (a check

To w in

BIDDER

REGISTR ATION

Step 1 Set up Company Profile. All items with an asterisk must be completed. Choose either Federal Employer Information Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) as your Tax Identification Number (TIN). (Do not use dashes when entering FEIN or SSN.) Add Company Name, insert website under http//URL (if applicable). Step 2 Enter Primary Address. Country, Address, City, State, Postal (can select additional addresses). Step 3 Establish User Accounts. Add Primary Contact by clicking the Add Contact button. (Can add additional users.) Step 4 Manage Bidder Notifications. Would you like to Receive CSCR Bid Opportunity Interest Notifications? If Yes, Designate Bidder Notification Contacts (can receive multiple email addresses), go to Search by Keyword and add UNSPSC Code(s), select Service Areas. Step 5 Terms and Conditions. Click the required box to agree to the terms and conditions for state procurements. Click Submit. Bidder Registration is complete. You will receive an email with your temporary password.

Business/Disabled Business Step 1 Set up Veteran Company Profile.Enterprise), All items with an asterisk must be thencompleted. click the GetChoose Certified button on the left side of the page. either Federal Employer Information Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) as your Tax Identification Before following the SB/DVBE application process Number (TIN). (Do not use dashes when entering FEIN or SSN.) Add gather the following documents/information in Company Name, insert website under http//URL electronic format: (if applicable). • Applicant/Affiliate Federal Tax Returns for three most recent tax Primary years Address. Country, Address, City, State, Postal Step 2 Enter •(canFederal select Employer additionalIdentification addresses). Number (FEIN) • Secretary of State Number Step 3 Establish User Accounts. Add Primary Contact by clicking • Home address of Officers, Members/Managers and Partners the Add&Contact button. (Can add additional users.) • Dun Bradstreet Number (if applicable) •Step Contractors License Board Number applicable) 4 ManageState Bidder Notifications. Would(ifyou like to Receive •CSCR A list keywords describing your businessIf activities to Bidder BidofOpportunity Interest Notifications? Yes, Designate ensure your businesses is easilymultiple and appropriately Notification Contacts (can receive email addresses), go to identified in anyand search certified firms.select (SinceService you are Search by Keyword addfor UNSPSC Code(s), Areas. limited to 255 characters, do NOT use periods or commas Step Terms Conditions. and5 do NOTand repeat words.) Click the required box to agree to the terms and conditions for state procurements. Click Submit. ForBidder certification questions, call OSDSYou at (916) 375-4940. Registration is complete. will receive an email After receiving email confirmation of your user ID and password, activate your account.

Click the URL Link CaleProcure. Login under your user ID and temporary password on your email.

For questions about bidder registration, call 1-855-421-6355 or email vendors@fiscal.ca.gov.

* The password must have a minimum of 8 characters, contain at least one upper and one lower case letter, one special character and one number.

www.caleprocure.ca.gov www.caleprocure.ca.gov www.dgs.ca.gov/pd

with your temporary password.

After receiving email confirmation of your user ID and password, activate your account.

(See SB/DVBE Certification on the other side)

Cl Bu th

(See SB/DVBE Certification on the other side) California Department of General Services • Procurement Division 707 Third Street, 2nd Floor • West Sacramento, CA 95605 • www.dgs.ca.gov/pd www.caleprocure.ca.gov 4/18 www.dgs.ca.gov/pd

Ca 70

Small Business Concierge Advantage Guide

| Spring 2018

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

A Accounting Eva Smith & Associates Small Business Accounting/Bookkeeping/1-on-1 Support Eva Smith| EA Hayward, CA......................................510 889-8885 http://www.estaxservices.com/

Academic Success Firehouse Community Development Center Firehouse Academic Program (4-Fs) Anita Rubio | Operations Manager San Jose, CA........................................408 327-9622 http://www.the-firehouse.org

Acupuncture & Pain Relief Eternal Health & Wellness Acupuncture for Stress Relief Dr. Quli Zhou| Chinese Medicine Milpitas, CA........................................408 241-6638 http://www.myeternalhealth.com/

Addictions Positive Progression Inc. Treatment Programs Designed to Meet Every Need Katy Mc Dowell | Executive Director San Jose, CA .....................................888 333-3963 http://www.positiveprogression.org

Advertising Architeckie Build Memory / Get Remembered / Make Sales Isaac Teckie | Consultant San Jose, CA .....................................408 389-4572 http://www.architeckie.com Faith & Business On The Edge/AM 1100 KFAX Advertise Smart/Brand Longevity/Grow Business Daniel Herd |Director of Business Development Bay Area, CA ....................................408 357-0951 http://www.businessontheedge.biz

| Spring 2018

Money 2.0 Business On The Edge/AM 1220 KDOW Advertise Strong/Brand Longevity/Grow Business Daniel Herd |Director of Business Development Bay Area, CA ....................................408 357-0951 http://www.businessontheedge.biz Ohlone College: Extended Opportunity Program & Services â&#x20AC;&#x153;Got Textbooks?â&#x20AC;? EOPS meets students educational needs by providing support services i.e. book-grant, financial aid assistance, and tutoring Sandy Bennett |EOPS/CARE Coordinator Fremont, CA ....................................510 659-6152 https://www.ohlone.edu/eops

Art Gallery Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas Mobile Art Gallery, Events, and Networking Olga Enciso Smith | Founder | Social Entrepreneur Bay Area, CA .......................................408 529-2296 N/A

Audio Production JM Audio Services Live Sound/Digital Audio Engineering/Consultation Jarel Martin | Audio Engineer & Owner Oakland, CA .......................................510 686-3021 http://www.jmaudioservices.com SAE Expression College / Audio Program Offers programs in Animation, Audio, Digital Film, Game Development, and Entertainment Business Admissions |Emeryville Campus Emeryville, CA .....................................510 654-2934 http://www.usa.sae.edu/campuses/emeryville

Automotive Services Pacific Tire Outlet Bay Area Tire Solutions Voted Milpitas Best Ask for Phil | Owner Milpitas, CA .......................................408 791-0418 http://www.pacifictireoutletinc.com

Author Plan-18 Workbook containing legal documents for turning 18 Cheryl Nelson | Author & Speaker Bay Area, CA .....................................408 614-1628 N/A

DO Enterprises Executive Level Mentality Devin Oten | Author & Speaker Bay Area, CA .....................................504 319-6079 http://www.devinoten.com Kari Kelley Storytelling, Performing with a purpose, Overcoming childhood abuse Kari Kelley | Author, Speaker, Artist Bay Area, CA.............................408 373-7263 N/A Marcie Anderson Are We There Yet? In-Transitions... Marcie Anderson | PhD Author & Speaker Mount Pleasant, SC.............................415 418-4358 https://www.amzn.to/2zmPVIC Marilyn Randolph Family Child Care Guide - Start a Child Care Business Marilyn Randolph | Author & Speaker Bay Area, CA .....................................408.389-8672 http://www.marilynrandolph.com

B B2B Network Architeckie Business Solutions Network Community Isaac Teckie | Consultant San Jose, CA .....................................408 389-4572 http://www.architeckie.com

Banking Services BBVA Compass Bank Creating Opportunities/Workplace Solutions Officer Jeanie Irvin | VP Workplace Solutions Walnut Creek, CA ............................925 286-3438 http://www.bbvacompass.com BBVA Compass Bank Growth through Deposits and Loans Justin Woodfin | Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager, Business Banking Specialist Sunnyvale, CA .................................408 774-6200 http://www.bbvacompass.com

Be Your Own Boss Arbonne Financial Freedom/Flex Hours/Positive Attitude Beth Bigger | Independent Consultant Bay Area, CA ...................................831 915-7865 https://www.arbonne.com/discover/index.shtml

Beauty Hair Extensions Vanda Salon Featuring premium hair & skin care, cosmetics, and hair extension products Vanda McCauley | Master Stylist/Consultant San Jose, CA.......................................408 224-1224 http://www.vandasalon.net

Beauty Hair Care Regrowth Vanda Salon Providing the optimal in hair loss treatment, replacement and paramedical camouflage Vanda McCauley | Master Stylist/Consultant San Jose, CA.......................................408 224-1224 http://www.vandasalon.net

Beauty Salon Vanda Salon Offers a superb range of luxurious services, creating amazing looks for a diverse clientele Vanda McCauley | Master Stylist/Consultant San Jose, CA.......................................408 224-1224 http://www.vandasalon.net

Beauty Supply Sekharawellness Health & Beauty Products & Skin Care Varuni Rangappan | Beauty Consultant Milpitas, CA..........................................510 449-9078 http://www.sekharawellness.com

Blockchain Technology Ronnie Aquino Cryptocurrency, Safe & Secure, Quick, and Cheap Ronnie Aquino | Blockchain Consultant Bay Area CA..........................................408 310-3827 N/A

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Sign On the Go Signature, Blockchain-Secured e-documents,digital signature, electronically binding legal agreements Ray Sylvain| Chief Executive Officer Boca Raton, FL...................................703 260-7090 https://www.signonthego.us

Business Development Services Business On the Edge, Incorporated Business, Marketing, & Private Business Consulting 5M in annual sales Margaret Jackson | Small Business Radio Personality San Jose, CA ......................................408 357-0951 http://www.businessontheedge.biz City of San Jose Small Business Ally Permits/Licensing/Code Enforement/Business Classes Juan Borelli| Your Ally Coach San Jose, CA ......................................408 975-2655 http://www.sanjoseca.gov/businesscoach

Child Care Provider Step Up and Do Something Community Child Care Provider Network & Training Rita Guess | Executive Director San Jose, CA .....................................408 772-8679 http://www.stepupanddosomething.org

College Students BigZpoon On the go students discounted Restaurant Meals Download our Mobile App. A Greener planet, one meal at a time Sanjeev Ukhalkar, CEO |Cem Yildirim, COO Fremont, CA ....................................415 251-3333 https://www.bigzpoon.com

Colleges & Universities Bay Area

Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center Dedicated to the Entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley SBDC Staff |SBDC Advisors San Jose, CA .....................................408 385-9800 http://www.svsbdc.org

Ohlone College: Extended Opportunity Program & Services “Is College for You?” EOPS offers over and above services to students who are hindered by language, social and economic barriers. Sandy Bennett |EOPS/CARE Coordinator Fremont, CA ....................................510 659-6152 https://www.ohlone.edu/eops

Pause Now Bus “A Mobile Meditation Center” Business Networking/ Increase Productivity / Wellness Jackie Corwin| Founder & CEO Bay Area, CA....................................415 815-8098 https://www.pausenowbus.com

Ohlone College Tri-Cities One-Stop Career Center Recruiting Services |Workforce Planning Office |Newark Campus Newark, CA .....................................510 742-2323 http://www.tricitiesonestop.com

C Campus Safety Tip Now, Inc. Colleges, Universities, School’s Safety Anonymous Tips Ap Cyril Rayan | CEO Santa Clara, CA ..............................877 395-5095 http://www.tipnow.com

Catering Crazy Daisy’s Sweets and Treats An On-line Bakery Serving the East Bay Jocelyn Twomey | Baker Extrodinaire Bay Area.............................................510 736-4979 http://www.crazydaisysweets.com 78

| Spring 2018

Pause Now Bus “A Mobile Meditation Center” College & Schools Stress Relief / Mindfulness / Promote Wellness Jackie Corwin| Founder & CEO Bay Area, CA....................................415 815-8098 https://www.pausenowbus.com SAE Expression College Offers programs in Animation, Audio, Digital Film, Game Development, and Entertainment Business Admissions |Emeryville Campus Emeryville, CA .....................................510 654-2934 http://www.usa.sae.edu/campuses/emeryville

Community Investment Step Up and Do Something Honors Class Club 100 Academic Classes Rita Guess | Executive Director San Jose, CA .....................................408 772-8679 http://www.stepupanddosomething.org

Step Up and Do Something Supporting Economic Community Growth Rita Guess | Executive Director San Jose, CA .....................................408 772-8679 http://www.stepupanddosomething.org

Ohlone College: Extended Opportunity Program & Services â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dream, Believe and Achieve with EOPS!â&#x20AC;? A holistic approach to academic advising, vocational and career counseling from EOPS counselors. Sandy Bennett |EOPS/CARE Coordinator Fremont, CA ....................................510 659-6152 https://www.ohlone.edu/eops

Consultant Services

Corporate Employee Therapy

Architeckie Building Technology Around Your Business Isaac Teckie | Consultant San Jose, CA .....................................408 389-4572 http://www.architeckie.com

Kingdom Family Resources Restoring a healthy employee workplace Elizabeth Stewart | LMFT Bay Area, CA ......................................408 800-7821 http://www.kingdomfamilyresources.com

Elyse Tager Women In Business Coach 2+ years in business Elyse Tager | Business & Online Strategist Coach Bay Area, CA.....................................510 912-2884 www.elysetager.com

Corporate Events

Community Membership

Marcie Anderson Personal Patterning Bring Positive Results Marcie Anderson | PhD Employee Coach Mount Pleasant, SC.............................415 418-4358 http://www.marcie-anderson.com/services Mardin Amiri 16 years exp., in Smart & Affordable Office asneeded Workspace, Business Imaging Strategist Mardin Amiri | Consultant San Jose, CA .....................................408 210-2073 http://www.mardinamiri.com

Epic Venues Glass House & The Corinthian Grand Ballroom Breaking business & corporate traditions with epic business event experiences Laura Buell| Executive Assistant Bay Area, CA...Sales Call Request...408 606-8148 http://www.venuessanjose.com and https://www.corinthiangrandballroom.com Posh Events & Affairs We are into the details that make events unique Meredith Walker| Owner Hayward, CA.......................................510 815-5306 http://www.posheventsandaffairs.com

Corporate Safety

Margaret Jackson/AM 1220 KDOW/AM 1100 KFAX Bay Area/Silicon Valley #1 Small Business Radio Personality and Private Business Consultant 1M in annual sales Daniel Herd |Director of Business Development Bay Area, CA .......................................408 357-0951 http://www.businessontheedge.biz

Tip Now, Inc. Campus Safety Anonymous Tips - Safety App Cyril Rayan | CEO Santa Clara, CA ..............................877 395-5095 http://www.tipnow.com

Mountain Wisdom Fix relational problems, improve the quality of life, Human Relations Aleks Aris |Relational Consultant Bay Area, CA .......................................408 475-7988 https://www.mountainwisdom.net

C Sharp Video Productions Corporate / Small Business / Promotionals / Voted Best in Milpitas Christine Iglesias| Creative Director Bay Area, CA......................................408 758-8293 https://www.csharpvideo.com

Corporate Video Production

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Corporate Wellness Pause Now Bus “A Mobile Meditation Center” Corporate Wellness / Well-Being / Healthy Workplace Jackie Corwin| Founder & CEO Bay Area, CA.......................................415 815-8098 https://www.pausenowbus.com

CPR & First Aid Training Deanna Martinez CPR & First Aid Training for workplace emergencies Deanna Martinez| Certified CPR AED Trainer Bay Area, CA.......................................408 769-0816 https://www.cprtrainedca.com

Customer Loyalty Incentives Creative Marketing Incentives Customer Loyalty Incentives Shane Higgins| Principal Owner San Diego CA........................800 619-6101 ext. 317 https://www.creativemarketingincentives.biz

Creative Wellness Be Provided Creative Wellness & Conservation Marcia Sivek | Owner Bay Area, CA .....................................408 759-1863 http://www.beprovided.com

D Digital Artist Alvie Jackson, Digital Artist Independent Contractor Animator Bringing Your Business to Life! Alvie Jackson | Animator |Mentored by Pixar San Jose, CA ...................................408 834-3964 http://www.alviejackson.com SAE Expression College / Digital Art & Film Program Offers programs in Animation, Audio, Digital Film, Game Development, and Entertainment Business Admissions |Emeryville Campus Emeryville, CA .....................................510 654-2934 http://www.usa.sae.edu/campuses/emeryville

| Spring 2018

E Education & Training College Money Pros Funding Your Education Dan Everstz |Executive Director San Franciso/Bay Area....................925 452-4067 http://www.collegemoneypros.com Ohlone College Tri-Cities One-Stop Career Center Recruiting Services |Workforce Planning Office |Newark Campus Newark, CA .....................................510 742-2323 http://www.tricitiesonestop.com

Entertainment Sheila Barnett Band Musical Health & Wellness Sheila Barnett-Zacca |Owner & Performer Oakland, CA....................................510 734.5697 N/A SAE Expression College / Entertainment Program Offers programs in Animation, Audio, Digital Film, Game Development, and Entertainment Business Admissions |Emeryville Campus Emeryville, CA .................................510 654-2934 http://www.usa.sae.edu/campuses/emeryville

Event Planners Epic Venues Glass House & The Corinthian Grand Ballroom Event planner’s paradise, producing, designing, creative, out-of-box epic events Laura Buell| Executive Assistant Bay Area, CA...Sales Call Request...408 606-8148 http://www.venuessanjose.com and https://www.corinthiangrandballroom.com

Event Planning Posh Events & Affairs A Full Service Event Planning Company Meredith Walker| Owner Hayward, CA...................................510 815-5306 http://www.posheventsandaffairs.com

E-Signature Platform Sign On the Go Signature, Blockchain-Secured e-documents,digital signature, electronically binding legal agreements Ray Sylvain| Chief Executive Officer Boca Raton, FL...................................703 260-7090 https://www.signonthego.us

Event Venue Epic Venues Glass House & The Corinthian Grand Ballroom Incredibly unique private event venues Laura Buell| Executive Assistant Bay Area, CA...Sales Call Request...408 606-8148 http://www.venuessanjose.com and https://www.corinthiangrandballroom.com

F Family Camp & Activities Kingdom Family Resources Rebuilding families through family camp activities Elizabeth Stewart | MA, LMF Bay Area, CA ...................................408 800-7821 http://www.kingdomfamilyresources.com

Family Therapy Kingdom Family Resources Restore a heart, restore a family, transform lives for a life time. Elizabeth Stewart | MA, LMF Bay Area, CA ...................................408 800-7821 http://www.kingdomfamilyresources.com

Financial Services Financial Education Services Credit Restoration, Debt Settlement, Business Credit Ruth VanDerostyne | Credit Specialist Bay Area, CA ...................................888 977-1222 http://www.fesexperts.com TransAmerican Financial Advisors Financial Advising Bradley Hamada | Bay Area, CA ...................................408 712-2107 N/A

G Global Food Network BigZpoon A profitable and Eco-friendly way to reduce restaurant food waste. Local, National, International Restaurants Rescue Your Food. Sanjeev Ukhalkar, CEO |Cem Yildirim, COO Fremont, CA ....................................415 251-3333 https://www.bigzpoon.com

Graphic Design Eclektik Designs Creating your brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity La Toya Hardy|Senior Graphic Designer Bay Area, CA .....................................N/A http://www.eclektikdesigns.com

Government Procurement California Department of Corrections Getting Certified as a Small Business (SB/DVBE) Statewide|Advocacy |Outreach Sacramento Capital, CA ..................916 255-3029 http://www.cdcr.ca.gov California Department of General Services Getting Certified as a Small Business (SB/DVBE) Advocacy Unit|Outreach Sacramento Capital, CA ..................800 559-5529x3# http://www.caleprocure.ca.gov California Department of Forestry and Fire Getting Certified as a Small Business (SB/DVBE) MSB/MB/DVBE Sacramento Capital, CA ..................916 323-0470 http://www.calfire.ca.gov/about/about/dobusiness_ advocates California Department of Transportation Getting Certified as a Small Business (SB/DVBE) Procurement Division|Advocacy| Outreach Sacramento Capital, CA .................916 227-6000 http://www.dot.ca.gov/dpac

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

California High-Speed Rail Small, Disadvantaged, and Disabled Veteran Business Contracts Small Business Advocate| Outreach Sacramento Capital, CA .................916 330-5672 www.ConnectHSR.com or www.hsr.ca.gov San Jose Water Company Supply Diversity Procurement Opportunities Tim McLaughlin | Manager Supplier Diversity & Community Involvement San Jose, CA ......................................408 512-4760 http://www.sjwater.com

H Hair Replacement Vanda Salon Providing the optimal in hair loss treatment, replacement and paramedical camouflage Vanda McCauley | Master Stylist/Consultant San Jose, CA.......................................408 224-1224 http://www.vandasalon.net

Healthcare Staffing Ability Therapy Staffing Physical Therapy Staffing Agency “Medical Staffing Specialist” Andrew Javellan | Manager San Jose/Bay Area, CA.........................408 659-6105 www.abilitytherapystaffing.com

Eternal Health & Wellness Balance Your Energy Balance Your Life Dr. Quli Zhou | Chinese Medicine Milpitas, CA.......................................408 241-6638 http://www.myeternalhealth.com Jacqueline Turner Spa Health & Wellness/Romance & Health Jacqueline Turner | Alternative Health Specialist Emeryville, CA...................................408 241-6638 http://www.jacquelineturner.com Pause Now Bus “A Mobile Meditation Center” Hospital Staff / Alternative Wellness / Holistic Wellness Jackie Corwin| Founder & CEO Bay Area, CA.....................................415 815-8098 https://www.pausenowbus.com Sekharawellness Health & Beauty Products & Skin Care Varuni Rangappan | Consultant Milpitas, CA.......................................510 449-9078 http://www.sekharawellness.com

Human Resource Compliance Franklins Consulting HR Compliance/Data Security/Whistleblower Nancy Franklin | HR Compliance Consultant South Jordan Utah...........................801 910-5605 N/A

Health & Wellness

Insurance Services

Bay Area Men’s Health Specializes in pelvic health & fitness for men over 50 Numbiya Aziz | Certified Massage Therapist San Jose, CA.....................................510 663-8106 http://www.gentlemenhealth.com

Tressa Williams Agency State Farm Providing Insurance & Financial Services Tressa Williams | Insurance Agent Bay Area, CA ..................................408 243-4400 http://www.twilliamsagency.com

Earnest Love, Inc. Emotionally healthy women are healthy profissionals Chante Dent | Executive Director Suwanee, GA.......................................678 835-7572 http://www.earnestlove.org

Wettenstein Insurance (No-Fee Insurance) Personal/Commercial & Small Biz/Life/Health/Special Warren G. Wettenstein | Independent Broker Milpitas, CA .....................................408 824-1450 www.calvantage.net

| Spring 2018

J Concierges Coming Soon

K Concierges Coming Soon

L Lead Generation Incentives Creative Marketing Incentives Lead Generation Incentives Shane Higgins| Principal Owner San Diego CA........................800 619-6101 ext. 317 https://www.creativemarketingincentives.biz

Legal Services LegalShield Legal Protection Family/Small Biz/Employee/Identity Verna Jones | Independent Associate Milpitas, CA .....................................650 533-5725 http://www.vernaj.legalshieldassociate.com

M Manufacturing Hastest Solutions, Inc. Environmental Test Chamber Types are, Burn-In, HAST/PCT, HTOL/LTOL, Humidity, Salt/Fog/Spray Corrosion, Sand & Dust, Rain Splash, and Drip, Temperature Cycling, Thermal Cycling, Thermal Shock, Customized Walk-In Chambers Aylia Rizvi | COO San Jose/Bay Area CA .................408 945-7861 http://www.hastest.com

Marketing Architeckie Get Visible, Get Sales Isaac Teckie | Consultant San Jose, CA .....................................408 389-4572 http://www.architeckie.com Faith & Business On The Edge/AM 1100 KFAX Show Sponsorships, Commercial, Live Ads Daniel Herd |Director of Business Development Bay Area, CA .....................................408 205-4056 http://www.businessontheedge.biz Money 2.0 Business On The Edge/AM 1220 KDOW Sponsorships, Commercials, Live Ads Mass Comm. Daniel Herd |Director of Business Development Bay Area, CA .....................................408 205-4056 http://www.businessontheedge.biz

Massage Therapy Eternal Health & Wellness Swedish, Deep Tissue,Aromatherapy,Acupressure, Tui Na Dr. Quli Zhou| Chinese Medicine & Massage Milpitas, CA........................................408.241.6638 http://www.myeternalhealth.com Jacqueline Turner Spa Health & Wellness/Romance & Health Jacqueline Turner | Massage Therapist Emeryville, CA...................................408 241-6638 http://www.jacquelineturner.com

Mental Health Support Earnest Love, Inc. Heal, Love, Live, Emotional Support from sexual trauma Chante Dent | Executive Director Suwanee, GA.......................................678 835-7572 http://www.earnestlove.org

Mobile App

BigZpoon Make our planet greener, one meal at a time. Download Free Mobile App for Discounted Restaurant Meals Sanjeev Ukhalkar, CEO |Cem Yildirim, COO Fremont, CA ....................................415 251-3333 https://www.bigzpoon.com

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Money Abundance for Business Mountain Wisdom Money Abundance, Cashflow, Optimize operations for a business Aleks Aris | MAP Abundance Consultant Bay Area, CA.......................................408 475-7988 https://www.mountainwisdom.net

Money Abundance for Individuals Mountain Wisdom Money Abundance, Cashflow, Personal challenges with money Aleks Aris | MAP Consultant Bay Area, CA.......................................408 475-7988 https://www.mountainwisdom.net

N Nature Journaling Be Provided Conservation Radio Nature Events, Expression, Outdoors, Smell the Roses Marcia Sivek | Journaling Coach (Coming in the Fall) Bay Area, CA .....................................408 759-1863 http://www.beprovided.com

Newspaper South Valley Review Newspaper Better at knowing what matters to you Brigitte Jones | Publisher & Advertising Agent Bay Area, CA .....................................408 898-7534 https://www.issuu.com/southvalleyreview

Non Profit Organizations DONATE Caring Neighbors, Enterprises Incorporated Feeding Bay Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elderly & Children $1 Campaign Laromen Green| Executive Director Bay Area, CA....................................408 469-4065 http://www.caringneighbors.org Earnest Love, Inc. Support women healing from sexual trauma Chante Dent | Executive Director Suwanee, GA.......................................678 835-7572 http://www.earnestlove.org/give

| Spring 2018

Firehouse Community Development Center Donate to Increase Highschool Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grade Anita Rubio | Operations Manager San Jose, CA........................................408 327-9622 http://www.the-firehouse.org Step Up and Do Something 26 Steps A-Z Improving the Community Rita Guess | Executive Director San Jose, CA ......................................408 772-8679 http://www.stepupanddosomething.org Village-Connect Sustainable Positive Transformation, Self-aware and Self-Directed Gaylon Logan| Executive Director Bay Area, CA....................................510 564--4240 https://www.village-connect.org

Nutrition Herbalife The Key to Good Nutrition Verna Jones | Independent AssoHerbalife Member Milpitas, CA .....................................408 471-9072 http://www.herbal-nutrition.net/vjones

O Occupational Therapy Staffing Ability Therapy Staffing Recovering regain occupational skills from injuries, age, and disabilities Andrew Javellan | Manager San Jose/Bay Area, CA.........................408 659-6105 www.abilitytherapystaffing.com

Office Support & Supplies Staples The Key to Good Nutrition Print Staff | Print Services/Office Furniture & Supplies Milpitas, CA .....................................408 956-9204 http://www.store.staples.com/ca/milpitas

Opportunities for Academic Success

Ohlone College: Extended Opportunity Program & Services “You are not alone!” EOPS fosters a collaborative learning environment that leads students to academic and personal success. Sandy Bennett |EOPS/CARE Coordinator Fremont, CA ....................................510 659-6152 https://www.ohlone.edu/eops

Online Courses Be Provided Online Courses Slow Down, Relax, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nutrition Marcia Sivek | Online Instructor Bay Area, CA .....................................408 759-1863 http://www.ultimatehealthforsuccess.com

On the Edge WIB Concierge CLUB Small Business Concierge Magazine A platform that showcases women in business Margaret Jackson | Publisher of SBC Magazine & CLUB President Bay Area/Silicon Valley.........................408 205-4056 http://www.smallbusinessconcierge.biz B & R Media Group Publisher of South Valley Review, Ad Agency, Media buyer, Advertising Guru Brigitte Jones | Advertising Agent Bay Area, CA ........................................408 898-7534 https://www.issuu.com/southvalleyreview Eternal Health & Wellness Acupuncture for Stress Relief Dr. Quli Zhou| Chinese Medicine Milpitas, CA........................................408 241-6638 http://www.myeternalhealth.com/ Hastest Solutions, Inc. Women/Girls Tech Tours, S.T.E.A.M. Advocate for Girls, Aylia Rizvi | Speaker Colleges, Schools, Universities San Jose, Bay Area, CA.......................408 945-7861 http://www.hastest.com Kroot Private Investigations LLC License#PI 128940 Family Law, Witness Interviews, Court Records Research, Criminal Defense, Civil, Background Investigation, Service of Process Tracey Kroot | Private Investigator Bay Area, CA .....................................408 309-7064 www.pi-kroot.com

Marcie Anderson Are We There Yet? In-Transitions... Marcie Anderson | PhD Author & Speaker Mount Pleasant, SC.............................415 418-4358 https://www.amzn.to/2zmPVIC Marilyn Randolph Family Child Care Guide - Start a Child Care Business Marilyn Randolph | Author & Speaker Bay Area, CA .....................................408.389-8672 http://www.marilynrandolph.com Plan-18 Workbook containing legal documents for turning 18 Cheryl Nelson | Author & Speaker Bay Area, CA .....................................408 614-1628 N/A Positive Progression Inc. Treatment Programs Designed to Meet Every Need Katy Mc Dowell | Executive Director San Jose, CA .....................................888 333-3963 http://www.positiveprogression.org Tamika Ellsworth, EQ1 DRE: #01782633 Homebuying training, buyers, sellers, faith, ten commandments of home loans, Kingdom Building Tamika Ellsworth | Faith Homebuying Director Bay Area, CA ....................................408 561-7922 www.tamikaellsworth.com Tisha’s Table Cookbook Author, Fresh Food, Baked Goods, Gourmet Cupcakes, Custom Menus, Cooking Lessons Tisha Wylie Jeffers | Chef Bay Area, CA .....................................408 755-0353 www.facebook.com/TishasTable Tressa Williams Agency State Farm Providing Insurance & Financial Services Tressa Williams | Insurance Agent Bay Area, CA .....................................408 243-4400 http://www.twilliamsagency.com Vanda Salon Providing the optimal in hair loss treatment, replacement and paramedical camouflage Vanda McCauley | Master Stylist/Consultant San Jose, CA.......................................408 224-1224 http://www.vandasalon.net

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

P Physical Therapy Staffing Ability Therapy Staffing Promote ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability Andrew Javellan | Manager San Jose/Bay Area, CA.......................408 659-6105 www.abilitytherapystaffing.com

Podcast Programs

Purchase Incentives Creative Marketing Incentives Purchase Incentives Shane Higgins| Principal Owner San Diego CA........................800 619-6101 ext. 317 https://www.creativemarketingincentives.biz

Q Concierges Coming Soon

Be Provided Conservation Radio Nature, Conservation, Peace of Mind Marcia Sivek | Radio Podcast Host Bay Area, CA .....................................408 759-1863 http://www.beprovided.com/conservation-podcast

Real Estate

On the Edge Purpose Radio Podcasts On the Edge Business Training & Industry Professionals Margaret Jackson | Radio Podcast Host Bay Area, CA .....................................408 205-4056 http://www.ontheedgepurpose.podbean.com

FCC Realty DRE 01300425 Real Estate Products & Services Frank Cancilla | Broker Bay Area, CA ..................................408 821-1291 http://www.fccrealty.com

Politics & Business

Realty One Group Infinity Helping You Make the Right Move Mardin Amiri | Real Estate Agent Bay Area, CA ..................................408 210-2073 http://www.mardinamiri.com

The Social-Preneur The Leadership Coach to Ambitious Women Chandra Brooks | Politics & Leadership Coach San Jose, CA .....................................N/A http://www.chandra-brooks.com

Private Investigation Kroot Private Investigations LLC License#PI 128940 Family Law, Witness Interviews, Court Records Research, Criminal Defense, Civil, Background Investigation, Service of Process Tracey Kroot | Private Investigator Bay Area, CA .....................................408 309-7064 www.pi-kroot.com

Private Personal Chef Tishaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Table Cookbook Author, Fresh Food, California Eats, Culinary Bootcamp, Custom Menus, Cooking Lessons Tisha Wylie Jeffers | Chef Bay Area, CA ......................................408 755-0353 www.facebook.com/TishasTable 86

| Spring 2018

Real Estate Training Solutions Tamika Ellsworth, EQ1 DRE: #01782633 Homebuying training, buyers, sellers, faith, ten commandments of home loans, Kingdom Building Tamika Ellsworth | Faith Homebuying Director Bay Area, CA ..................................408 561-7922 www.tamikaellsworth.com

Restaurant BigZpoon Increase your profitability by reducing food waste. Download BigZpoon Biz App to grow your profits in eco-friendly way Sanjeev Ukhalkar, CEO |Cem Yildirim, COO Fremont, CA ....................................415 251-3333 https://www.bigzpoon.com

S Sales Incentives Creative Marketing Incentives Sales Incentives Shane Higgins| Principal Owner San Diego CA........................800 619-6101 ext. 317 https://www.creativemarketingincentives.biz

Small Business Expos & Summits Small Business Expo, Largest B2B Tradeshow in the Nation 75,000+ attendees Featuring more than 25 Workshops, Panel Discussions, Networking Opportunities and Over 100 Exhibit Susah Baah | Media Partnerships Bay Area, CA .....................................N/A https://bit.ly/2O47Jva

Soul Project Manager Marcie Anderson Bringing awareness, healing, and meditation Marcie Anderson | PhD Executive Director Mount Pleasant, SC.............................415 418-4358 http://www.marcie-anderson.com

Speakers DO Enterprises Author | Executive|Inspiration Devin Oten | Entrepreneur Philantropist Bay Area, CA .....................................510 319-6079 http://www.devinoten.com Margaret Jackson/AM 1220 KDOW/AM 1100 KFAX Radio Personality|Motivation Exec.| Dynamic|Humor Daniel Herd |Director of Special Events Bay Area, CA .....................................408 205-4056 http://www.businessontheedge.biz Marcie Anderson Personal Patterning Neutralize Negative Habits Marcie Anderson | Ph., Executive Coah Mount Pleasant, SC.............................415 418-4358 http://www.marcie-anderson.com/speaking

Special Event Planning Posh Events & Affairs Classy, capable, professional. We love to plan events Meredith Walker| Owner Hayward, CA........................................510 815-5306 http://www.posheventsandaffairs.com

Speech Therapy Staffing Ability Therapy Staffing Speech Disorders augmentative & alternative communication systems, autism spectrum disorders, or progressive neurological disorders Andrew Javellan | Manager San Jose/Bay Area, CA.......................408 659-6105 www.abilitytherapystaffing.com

Spiritual Counseling Mountain Wisdom Spiritual counseling, Energy healing, Reality transformation Aleks Aris |Spiritual Minister Bay Area, CA .......................................408 475-7988 https://www.mountainwisdom.net

Staffing Service SlingShot Connections Staff Talent. Build Solutions Thereza Chattmon | VP Talent Solutions Bay Area, CA ..................................408 247-8233 http://www.slingshotconnections.com

S.T.E.A.M. Hastest Solutions, Inc. Studennt Tech Tours, S.T.E.M Student Projects Aylia Rizvi | Speaker Colleges, Schools, Universities San Jose, Bay Area, CA.......................408 945-7861 http://www.hastest.com

Supply Diversity eBay Building A Stronger, Better, More Diverse eBay ebay Inc. Staff San Jose, CA .................................N/A http://www.ebay.com

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

San Jose Water Company Supply Diversity & Procurement Tim McLaughlin | Manager Supplier Diversity & Community Involvement San Jose, CA ..................................408 512-4760 http://www.sjwater.com

T Tax Strategies Financial Education Services Capital Gains Tax Strategist Ruth VanDerostyne | Expert Tax Strategist Trainer Bay Area, CA ...................................888 977-1222 http://www.fesexperts.com FCC Realty DRE 01300425 Gains Tax Strategist Frank Cancilla | Tax Strategist Introducer Bay Area, CA ....................................408 821-1291 http://www.fccrealty.com Tax Wealth Comprehensive Tax Solutions Burce Jones | President/CEO | Tax Educator Newport Beach, CA ........................800 977-7646 www.taxwealth.com

Technology Tip Now, Inc. Making Communities Safer Cyril Rayan | CEO Santa Clara, CA ..............................877 395-5095 http://www.tipnow.com

Testing Services Hastest Solutions, Inc. Environmental Test Chamber Types are, Burn-In, HAST/PCT, HTOL/LTOL, Humidity, Salt/Fog/Spray Corrosion, Sand & Dust, Rain Splash, and Drip, Temperature Cycling, Thermal Cycling, Thermal Shock, Customized Walk-In Chambers Aylia Rizvi | COO San Jose/Bay Area CA .................408 945-7861 http://www.hastest.com

| Spring 2018

Travel Services Twin Travels Taking the Pain Out of Planning Your Travel Alicia Owens | Travel Specialist Bay Area, CA ..................................408 421-4704 www.twinstravelservice.com

U Concierges Coming Soon

W Weight Loss Eternal Health & Wellness Acupuncture & Lipo Light For Weight Loss Dr. Quli Zhou| Chinese Medicine Milpitas, CA..........................................408 241-6638 http://www.myeternalhealth.com

Wedding Events Epic Venues Glass House & The Corinthian Grand Ballroom An extraordinary wedding experience for the bride & groom, building a lifetime of memories Laura Buell| Executive Assistant Bay Area, CA...Sales Call Request...408 606-8148 http://www.venuessanjose.com and https://www.corinthiangrandballroom.com Posh Events & Affairs All you have to do is show up and smile Meredith Walker| Owner Hayward, CA.......................................510 815-5306 http://www.posheventsandaffairs.com

Women In Business

Earnest Love, Inc. Helping women heal from sexual trauma Chante Dent | Executive Director Suwanee, GA.......................................678 835-7572 http://www.earnestlove.org

Women Networking Groups Sister 2 Sister Women with purpose working together to positively impact the world Susan Chigwada | Visionary Bay Area, CA.......................................530 340-6213 www.sis2sis.org

Women In S.T.E.A.M. Hastest Solutions, Inc. Women/Girls Tech Tours, S.T.E.A.M. Advocate for Girls, Aylia Rizvi | Speaker Colleges, Schools, Universities San Jose, Bay Area, CA.......................408 945-7861 http://www.hastest.com

Y/E 2.0 Parenting Firehouse Community Development Center YouTube Video & FB Live Anita Rubio | Operations Manager San Jose, CA........................................408 327-9622 http://www.the-firehouse.org

Y/E 2.0 Therapy Kingdom Family Resources Restoring professional young adults Elizabeth Stewart | MA, LMFT Bay Area, CA ...................................408 800-7821 http://www.kingdomfamilyresources.com

Concierges Coming Soon

X Concierges Coming Soon

Y Y/E 2.0 Firehouse Community Development Center YouTube Video & FB Live Anita Rubio | Operations Manager San Jose, CA........................................408 327-9622 http://www.the-firehouse.org

Y/E 2.0 Leadership & Innovation Tip Now, Inc. Leadership & Innovation Follow Your Dreams Cyril Rayan | College Speaker Santa Clara, CA ..............................877 395-5095 http://www.tipnow.com

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Why Leverage Video to Grow Your Business To Increase Your Leads To Improve Employee Retention To Increase Productivity

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C Sharp Video Productions is SBC â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s preferred video production Company

| Spring 2018

Defer Capital Gains Taxes on your Primary Residence as well as all other Real Estate Upon sale, the IRS and Franchise Tax Board can confiscate more than a third of your hard-earned gain when you sell! Can you avoid that tax bill? Yes! -

Do you have to do a 1031 Exchange?

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Contact our office today, for a webinar and explanation on how the process works.

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Upcoming Events

| Spring 2018

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Date

Event

Location | Contact

January February 2/9/18

Procurement Certification Workshop

Ohlone College Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology 2nd Floor Rm. #2100 39399 Cherry St | Newark, CA | 94560 www.dgsprocure.eventbrite.com Contact: Business On the Edge, Incorporated

March Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

Every Thursday 6:30pm-8:00pm

March 8, 2018

| Spring 2018

Capital Gains Tax Strategies Mass Market: Market WiZe! Market Global! Market SmaRt! Market EcoSystem Small Business Financing

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne Minnis Professional Building Suite #155 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.smallbusinessconcierge.biz Trainer: Margaret Jackson SV Small Business Development Center 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1887 Monterey Road, Suite 203 | San Jose, CA | 95112 www.svsbdc.org

Date

Event

Location | Contact

April Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

Thursday 6:30pm8:00pm

Capital Gains Tax Strategies Mass Market: Market WiZe! Market Global! Market SmaRt! Market EcoSystem

May Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

Capital Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Date

Event

Location | Contact

Captial Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

June Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

June 25, 2018 5:00pm - 7:00pm

| Spring 2018

Small Business Concierge Launch Party (Magazine Print Reveal)

Hyatt House Hotel 75 Headquarters Drive San Jose, CA www.sbcmagazineparty. eventbrite.com info@smallbusinessconcierge.biz Contact: Venessa Arellanes

Date

Event

Location | Contact

Captial Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

July Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

Every 2nd Thursday

Women Rising Above Abuse

Women Rising Above Abuse Empowerment Group info@womenreisingaboveabuse.org

July 11 and July 16, 2018 10am-8pm

Firehouse Community

Monterey Bay Aquarium (Youth) www.the-firehouse.org Contact: Anita Rubio

July 14, 2018 11am -2pm

Marilyn Randolph Women on the Rise

Women on the Rise Empowerment Summit Register: www.marilynrandolph.com

July 20, 2018 2pm - 8pm

Firehouse Community

Neighborhood Youth BBQ Seven Trees Park www.the-firehouse.org Contact: Anita Rubio

July 25, 2018 10am-8pm

Firehouse Community

Sunset Beach Excursion (Youth) Building Peer Relationship Skills www.the-firehouse.org Contact: Anita Rubio

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Date

Event

Location | Contact

August Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm August 1, 2018 10am-8pm

August 9, 2018 9am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5pm

Captial Gains Tax Strategies Firehouse Community

Small Business Expo

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne Raging Waters (Youth) www.the-firehouse.org Contact: Anita Rubio Largest Expo in the Nation San Mateo County Event Center Expo Hall https://bit.ly/2O47Jva

September Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

| Spring 2018

Captial Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

Date

Event

Location | Contact

October Captial Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

Small Business Expo

Largest Expo in the Nation Los Angeles California Market Center | Penthouse https://bit.ly/2N4x3zq

October 19, 2018 5pm

FESTIV’ALL 2018

A Small Business Resource Fair San Jose San Jose City College https://bit.ly/2xOEjtI

October 26, 2018 9am – 5pm

Small Business Expo

Largest Expo in the Nation San Diego San Diego Convention Center | Hall F https://bit.ly/2zx0wP3

Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

October 18, 2018 9am – 5pm

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

Date

Event

Location | Contact

November Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

Captial Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

December Every Monday 10am & 6:30pm

100

| Spring 2018

Captial Gains Tax Strategies

Minnis Professional Building 2nd Floor Conference Rm. 1313 N. Milpitas Blvd. | Milipitas, CA | 95035 www.financialtaxstrategy.com Contact: Ruth VanDerostyne

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

101

Choose a Membership Package Get Your Flexible Digital Category Listings 2018-2019 Slicon Valley Editions

102

| Spring 2018

Small Business Concierge Magazine |

103

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