Elevate Magazine Spring/Summer 2021 Issue by WomenEntrepreneursLaunch

Spring / Summer 2021 Issue

WELA x Google

The Change Maker

A Four Part Workshop Series to Move Your Business Forward

Talk with Todd Utikal

Happy 5th Birthday WELA! Interview with Founder Upuia Ahkiong

SideTrack Bar + Grill | TriValley Restaurant Group Bay Area Businesses Emerge from COVID

Connection Corner Entrepreneur Tips + Experiences from WELA Members

A Note From The Founder March 2021

With much anticipation, we are thrilled to release our Spring/Summer 2021 Issue of Elevate on this monumental day International Women’s Day 2021! This Issue was weaved so beautifully and thoughtfully together by the strong and talented women of WELA and features stories of how our community has emerged from the aftermath of COVID. In this issue you will be inspired, encouraged, motivated, empowered, and reassured that WELA is still innovating and envisioning new ways of staying connected with our community, and creating opportunities to support our members and others. As we entered 2021, I knew we could only move forward and upward this year. This month I’m thrilled to celebrate WELA’s 5th year anniversary which is a huge milestone as a grassroots not for profit organization led 100% by all volunteers and 100% selffunded. March is also an important month for WELA because it’s when we pause for a moment to recognize and celebrate the amazing women entrepreneurs during National Women’s History Month. We are kicking off the festivities this month with our virtual 4-part workshop series “WELA x GOOGLE: Move Your Business Forward 2.0”. It sure will be an epic event! In the latest Elevate you will learn more about our collaboration with Google and event details. We are also honored and delighted to have as our special guests four amazing, brilliant and extraordinary women leaders in our community: Mary Ellen Coe, President of Google Customer Solutions; Amy Konary, VP of Zuora Customer Business Innovation; Laura Ching, CoFounder of Tiny Prints; and Anne Wojcicki, CEO + Co-Founder of 23andMe. Join WELA in 2021 as we create, collaborate and envision a year filled with new horizons, open doors, and businesses emerging. Upward + Forward!

Upuia Ahkiong, WELA Founder

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Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

The Change Maker: Beyond Entrepreneurship By Rosanne Hoffman

Todd Utikal and his daughter Lyla at SideTrack Bar + Grill

If we wanted to write a column about home-town heroes—and we might—it would surely include a story about Todd Utikal. Todd can be described as many things: a great family man, a travel consultant, a comedy writer, a mortgage advisor, certainly an entrepreneur, a champion of students and teachers, and the owner of one of the best restaurants in downtown Pleasanton—SideTrack Bar + Grill. Don’t let that Saint Mary’s College degree in business and accounting fool you. This guy, a long-time Pleasantonian, is creative! He is also a savvy businessman determined to survive COVID-19, and help others in the business community do the same. In early 2020, a fellow restauranteur, Maurice Dissels of OYO, came to Todd with an idea to organize the local restaurant community into a cohesive group that could somehow support one another. When the COVID-19 shutdown hit, it became increasing clear just how that might work. Tri-Valley Restaurant Group was formed to establish a forum for its now 80 or so member group of local restauranteurs to confer and strategize on pertinent topics like procuring government loans, spending those resources, pivoting in the COVID-19 environment to a safer dining experience, sharing

staffing resources and caring for the health and well being of their workers, and driving business by driving community events in ways that might help restaurants survive the shift— like the closure of Main Street on weekends to turn downtown Pleasanton into a bustling frenzy of happy, socially distanced, outdoor diners. Through this brilliant collaboration a force with a voice is emerging—one that has bargaining power with vendors, a pool of potential staffing resources, and a strong and knowledgeable voice with the Pleasanton Downtown Association, Chamber of Commerce, and government. There is now an ongoing dialogue with the all-important Alameda County Health Department, where the identification of potential problems and possible solutions has evolved into an informative and mutually beneficial exchange of ideas—like how outdoor dining in a controlled and socially distanced environment might allow socially deprived citizens to gather in a safer environment than inside someone’s private home. What lessons have been learned from this collaboration—still admittedly in its infancy? There is certainly a better mutual understanding of how public policy intersects with and impacts not only the local restaurant community,

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

but the greater community at large—important because this understanding may smooth the ebbs and flows of business interruption resulting from future public health crises. There is clear evidence that synergies can be found and beneficially exploited when like-minds come together to find solutions to identified problems. Perhaps the greatest lesson learned is that open and honest communication with and among all stakeholders is key to fostering mutually beneficial relationships in business, in government, and in the larger community. And these worldly lessons transcend our local restaurant community. They can and are being brought to bear on finding solutions to other civic issues—like needed project funding for failed bond measure initiatives like the Amador Shade Project being undertaken by a group called We Are Pleasanton—another organization spearheaded by Todd. Todd Utikal is a “change maker” in Pleasanton. He is a shining example of an entrepreneurial mindset that instigates change rather than reacts to it. He does not accept the status quo, but rather questions and innovates to find solutions that better the situation. And he brings others along with him—he is the proverbial rising tide that lifts all boats. Thank you, Todd. You, and heroes like you, make our community a wonderful place to live.

Rosanne Hoffman serves on the WELA Leadership , is a Pleasanton Member, and an ELEVATE contributor. She is a Real Estate Consultant with Venture Sotheby’s International Realty in Pleasanton.

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

See More Workshops!

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

WELA Wellness + Beauty Month February 2021

This past February WELA launched our first annual WELA Wellness + Beauty Month! Thanks to 10 of our beauty and wellness industry WELA members, we were able to host 12 events for our WELA members and the public Ranging from quick high interval exercise classes, to talks on facial mapping and perimenopause, to 30 minutes of interactive yoga, there was a class, tutorial, or talk for everyone! The theme for this year was “Love Yourself + Share The Love”, a play off of Valentine’s Day, Heart Health Month, and supporting local businesses. A huge shoutout to our amazing hosts who gave their time by helping organize and host these events. If you weren’t able to make one of these events, we will be sharing recordings from each event on our WELA YouTube Channel that’s coming soon!

Much appreciation to our hosts Annette Oevermann (AO Bodywork), Carol Hukari (Arbonne), Erin Paruszewski (Alkalign Studios), Jocelyn Johnson (Aurea Beauty), Leah Richard (Origin Integrated Health), Marcia Conroy (Yoga Rhythms), Maria Amren (IO Insights - Health and Fitness), Mimi Ly (Curves Los Altos), Sophia Yen (Pandia Health), and Varsha Prakash (Yoga Sukham)!

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

Emerging From COVID: A Member’s Tale of Two Pivots By Cristina Mejia

Luxe Platters & Tablescapes I started Luxe Platters and Tablescapes in October 2019, after realizing my passion for styling/presenting food, and creating beautiful tablescapes for parties. It’s my creative side that I enjoy putting into action, and for years I’ve called it my hobby. I make the platters with love and people in mind, addressing their different dietarian life styles and restrictions. My goal is seeing people enjoy what I have crafted for them. People had suggested to me for years to set up a business and sell the platters/ decorate the tables, but I was a bit scared to make my hobby into a business. Would I enjoy it the same way? Gladly, I can say yes! I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by some truly inspirational people, I joined the Women Entrepreneur of Los Altos, and after seeing so many women follow their calling, and enjoying and thriving at what they do the best. I decided to take a leap of faith and start Luxe. Of course, the same group not only inspired me, but encouraged and supported me every step of the way to make it possible.

moment responsibly, and they also make a beautiful gift!

started working as controller for AAS, a scaffolding rental company, servicing both residential and commercial markets, and working with contractors or home owners.

There’s a visual impact of my boards and boxes, they are plentiful, colorful, -some even say artfully arranged, and guaranteed During the recession of 2008, when the real estate and construction industry were to impress your guest and make their badly affected, the former owner decided tasting buds come alive! to step back, and I took over the business and guided it through that difficult time. The fact that the company has been in business for 28 years, provided me with an easier starting point, than if I would have started from scratch. I’m grateful for our loyal clients, experienced employees, and the established infrastructure that have provided me the support to manage this company. As a result, I have gained a lot All American Scaffold, Inc. of experience in risk management, human resources, project management, and I’ve been in the construction industry for financial planning. 18 years. Prior to All American Scaffold

Covid times made a little shift to the business, introducing the individual grazing boxes, which were a hit for (AAS), I worked as Controller for a big social distancing gatherings. The boxes Plastering Company in San Jose, that used are a beautiful way to share a special to rent scaffolding from AAS. In 2005 I

Christina Mejia is the owner of All American Scaffold, Inc. and Luxe Platters & Tablescapes. Mejia serves on the WELA Leadership and is a Los Altos member.

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

Happy 5th Birthday to WELA! Interview by Sarah Traube

Was the intention for it to be only in Los Altos, or were your horizons larger? The vision is to grow the organization and create new chapters in every small town throughout the Bay Area, California and nationally. In March 2019, we successfully launched the Pleasanton chapter with over 100 attendees.

As a WELA member, you will have met, corresponded and benefited from knowing Upuia Ahkiong. A rare human breed, who is filled with kindness, consideration, hard work and a deep love of community. Descended on both sides of her family from community leaders and healers, her Samoan heritage is the very essence of what she has created and continues to lead WELA with her vision and hopes for all small business owners. Happy Birthday to my favorite nonprofit, and to my brilliant friend. Please enjoy reading the history to date of WELA, and the ambitions to come.

What motivated you to start an organization for Women Entrepreneurs? In December 2015 while I was sitting at my kitchen table reflecting on my one year milestone for my business Kua Body Studios in Los Altos and Pleasanton, I

Taking the first steps with an idea is always the challenge. Who did you contact first, was also looking ahead on the new year and what I wanted to accomplish in 2016. and how did you create Kua Body is the first-ever massage business ground swell for WELA Los incubator empowering massage therapists Altos? to launch and build their own massage practice. The theme for my business that year was “Be. Bold.”

During Kua Body’s first year, I met Kathleen Dylan of Dylan Studios a local Los Altos photographer and shared with her my vision. She and I brainstormed the As a new business owner with two physical initial objectives, goals and plans. We storefronts, I felt a strong need to find collaborated with three local business connection with my business community, owners and within two months we business mentors and spread the word. created the following events: a kickoff party at Honcho Wine Bar, Firechat with Navigating a new business in a new setting Anne Wojcicki and a Community event at was exciting and also challenging - first Enchanté Boutique Hotel. We had over was establishing relationships. 300 attendees! After identifying hundreds of womenowned small businesses in Los Altos, I had an epiphany in December 2015 to create community-wide events to celebrate and honor these women for their bold step of becoming entrepreneurs during March Women’s History Month.

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

Can you remember any unexpected challenges? The biggest challenge was time and being a brand new group. We had less than two months to announce and spread the word about these new events. And, we didn’t know how many people would actually attend these events. We were featured in the Los Altos Town Crier and hand delivered invitations to over hundred business owners. At our first kickoff event, we had over a hunded attendees.

Tell me more about the experience overall, and what you learned from it? As an entrepreneur, the biggest lessons are to have a clear vision, inner drive to stay the course, execute the plan, community collaboration is key and creating strong connections.

Was your background and experience at Google helpful in setting up WELA and if so why?

for a locally-based group to help and support them to grow their business and find connection. The key / important step / component in deciding to scale anything a business or project or service is assessing the viability, the demand, the value it brings.

Do you have a favorite WELA occasion? March is WELA’s birthday. It is a monumental day for us and it is a reminder of our grassroots beginnings as women and a day where we set aside to honor and recognize the women business leaders in our community.

entrepreneurs, small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. In the next 5+ years, I see WELA becoming the LinkedIn for small businesses offering educational workshops, leadership opportunities, connections and valuable business resources.

How have you pivoted WELA during Covid for an organization that has thrived on social connection? WELA spared no time in responding quickly to the impact of Covid on small businesses and our membership. We mobilzed volunteers from our membership and the community to offer virtual events, resources, and information for our members and community. We created a COVID-19 Resource Page, offered numerous virtual business-related workshops on Employment Law, Taxes/ Finances, Basics of Social Media to a full month of self-care presentations during the month of February to a fun virtual happy hour fashion show to stay connected with our membership.

This year WELA will become established as a 501(c)(3); how My background as a school counselor, important is this to you? What If you could ask for any community mobilizer and lead massage are you most excited about in resource, what resource therapist at Google, gave me the the next five years for WELA? would you ask for to help opportunity to sharpen my organizational WELA grow? skills, understand more deeply the needs of people and groups, and what real leadership means.

I’m grateful to our WELA volunteers and a local law firm for their support in providing guidance in helping us complete the process of obtaining our 501(c)(3) How quickly into the status. Once we obtain our 501(c)(3) establishment of WELA Los status we will be able to grow more WELA Altos did you think this would chapters in other local Bay Area cities work in Pleasanton, and if so and throughout California. We are also what were the parameters for establishing our Board of Directors and an administration team to help provide success? leadership and administration support for WELA’s future and sustainability. It was very clear that once we formed a membership group in Los Altos the WELA’s core tenets are educating, interest grew quickly beyond the area. More women entrepreneurs were looking empowering and elevating women

The most valuable resource for WELA is its people. As women entrepreneurs we are all leaders of our own domain and I believe WELA will thrive with the right group of conscientious leaders. Sarah Traube serves on the WELA Leadership, is a Pleasanton Member, and an ELEVATE contributor.

Elevate Spring / Summer 2021

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