Join Centro’s 5th Birthday Party on November 4th

Centro is turning 5 years old! We want to celebrate with you and everyone who has been with us since the very beginning!

Mingle with Centro entrepreneurs from the very first class and see what amazing progress they’ve made.

Feast on savory bites made by Centro entrepreneurs while you jam to local band Salt People.

Don’t forget your lucky charms – we will also have a raffle with some incredible items that will make you cross your fingers and hold your breath.

And what’s a birthday party without desserts? Save room for delicious pies, cheesecakes and chocolates, all brought to you by Centro’s very own entrepreneurs.

Buy your ticket today! Early bird special ends October 17th 

If you can’t join us, consider sending a birthday gift online!

New Projects in Peru and Colombia Supporting Small Business Owners

Arturo A. Noriega, Centro's Founder & Executive Director with some of our new partners in Colombia.

The most beautiful and imposing mountains welcomed us the minute we stepped off the plane in Peru. The scenery escorted us throughout our trip, as did the energy and enthusiasm of the small business entrepreneurs we trained through Asociación Solidaridad Países Emergentes (ASPEm) and Asociación Laboral para el Desarrollo (ADEC). By using Centro's Business Planning app and Basic Entrepreneurship Program curriculum to support the small business entrepreneurs in their communities, both of these organizations joined our Global Network of Affiliates.

Together with ASPEm, in a span of a little over 3 weeks, we trained 50 women entrepreneurs - many of whom have had very limited access to technology in their lives.

“My hometown is so remote that I did not grow up using much technology. I was afraid of using the app, but I wanted to try because I know how important it is in the business world. ”

— Celestina, dressmaking business owner

 

Celestina was brave enough to ask for help, she faced her fears, stuck with the class, and graduated with a robust business plan. She exclaimed, “I feel proud that I figured out the technology, and I’m excited to see how this will help me in the future.” So are we!

Then we tucked away some alpaca sweaters in our suitcase (just in case it ever gets below 60° in the Bay Area) and we headed to Colombia. With barely enough time to even finish our arepa and café, we jumped into teaching classes at Impact Hub Medellin where we taught 8 workshops to Colombian social entrepreneurs developing businesses to generate greater good in their communities.

“Centro’s app will help me help more artists with disabilities. ”

— Nel, developing a work-space for artists with disabilities

We bring home their inspired lives, and a renewed commitment to continue working with these new partners and allies in Latin America.

Stay tuned for our last stop in Brazil, as we seek more organizations through which we can support many more underserved entrepreneurs in the region.

Are you an MBA student wanting to accumulate real-world experience?

We are excited to announce that we have begun recruiting top MBA students to join our MBA Advisor Program. Over a 14-week period, we train MBA students in:

• Management consulting
• Small business finance
• Credit analysis
• Critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Professional coaching

We also match MBA students with underserved entrepreneurs attending our Entrepreneur Readiness Program. This provides students with an invaluable opportunity to directly apply what they learn in school towards helping underserved entrepreneurs develop their business plan.

Interested, or know someone who might be? Check out our information session:

• Thursday, August 27
• 5pm-6:20pm
• San Francisco State University, DTC 597

Learn more and apply

Interview Period & Deadline
Interviews start in August; Final Selection: Friday, Sept 4th

Interview Format
One-hour behavior interview, including a business case study interview

Criteria for MBA Student Advisors

• 1-3 years professional work experience
• Proven team player with strong communication and collaboration skills
• Committed to learning and self-improvement
• Ability to commit between 5-10 hours per week during the program

Program Duration

From Sept 11 through Dec 18

Inquiry Contact
Please email Daniel Healy at daniel@centrocommunity.org

Searching for Partners in Eastern Europe to Support Local Talent

DJ Healy, Centro's Entrepreneurship Program Manager with aspiring small business entrepreneurs in Moldova.

Bună!

We’re excited to share some highlights from projects in Eastern Europe where Centro is collaborating as an educational ally for low-income entrepreneurs. Our journey this summer began in Ukraine, a country bursting with people with creativity and potential! Here, we connected with a foreign language school Closer to the Dream where we coached 9 brilliant students through the process of developing the vision, mission and values of their future small businesses. 

“This class was a good chance for me to make the time to structure my thoughts about my values. Too often, we don’t make time for that.”

— Oksana, an aspiring entrepreneur

After stocking up on some vareniki (yummy local dumplings), we left to Moldova where we shared the Centro Business Planning app in Russian and English with some incredible NGOs. During a two-day workshop, the Center for Entrepreneurial Education and Business  used our app as their basic entrepreneurship curriculum to guide 6 current and future entrepreneurs through the process of developing their business plans.

“ This app was so useful and easy to use. The class helped me have a more realistic understanding of my business! ”

— Mihai, who dreams of opening an online retail store

While we lay the foundation of our Global Network of Affiliates, we continue to be inspired by the entrepreneurs who are fiercely determined to open their business against all odds. We are also so grateful for your continuous support throughout the journey as we venture to Colombia, Peru and Brazil in the next couple of months.

Stay tuned for more!

How to join Centro's Entrepreneurship Readiness Program this fall

Apply to our Entrepreneur Readiness Program today! We are seeking out entrepreneurs who have already developed a product and are looking for some help in taking their business to the next level. This program is intentionally designed for entrepreneurs without access to traditional business training.

Throughout the program, entrepreneurs attend weekly workshops during which they receive support from Centro’s trainers, outside experts, peer entrepreneurs and their own MBA advisor to help them improve their credit health, business competency and professional development.

Applications are due September 4. You can download it here.

Interview Period
August -  September 4 (Exceptions allowed)

Program Duration
Friday afternoons from Sept 11 through Dec 18

Cost
$500

Inquiry Contact
Please email Daniel Healy at daniel@centrocommunity.org.

5 SoCal organizations will begin using Centro's Business Planning App

In collaboration with CAMEO, we are set to begin training five new organizations in Southern California on how to most efficiently integrate our Business Planning App into their business training and lending programs.

With this training, we begin our partnership with:

• Pacific Coast Regional SBDC
• Orange County SBDC
• VEDC
• West Angeles CDC
• Bethel LA CDC

Our goal is to help these organizations decrease the costs associated with training new entrepreneurs while also increasing their capacity to work with even more individuals. You can learn more about this project on CAMEO’s website.

We look forward to sharing the outcomes of these partnerships!

Spotlight in Drucker School of Management Magazine

We are honored to receive such recognition of our vision and entrepreneurs in Claremont Graduate University’s Flame Magazine! As alumni of its Drucker School of Management, our Executive Director Arturo Noriega and Entrepreneurship Trainer and Program Manager DJ Healy apply Drucker’s theories of innovation and social justice to their work every day.

eBay Foundation Gives Us $75,000 Macro Grant for Microenterprise

We are thrilled to announce that eBay Foundation has given us a very generous $75,000 grant to refine and share our Basic Entrepreneurship Program with underserved entrepreneurs in Brazil and throughout the US. Through eBay Foundation’s support, Tunnel Lab has already begun using our entrepreneur training tools to help Brazilian youth uplift their communities.

As we expand our global reach, we will work shoulder to shoulder with eBay Foundation and our partners to ensure that our Business Planning app and training curriculum provide a culturally appropriate answer to each community’s expressed needs.

We are so grateful to eBay Foundation for their steadfast commitment to community and international development. Thank you!

Say Goodbye to the Monday Blues

“If I do my job right, everyone will love going to work on Monday!” says Madelyn Mackie, a Centro entrepreneur and owner of Madelyn Mackie & Associates, a career and professional development training and coaching company. She trains clients on vital career skills and presents motivational keynotes at associations and conferences around the country.

After three successful careers spanning the chemistry lab, a national nonprofit, and Tony Award® winning theaters, Madelyn formally launched Madelyn Mackie & Associates in 2011. As a successful business woman and born leader driven by compassion, she found that her business was a natural fit for her abilities and interests.

And, as someone with incredible self-motivation, she wanted to push her business to the next level. She found it through Centro’s Entrepreneur Readiness Program: “My advisors pushed me and asked the hard questions. But they also supported me every step of the way.”

The ERP provided a way for Madelyn to reflect, analyze, and focus on developing a strong foundation for her business. “Centro took me from concept to implementation so that I can provide the best service to my clients,” she says.

Madelyn’s business has been open for three years. She has helped clients secure positions with Fortune 500 companies, reputable tech firms, health care agencies, and nonprofit organizations all over the country.

She tells us, “Every single day, I am making a difference in my community – helping people take care of themselves, their families and their future.”

Centro Interviewed on KCBS Radio

Arturo Noriega (Centro’s Founder and Executive Director) and Anna Tvelova (Owner of AйDa Piroshki) were just interviewed by Liz Saint John at KCBS Radio in San Francisco. Stay tuned for its broadcast this weekend!

Update : You can hear the recording online! »

Russian Baker Cooks Up Big Dreams in San Francisco

Before coming to California, Anna Tvelova would stare at the map on the wall of her bedroom in Russia and daydream of big cities with more opportunities. Driven by these ambitions, Anna came to San Francisco with $1,000 in her pocket. She spent the first several months here learning English, but it wasn’t long before Anna began galvanizing her dreams of serving her homemade piroshki to every San Francisco neighborhood.

Getting Anna’s Dreams Off the Ground

“When I first started, I did not know what I was doing, I felt a little (or a lot) lost, but super committed,” Anna told Centro. Although we hear many entrepreneurs say this, we have discovered that they just need some guidance. Helping the entrepreneurs successfully put their ideas into action is the mission of Centro and its MBA Advisors.

After meeting Anna at a La Cocina workshop in 2011, we invited her to join Centro’s Centro’s Entrepreneurship Readiness Program. She was paired with her MBA advisor, Mariya Lyublina, and the match proved to be lasting. Anna recently told us, “My MBA Advisor is a really amazing person. It’s been a really wonderful experience to work with her and she still helps me a lot.”

Anna Receives Largest Kiva Zip Loan Ever

With the support of Centro’s program and her MBA Advisor, Anna created a working business model for her first AйDa Piroshki kiosk in Bernal Heights and developed a model to evaluate possible locations for future growth. With Centro’s endorsement, she also received a $5,000 interest-free loan from Kiva Zip to purchase a car to help her piroshki catering business grow. Since her start in 2011, Anna has hired 5 part-time employees and will hire more as she continues to grow.

After successfully paying her first loan back on time, Anna launched another Kiva Zip loan for $25,000 (their largest ever) to open a second kiosk location. The new AйDa Piroshki opened early last month in Second Act on Haight Street and offers the same delicious, fresh-baked menu as the Bernal Heights location.

San Francisco Falls in Love with AйDa Piroshki

San Francisco’s media and blogs are abuzz with raving reviews for AйDa Piroshki. One Yelper even said that he “…traveled 100 miles round-trip to try these piroshkis based on Yelp reviews and it was worth it!”

The Bernal Heights kiosk’s revenue has doubled since last year and the Haight Street location’s revenue is already comparable. As for more locations, Anna would like to open her third AйDa Piroshki on the Embarcadero.

Watching AйDa Piroshki grow, develop loyal customers and provide local jobs has been a joy to Centro and an inspiration to budding entrepreneurs. Anna continues to impress us with her personal and professional growth, and we are excited to remain close to her as she continues to make her dream of bringing piroshki to every San Francisco neighborhood a reality.

Go to AйDa Piroshki’s website
Visit AйDa Piroshki in Bernal Heights (331 Cortland Avenue, SF) or in the Haight (1727 Haight Street, SF).

Carly Perera: Featured MBA Advisor

Carly Perera was one of Centro’s first MBA Advisors. She received a degree in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis and received her MBA from Mills College where she first learned about us.

Why did you decide to join Centro as an MBA Advisor?

Prior to Centro, I was a volunteer consultant for other startups in the East and South Bay. I knew that I wanted to continue to work with small businesses but I needed to hone my skills as a consultant. Centro provided me the coaching and the framework to be a more impactful consultant and volunteer.

I was really energized by Arturo Noriega’s vision, so I joined Centro’s first cohort in the summer of 2010.

What business did you advise?

I worked with Christine Doerr of Neo Cocoa, a Bay Area based chocolatier, who is known throughout the Bay Area/Nation and is wildly successful. When we began working together, Christine was just starting to sell her product in Whole Foods. This past year, her business surpassed the $100,000 annual revenue mark! Christine is an extremely driven, organized, and resourceful business owner and I was very lucky to work with her.

How has Centro impacted your career trajectory?

Working with Centro showed me many of the barriers small businesses face in preparing to obtain and qualify for capital in the Bay Area which led me to pursue a career in small business finance.

I am now a loan officer with Pacific Community Ventures. PCV drives community wealth and economic change through a unique ecosystem that provides advice and capital to small businesses, impact evaluation, and research and policy.

Damanbir Singh: Featured MBA Advisor

Can you please tell us about your academic and professional background?

My name is Damanbir Singh and I am currently finishing my MBA classes at University of San Francisco. Originally from India (Punjab), I came to the US in 2007 to pursue a Masters in International Management from Portland State University, after completing my Bachelors of Commerce in India. As per my work experience, I have worked in my family business (dairy farming) in India as well as in the US (franchisee for Arco-AMPM retail sites) as an entrepreneur. I also had an interesting opportunity to work with a tech startup in the Bay area. During my studies at USF, I also worked as a part-time TA and as Junior Budget Analyst at University of San Francisco’s Office of Planning and Budgeting. In a nutshell, I would say that I have had some really interesting work opportunities ranging from being an entrepreneur to being an analyst.

Why did you decide to join Centro as an MBA Advisor?

My journey with Centro Community Partners has been quite amazing. I had an opportunity to listen to Arturo Noriega when he had come to USF as a panelist. Afterwards, I met with Arturo and Naldo Peliks when they came to the USF to introduce Centro Community Partners. The work that they do got me really interested. I thought that it was a great opportunity for me to give something back to the community and serve low-income entrepreneurs. Also, I am a strong believer in karma and I do believe that if I do something good, it will come back to me.  I knew that it would be a great opportunity for me for my professional development as well. A lot of people don’t know about is how well connected Naldo and Arturo are. They are always available to introduce you to their network if looking for work/job. I am glad I made the decision to work with Centro Community Partners.

Which businesses / entrepreneurs did you advise?

During my association with Centro, I served three clients as part of two different projects run by Centro. I helped Eden Ayurveda (along with my team member Sephora) owned by Eden, an Ayurvedic practitioner based in Oakland. In another project run by Centro in Fruitvale, I served Cleo (owner of Los Hermanos Meat and Produce Market) and Socorro Martinez (owner of La Torta Loca). I would like to say that it was a great experience. Learning in class and learning by actually doing work like I did at Centro really brought out the best in me. I think the best part of serving these entrepreneurs was to experience how thankful they all were for my work with them. Today as I look back to see them run their business and implement the changes that we collaborated about, I feel I was able to change a few lives. The feeling — well, its hard to put words to describe it.

How has Centro impacted your career trajectory?

After working with Centro, I feel I am more confident as a person. I have started exploring career options that I wasn’t exploring before. I am more open to opportunities that come my way.  As per career trajectory, I am open to working for non-profits and social impact organizations. As of now, I am finishing my MBA classes and applying for jobs along the way.

Living Every Kid’s Dream

Luis Abundis, San Francisco/Oakland, Nieves Cinco de Mayo

Like most of us, Luis loved ice cream as a child. However, unlike most of us, starting at 8 years old, Luis began making his very own ice cream with his uncle on their ranch in San Juan de Monte, Mexico. When Luis immigrated to Oakland at the age of 24, he worked hard and went to school to learn English, but that 8-year-old was never far from his mind. He bought what he needed for an ice cream cart, and on May 5th, 1991, he started selling ice cream for the first time at a Cinco de Mayo festival.

Luis sold ice cream from a cart for several years, then through a pizza restaurant, and even operated that Pied Piper of childhood- an ice cream truck complete with a bell to announce his arrival to eagerly awaiting children. More than 15 years after that ice-cream cart, he opened his first store location in Oakland’s Fruitvale Market, and named it in honor of that first day selling with his cart – Nieves Cinco de Mayo.

Ambitious, self-made, and with a sweet ice cream following, Luis sought out Centro in 2011 to help take his business to the next level. Centro’s unique structure pairs each entrepreneur with a dedicated MBA Advisor, creating an exciting learning dynamic and a mentorship relationship that often lasts well beyond the program. Once Luis joined Centro’s Business Growth Program, he took weekly classes for four months and gained valuable advice from his MBA Advisor, Christine Kwong. Luis learned how to control inventory, capitalize on internet marketing, and with Centro’s help developed a business plan that mapped out a strategy for the future.

Armed with the skills he learned from Centro’s core curriculum and a plan to grow his business, Luis was able to open a second location on Mission Street in San Francisco. His nephew and brother help him there, and he has expanded his flavor selection from just lemon and vanilla when he had his cart, to more than 30 flavors of ice cream and shaved ice snow cones that he changes seasonally. His favorite flavor, lime, is always on the menu. Flavors like rose petal, hibiscus, guava and cactus fruit, along with traditional favorites, are among many to try. And we have!

Luis has been able to realize a childhood dream of operating his own ice cream business, and, with Centro’s help, he has added a new location, created jobs for his family, and is confident in his businesses’ future. You can indulge your sweet tooth, and your inner 8-year-old, at Luis’ Nieves Cinco de Mayo locations at Oakland’s Fruitvale Public Market (3340 E 12th St, Ste 2), or on Mission Street in San Francisco (2590 Mission Street).

Taco Grill … Healthy, Tasty, Organic Mexican Food

Leticia Chavez, Fruitvale, Taco Grill

Taco Grill, located less than a block away from the Fruitvale Bart Station in the Fruitvale Public Market, is owned by Leticia Chavez, a highly motivated mother of three. Leticia began learning about the restaurant business as a teenager at her fatherʼs eatery, Helenaʼs, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. By nineteen she was running the entire restaurant. Raised with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic, upon moving to Oakland, California, Leticia opened her own skincare business which is now owned and operated by her sister.

For her second business, Leticia decided to return to her roots in the restaurant world, and in 2007 she opened Taco Grill. Her mission was to serve flavorful healthy Mexican food. Taco Grill proudly utilizes organic meat products from Niman Ranch and Rocky Free Range Chickens as well as many other organic ingredients to prepare their food. In doing so, Leticia hopes to show people that Latin food can be healthy and tasty too. Itʼs working. Her customers rave about her delicious tacos, burritos, and pozole.

In 2011, the Unity Council, which runs a small business incubator providing affordable space for Taco Grill and other small businesses in the Public Market brought in Centro Community Partners to teach and advise its business owners. Leticia was paired with MBA advisor and professional coach Jennifer Lin, who helped Leticia create a growth strategy and leadership development plan for her business. She then strategized with Leticia about her profit margins, avenues for promotion of Taco Grill, and ways to raise employee morale. Jennifer also offered Leticia support and guidance with her vision for expanding Taco Grill into the catering sector which has increased profits for the business.

Leticia is not only grateful for the strategic advice she received from Centro, but also for the emotional support. From Centro she learned about self-care through understanding leadership behavior, attitude, and performance- very important elements needed to operate her business successfully. She began to delegate more responsibility and created a manager position for one of her employees. This allowed herself to have short “descansos” (rests). Centroʼs support has really helped her to maintain faith and confidence in her business.

Leticia and Arturo at the 2012 Indie Awards

Before she worked with Centro Community Partners, Leticia was struggling with making the rent for Taco Grill each month, low credit, and low morale. With Centro’s advising and help, she has been able to make her rent, increase her profits, and her morale. She is proud that she can continue to offer her clientele delicious healthy Mexican food at a reasonable price, and they have rewarded her for her efforts. In 2012, she won the Indie Award in the Ripple Effect category where her customers voted her one of the best local businesses in Oakland out of 200 nominees.

Stop by Taco Grill today and try it for yourself! Make sure to ask about catering options.

Mariya Lyublina: Featured MBA Advisor

Can you please tell us about your academic and professional background?

I have an undergraduate degree in Economics with a minor in Urban Studies, as well as an MBA from San Francisco State University. I currently work as a Supervisor at a private financial counseling agency.

Why did you decide to join Centro as an MBA Advisor?

I joined Centro as an MBA Advisor to get hands-on experience working with small businesses in an advisory capacity. Centro provided me with an opportunity to develop strategy and see it implemented by a real business.

Which businesses/entrepreneurs did you advise?

As an MBA Advisor, I advised Anna Tvelova, owner of Anda Piroshki. I was invited to return as a Senior Advisor to work with Stacy from Flirt Nail Lounge and Adriana from Sal de Vida Gourmet.

What advice would you give to future MBA Advisors?

The time commitment was the biggest challenge for me. Time management was key to successfully completing the advising process with a full-time job and other responsibilities. Furthermore, entrepreneurs are extremely busy running their businesses so coordinating times to meet and get tasks done contribute to this challenge. You have to be prepared to make accommodations in your schedule to support the entrepreneur you are working with.

What did you learn during Centro’s program?

I learned to think about strategy from a real-world perspective. I also learned to think realistically about components of a business plan. Sometimes even the best intentions aren’t enough to motivate someone to complete goals they’ve set out for themselves. Ultimately, if you are working with someone, just make sure that you follow through on your promises.

How has Centro impacted your career trajectory?

Centro has provided me with a new perspective on what I really want to do with my MBA. Working with small businesses is challenging, yet extremely rewarding.

Largest Kiva Zip Loan Ever: AйDa Piroshki Will Soon Open in Haight-Ashbury

We first met Anna at a workshop held by La Cocina and were taken by her amazing energy and, eventually, her delicious piroshki. We invited her to join Centro’s Entrepreneurship Readiness Program and have been truly impressed with her professional growth.

Her goal is to one day bring her piroshkis to all the neighborhoods of San Francisco, and she is well on her way. Anna opened her first AйDa Piroshki kiosk in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood in 2011. After Centro’s program, she received a Kiva Zip loan for $5,000 to help her purchase a vehicle to expand her catering business. Seeing AйDa Piroshki grow, develop loyal customers, and have happy employees has been a joy to Centro’s team and an inspiration to budding entrepreneurs.

With a deeper understanding of management, over the last year, Anna has been able to prove that her vision can become a reality. She has now refined her processes to a point where AйDa Piroshki can exist in multiple locations and be well run.

AйDa Piroshki’s Expansion and $25,000 Kiva Zip Loan

Anna is now expanding her business and opening a kiosk station in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Today, She has just launched her second Kiva Zip loan – for $25,000 – to help with the opening of her second location. In partnership, La Cocina and Centro are endorsing Anna for this loan. La Cocina is an organization that helps cultivate low-income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses by providing the resources and support they need. Anna first enrolled in La Cocina’s program in 2010 and then continued on with Centro’s program in 2011. She has continuously worked closely with both organizations throughout the launch and growth of her business.

Our Joint Endorsement with La Cocina

Anna has a wonderful working relationship with both organizations. Along with opening her second location, the loan will allow her to hire additional employees. She was on time with all of her monthly repayments with her previous Kiva Zip loan and was great at communicating with her lenders.

After working with Anna for the last two years, we can attest to the quality of her food, passion, and work ethic. La Cocina and Centro fully endorse Anna for this Kiva Zip loan. We can’t wait to see Anna bring her tasty piroshkis to all the neighborhoods of San Francisco.

If you are in the City, stop by AйDa Piroshki and have a piroshki and meet Anna!

See Anna’s profile on Kiva Zip and support her with a loan of $25* or more >>
* Any amount you lend her by June 21st – using the link above – will be multiplied by 3!

Kiva Zip

Kiva Zip loans allow entrepreneurs to access capital through crowdsourcing at 0% interest. To learn more about Kiva and Kiva Zip loans, please visit: zip.kiva.org

Update 6/21/13:

After just two weeks, we have already reached over 50% of Anna’s Kiva Zip loan. It’s wonderful to see such an active and giving community, and the conversation between Anna and her lenders has been great to follow.

Update 7/17/13:

Anna’s $25,000 Kiva Zip loan has been funded! Roughly 500 people have lent to Anna from the joint communities of Kiva, La Cocina and Centro, not to mention all of her loyal supporters. We’re looking forward to Anna’s Haight Street opening soon!

Update 2/19/14:

AйDa Piroshki’s second location is now up and running at Second Act!
Stop by and pick-up a delicious piroshki if you’re in the neighborhood:

• 1727 Haight Street (between Shrader Street and Cole Street)

Join us and participate in Anna’s loan today!

Neo Cocoa Truffles Are No Trifle

Christine Doerr, Sunnyvale, Neo Cocoa

Christine began in the chocolate industry at “Cocolat,” a small chocolate shop located near Stanford University, which inspired her to attend the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. After working as a pastry chef for several years, she decided to explore a BFA in graphic design at San Jose State University, after which she ultimately circled back to her original chocolate making obsession.

Christine returned to chocolate with a new vision to start her own business, Neo Cocoa, and turned to La Cocina’s entrepreneur training program for professional guidance. Having learned basic business management skills at La Cocina, she turned to Centro for its advanced business development classes and the unique, hands-on mentoring she could receive from her own Centro MBA Advisor, Carly Perera. Christine and Carly worked together to find innovative strategies to help Neo Cocoa thrive and developed a strong bond and long-lasting friendship. Centro also helped Christine secure a business development loan from OBDC Small Business Finance to help launch and develop her new business.

After a great deal of hard work buttressed by the unique training, mentoring, and support that Centro provided, Neo Cocoa has clearly arrived. Neo Cocoa has revolutionized the American style of truffle by bringing back the European trend of shell-less truffles, with an uncompromising mission of using only high-quality, local ingredients. This dedication to her local community, and her exquisite chocolates, have made Neo Cocoa a Bay Area phenomenon that is poised to expand even further.

Christine’s sweet success has been praised in the San Francisco Chronicle, 7×7 Magazine, and Dessert Professional – which named Neo Cocoa one of the “Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America.” Neo Cocoa also recently won top awards at the 2012 SF International Chocolate Salon, such as “Best Truffle”, “Most Luxurious Chocolate Experience”, and “Most Likely Addiction”. With degrees in both design and culinary arts, it is no wonder that Christine describes herself as an artist with chocolate as her medium.

Jacob Gelfand: Featured MBA Advisor

Can you please tell us about your academic and professional background?

I earned a BS, summa cum laude, in Political Communication with a minor in History from Emerson College. In May 2012 I completed concurrent degrees from University of San Francisco – a JD, Business Law Certificate with Honors and an MBA in Entrepreneurship.

My professional experiences have traversed the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. After undergrad I worked as a staffer on a gubernatorial campaign and transitioned into roles in various nonprofits doing a mix of public relations, marketing, operations, research, and recruiting. In grad school I found myself drawn more to entrepreneurship and economic development, and increasingly disillusioned with the prospect of practicing law.

I co-founded and led the USF Microfinance Club, a student association dedicated to promoting social finance, helped develop Glamping Hub, a disruptive travel startup currently in the process of negotiating an angel round, and launched Inclusiva Strategies, a business coaching practice dedicated to empowering creative entrepreneurs and executives.

Why did you decide to join Centro as an MBA Advisor?

During my time in the MBA program at USF I participated in an extracurricular program called Working with Entrepreneurs (WwE). Typically, the WwE program would pair MBA students up with companies in emerging markets for a 12-week consulting engagement. In light of my interest in microfinance and the local community, I was serendipitously referred to Centro and soon interviewed for a spot as an MBA Advisor with Centro’s founder, Arturo Noriega, who would later become a trusted mentor and dear friend.

Which businesses/entrepreneurs did you advise?

I advised Shauna Harper, an experienced operations expert who had been working as an internal consultant for Oakland Unified Public School District. Shauna wanted to break off to form her own private consulting firm which could advise school administrators throughout the East Bay and beyond.

Can you tell us about a challenge that you faced?

Shauna and I worked well together and never really struggled to communicate. Our primary challenge was adapting Centro’s entrepreneurship tools and frameworks to her proposed consulting practice, which was dramatically different than the typical Centro small business in terms of its business model, market and sales strategy. Time management proved to be another central challenge due to the fact that Shauna had to balance her day job with her role as a parent of a young son and the demands of Centro’s classes. Ultimately, Shauna put together an excellent business plan and delivered one of the finest presentations of her cohort.

What did you learn during Centro’s program?

I’ve learned so much from my experiences with Centro that it’s difficult to narrow it down – everything from invaluable lessons about cultural and socioeconomic humility to the process of advising clients, overcoming obstacles and managing expectations. To an even greater extent, Centro taught me a lot about myself – where my core strengths lie, what really matters to me, and what I aim to accomplish as a professional.

How has Centro impacted your career trajectory?

My experiences as part of the Centro family and the relationships I have forged along the way have helped me to crystallize my professional identity and purpose. My time as an MBA Advisor at Centro and the professional development work that I underwent with Arturo enabled me to embrace my passion for entrepreneurship and organizational development and take the plunge to launch my own business coaching practice.

What are you up to now?

Updated April 2013: I work as a holistic business coach under the banner of Inclusiva Strategies. My specialty is working with creative professionals to cultivate the business and leadership skills necessary to launch and grow a successful venture. I also author the Little Big Business Blog, and serve as a partner and strategy advisor for Glamping Hub, the world’s premiere online portal for luxury camping and other unique, eco-friendly accommodations. I’m looking forward to volunteering as a senior advisor at Centro for the Fall 2013 cohort!

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation Gives Kudos to Centro

Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF) is passionate about sparking innovative ideas and forging collaborations, and so are we! They are also dedicated to bringing joy, simplicity, trust and effectiveness to grant-making, and we could not be happier to attest to that.

Last week, James Higa and Bill Somerville, Executive Director and Founder of PVF respectively, visited our offices in old downtown Oakland to learn about our work. Shortly after we were extremely excited to receive a grant to go towards the development of our entrepreneurship education mobile app, and a heart-warming letter of support. Here are some highlights we’re proud to share:

We are so inspired by the work you are doing to partner with low income, underserved entrepreneurs to create sustainable businesses.

Centro’s access to microloans like Kiva Zip for these entrepreneurs and your pairing, training, and mentorship with MBA students is making a difference to lift these people out of their circumstances but also revitalizing the community of Oakland as more vibrant grassroots microenterprises are added to the city.

Your idea to augment your curriculum with a mobile module so that you can scale and reach many more multiples of these entrepreneurs is a wonderful idea.

Our deepest gratitude to James and Bill, and everyone at Philanthropic Ventures Foundation for investing in the future of Centro, and the creative and courageous small entrepreneurs of our community.