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National Autism Resources, Benicia

BACKGROUND
National Autism Resources was a start-up, ecommerce business selling a range of unique products and sharing knowledge about services for caretakers of people on the autism spectrum.

Bonnie Arnwine came to the Contra Costa SBDC in 2008 for help determining if her business concept was feasible. With a son on the spectrum and an iParenting Media award winning book, Starting Sensory Integration Therapy, Bonnie felt confident that there was need for her business but wanted to validate her feelings.

Get Goes Mobile Café, Oakland

BACKGROUND
Jeffrey Williams and his wife Zeva were thinking about starting a business after many years of employment in different fields. Jeffrey was a manager for a major coffee retailer. Zeva, his wife, a licensed R.N. and MFT, provided services at an elementary school. They decided to start a gourmet mobile coffee café.

Prima Jiva, Walnut Creek

High-end Fashion Firm

BACKGROUND
The Prima Jiva is a High-end fashion firm based in Walnut Creek, California, and was founded by Salma Schempp in 2008. All clothing is produced in the San Francisco Bay Area. Inspired by nature's aesthetics blended with Eastern philosophy, Prima Jiva is a unique collection of stylish woman’s apparel with an international flair that combines versatility, comfort and timeless elegance, using high quality eco friendly fabrics.

Happy Go Lucky Pet Care, Walnut Creek

Pet Care Turns a Profit in Walnut Creek

BACKGROUND
Happy Go Lucky Pet Care is a professional in-home pet care service provider. Their services include dog walking, pet sitting visits, puppy care, and pet transportation. They are located in Walnut Creek.

In 2007, Lisa and her now partner, Paula, left their corporate jobs and formed a partnership agreement, became bonded and insured with the intent of starting a business. Knowing that their clients were concerned with safety, the partners obtained Pet First Aid and CPR Certification through the American Red Cross. Finding clients and selling their services was easy and the partners were well on their way to realizing their dream.

Hi-Tec Recycling, Richmond

Urban Mining & Finding New Use for Old Tech

BACKGROUND
The company, which was established in 2003, collects e-waste products, including computers and monitors, televisions, radios, cell phones, microwave ovens, fax machines, cables and cords. The collection is free and the service area includes much of Northern California and as far south as Bakersfield.

The company got its start after gaining experience with Phone Fund, a fund-raising organization that collects used cell phones and either refurbishes or recycles the equipment.

The Liddle Cable Company, Concord

The Liddle Cable Company is a woman-owned cable assembly firm specializing in building coax and wire harness needs of the aerospace and technology industry. Customers include Xradin, Nyad, Savi, Jabil and Lockheed. The business was started in 2005.  During the first 4 months of starting their home-based business both husband and wife held full time day jobs, working 16 hour days and weekends.  The promised Monday deliveries and they delivered. 

Kit and Caboodle – The Hobby Shop, Oakley

Kit and Caboodle--the hobby shop, offers many remote control cars, trains, rockets, science and educational projects providing fun for all ages. Beginning in 1972 and located in Albany, Kit & Caboodle has had many owners; the last being Doug’s grandmother Margaret Collins. Instead of closing the shop Doug, a  Part’s Manager at an auto body shop, and Emily, a middle school teacher, could realize their dream of being entrepreneurs. They chose to move the business closer to their home in Oakley and wanted to re-start the business.

Store Inside, Milpitas

Company Profile: Store Inside provides indoor storage and services for valued recreational vehicles, boats and cars. As a family owned business, they care for vehicles as if they were their own, thus giving the owner more time to enjoy their toys! Store Inside ensures that a vehicle is clean and secure while in storage and ready to go when the owner wants to travel or play. Their theme ‘Relax--We’ve Got You Covered’ says it all.

CGT Systems, Inc., Concord

Company Profile: CGT Systems, Inc., is an electrical construction company that specializes in the installation of security, electrical and audio/visual systems. They service commercial, industrial and residential markets. The business started with three friends (Cravines, Gutierrez and Thompson; CGT) who met while members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union. Each friend specialized in a different area of electrical construction. After working together for several years on various commercial and industrial projects valued in the millions, they decided to combine their skills and start their own home-based business part-time in 2003.

PsiNapse Technology Ltd, Pleasanton

PsiNapse Technology is a leading provider of staffing services and was ranked #24 on the San Francisco Business Times 2007 annual list of the Largest Latino-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area. The list is comprised of companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area and is based on FY 2006 revenues.