Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddie Navarette.
Eddie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I found my consulting calling when my favorite rock club, the legendary Jabberjaw Café, was shut down due to its inability to meet the Fire Department regulations. As a self-proclaimed rebel who never takes no for an answer, I passionately fought to keep the club open. This sparked the inspiration to help business owners navigate the overwhelming requirements of City, County, and State agencies. It is now almost 20 years later, and I’m still here helping businesses succeed.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I started in an industry of developers and design professionals at a very young age. I had barely any trade education or specific job training. There was no startup funding. I was a local musician who could barely pay my rent. I could literally write a book on the struggles incurred. However, I would rather summarize the biggest challenges I faced as a young professional; creating or curating my customer base, and convincing people I really knew what the hell I was talking about.
FE Design & Consulting – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
FE is a boutique development company that provides a multitude of services along the way for hospitality development. We provide for hospitality uses: site selection, feasibility analysis, kitchen design, architectural services, land use/zoning, alcohol licensing, and everything in between. People hire us on an hourly basis or by a flat rate scope of work. This variety of service gives us the advantage over any potential competitor in the industry. Training staff in the cross knowledge of all the variables in development helps us communicate more effectively to other trade professionals in the process. We also can act as a ‘one stop shop’ in these capacities.
FE’s work environment allows for staff support in the heat of bureaucracy. This is what I am most proud of as a company. The staff at FE actually likes working here. Amidst the franticness of the construction process they enjoy what they do. We go out to dinner and travel together. They have adopted the philosophy of caring for the businesses we help. We are all big food and beverage nerds which makes the fight that much more meaningful.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success is the ability to enjoy life. Being able to share that ability with staff and help my community is where success lies. Helping creative businesses battle bureaucracy to open their doors (legally) is success. Every time I give a handshake or emotional hug after passing a final inspection is success. When I walk by a neighborhood and see several of the businesses I’ve helped doing well or in a write up is success. When an employee writes me a letter on how much they love working at FE or how ex-employees still come to staff functions reflecting the family I have created is success. These are markers that have defined my success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 327 E 2nd St.,
Los Angeles, CA 90012 - Website: http://fedesignandconsulting.com/
- Phone: (213) 687-6963
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fedesignla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fedesignla/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fedesignla
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/18145288/
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