Elizabeth Olive Bolla
I started my journey with yoga in 1996 when a wonderful therapist, who used eastern and western blend, taught me how to meditate. I was in PTSD after some abuse I had suffered and my therapist helped me get present through his teachings of meditation. He suggested I start a physical practice – so I did in 1998. My life changed dramatically for the better due to yoga. Read More>>
Kristina Goosby, Amber Britt, and Kayla Goosby
QWSTevents was founded in 2016, but the friendship started in August of 2011. All three founders attended and graduated from Long Beach State and participated in athletics as Track and Field athletes. Amber minored in Event Planning and Kristina and Kayla planned events for their families members and we all enjoyed it so much that we decided “hey, maybe we can make a career doing what we really enjoy” and decided to create QWSTevents. Read More>>
Julia Wu
Simple Health started in 2011 as a one man team–just me working from a rented room inside another doctor’s office. I consider myself to be very fortunate, because along the way, with the good will and word of my patients, with other doctors I have had the opportunity to know, and with the help of my husband, we managed to turn this small venture into a real business. It was always our dream to build a place for patients to find the best integrative, holistic medicine care, where patients are not just patients, but part of our extended family, where they can receive quality alternative health care at an affordable price. I believe we have achieved our goal. Read More>>
Heather Askinosie, Timmi Jandro
Heather Askinosie: 30 years ago, when I was selling luxury real estate in Southern California, a client asked me to find him a home with good Feng Shui. At that point in my life, I had no idea what Feng Shui or the world of energy—and that’s what truly opened the door for me. From there, I stumbled upon a crystal store and I was hooked. I began to live a double life, selling real-estate by day and spending the nights with the crystals in this store. Read More>>
Sonya Henning
I grew up in a small beach town on central coast of California with one younger sister, my mom, who is a 911 operator and dad, who is a storyteller and environmentalist and I was home schooled as a child all the way up until high school. Because I had more time maybe than the average kid I spent my day playing, doing backyard theatre productions and keenly observing life. I have always had a deep interest in people and what makes them tick and in life and what makes the world go around. Read More>>
Ryan Keith
I still remember the look on my wife’s face when I told her that I wanted to quit school, throw my textbooks in the trash and start my own personal training business. She was holding our first child, then two-month old. I was surprised at her calm reaction at first, but then she put her down for a nap and came back with the reaction I was originally expecting. Read More>>
Anthony Bogdanovich
I started in Fall, 2004 with a little residential Xmas light installation business. I had just left from working in the medical field and wanted to do something completely different. Instantly I fell in love with doing lighting and decor and began developing fantastic relationships with my clients. After that first holiday season, one of my clients asked if I could fix their exterior lighting for them and ended up installing a whole new system that spring. It was huge property in Lunada Bay and the results were absolutely stunning! Read More>>
Cristina Gutierrez
Mexican-born photographer Cristina Gutierrez, the youngest of seven children, spent a great part of her childhood photographing her nieces and nephews. Taking many paths throughout her photographic journey, Cristina’s early access to her sister’s film camera predetermined what is now her specialty, child portraiture. Cristina’s photographs compound the many sensitive elements of the human condition. She is inspired by mysticism, sadness, solitude, spirituality, love and loss; much of this inspiration begins in her dreams. Read More>>
Ashley Ciaglia
Growing up with a highly entrepreneurial father, I knew I wanted to have my own business one day. After graduating college with a business degree, I started doing Marketing for his company, California Skateparks. After 6 years of marketing, doing a lot of research on possible business ideas, and even trying a few out, none of them seemed quite right. While browsing Pinterest I came across a photo booth bus in Northern California. Read More>>
Sofi Astwood
Sofi began as a freelancer helping friends with their headshots. The first was her friend Erika, an opera singer whom planted the seed of possibilities for Sofi. As a result Sofi’s desire to help others with their headshots and social media profile images grew. Read More>>
Roxana Rodriguez CFD
My love and passion for flowers truly began back when I was six years old, playing hide-and-go seek in the dewy summer grass with my friends, and spotted the tiniest of pure perfection amidst the spread of green lawn- a beautiful flower! From there my passion grew throughout the years, and I always found a way to incorporate these precious gems into my life, even literally adding a “flower” at the end of my signature! But it wasn’t until I began to study the art of floral design, first as a hobby, that I learned how much this passion was instilled in me. Read More>>
Monique Hogan
My journey began when I was eleven years old. I planned the spectacular double wedding of Barbie and Ken and Christie and G.I. Joe. Barbie and Christie wore white gowns made of lace fabric (no sewing required I just wrapped the lace around them and secured it with ribbon); Ken wore a leisure suit and Joe wore his Army fatigues. After that grand success I started planning parties and weddings for all of my dolls; Read More>>
Cecile and Mighty Torrente
Cecile and Mighty combined music and magic after years of performing solo in their respective industry. They begun their journey together years ago but life separated them. Cecile came to the United States after graduating Dental school and Mighty traveled different countries performing magic and acrobatic. In 2010, they got together again and begun this journey of performing together. Read More>>
Pennye King
I was raised in the Midwest by a wonderful woman who worked hard and was the matriarch of our household. She taught the lesson of God first in your life and hard work second. In a time before computers, cell phones and and even the Ballpoint pens, my childhood dream was not to be famous but to excel in the business world. Read More>>
Lisa Dohner
I worked in Hollywood for more than 20 years and one day decided that I wanted to open my own business. I always loved cooking and I always loved kitchen gadgets so I decided to open my store PREP Kitchen Essentials where we offer cooking classes to the general public and sell high-quality, long-lasting kitchenwares. We have been in business since 2004 and have taught thousands of people, young and old, how to cook and how to improve their skills. Read More>>
Anointed Feet Dance School
Anointed Feet Dance is a Christian Based Dance School and Company committed to taking the arts back for Christ. Anointed Feet Dance School was birthed on January 1, 2015 and finally opened its doors in the city of Hawthorne on August 1, 2015 where the staff and instructors have been ministering the word of God through creative movement and dance. AFD offers technique classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary as well as fitness classes including Afro-Fit, Zumba, and Hula Hoop fitness. AFD also regularly conducts workshops on “Understanding the heart of a Worshiper.” These classes and workshops have impacted their students young and old to live a life dedicated to Christ and also encourage self-esteem and positive self-images. Read More>>
Alejandra & Jorge Schneider
The Menduiña Schneider Art Gallery was born out of the mutual passion for the arts that both owners share. Alejandra Schneider, an accomplished Artist, Curator and Teacher, and her husband Jorge Schneider, a writer and artist too, first came up with the idea for a gallery when they realized that they both shared an equally love for the Arts. Alejandra through her works has received worldwide acclaim and some of her pieces are now part of several museum’s permanent collections, such as The Museum of Fine Arts of Kosovo, Casa de la Cultura del Chimborazo, Ecuador, and El Museo Inti-Nan en la mitad del mundo, Quito, Ecuador. Read More>>
Amaloa Bonvecchio
Healer, Reiki practitioner, Crystal therapist, Aromatherapist, Fashion designer and Jewelry designer. Born in Venezuela, moved to Florida in 1996 where I grew in my path as a fashion and jewelry designer, involved in the Fashion Industry I had the opportunity to participate in Miami Fashion week and others fashion events for almost 15 years. Moved to California in 2011 where I kept growing, learning and discovering my purpose and gifts. Amaloa Art Boutique opened in 2011 in Hermosa Beach, since there it’s been a beautiful journey where I am able to share all my talent and love with the world. Read More>>
Carolina Brown
My husband and I took over the store from our daughter about 7 years ago. The store is named after our grandchildren Roko and Elliot. I am a retired LAUSD teacher and my husband is a retired Beverly Hills Fire Captain. Read More>>
Loretta McGrath
I’ve been a fitness professional since 1989. I have studied range of motion (ROM) and body movement for over 15 years. I’ve developed two patented programs, Body Alignment For Life ( a self (ROM) evaluation) and the Dynamic Body Stretching System (an assisted (ROM) evaluation) I invented the software when I realized that many of my personal training clients had limited range of motion, joint stiffness and weak areas that could be significantly helped by regular specialized stretch/resistance sessions. Read More>>
Huss Hardan
Huss Hardan and Xenia “ZZ” Almendarez are the team behind huZ galleries. Our mission is to inspire and encourage up and coming artists by showcasing their work, as well as providing a forum for those already established. We opened our doors in the summer of 2015 in San Pedro’s historic arts district. This neighborhood is a hub of creativity with an energetic concentration of working artists, studios and galleries. Read More>>
