The Valley 4.17.2017

Kathryn Hopkins

Kathryn began her journey in music as a child in Australia where she excelled in musical theatre, singing and piano – even performing for Queen Elizabeth. Years later she moved back to her native New Zealand where she re-connected with her passion for performing and took up a singing residency with the North Habor Swing Band (an eighteen-piece big band) and became a member of the Sisters of Swing trio (SOS) performing the Andrew Sisters material with strong three part harmonies. Read More>>

Rebecca Benenati

I began my health and fitness career in 1992. I ran an all-women’s gym in Studio City and being in that environment every day led me to get my certification as a personal trainer. Read More>>

Marie King

The Tonga Hut is the oldest Tiki Bar in Los Angeles, opening its doors in 1958. The current ownership has been here since 2005 and has restored the Tonga Hut to the splendor it deserves. Read More>>

Jennifer Shafton

I started Rufus and Delilah Dog Walking, formerly Claws N Paws Petsitting, in January 2004 to share my love of animals. I turned my passion for caring for pets into a highly respected and 5 star reviewed business that can be seen on Yelp. Read More>>

Ethan Margolis

I met my wife, flamenco dancer Cihtli Ocampo in Seville, Spain in the year 2000. Ever since we have been involved with our flamenco company Arte Y Pureza. We lived and performed in Spain for over a decade and as of 2010 have set up our base in Los Angeles. Read More>>

Claudia Seañez

In 2012, I was guided to start my reiki journey and, coincidentally, it was also the same time that my love with wild horses began. It was synchronicity at its best. Read More>>

Natalie Avakian

In high school, when I was 15, my best friend’s mom refused to let us spend Friday nights watching TV at home, so she took us to a Salsa club in Studio City. I heard the music for the first time and I was able to escape all of the hurt and sadness in my life. Read More>>

Dina Newman

After working as a Legal Assistant/Office Manager for 30 years I decided to start an Organizing business. I wanted to take the skills and experience that I acquired while working in the legal industry and my natural organizational talents to help others get organized or better organized, as the case may be. Read More>>

Sindy Habib And  Kelly Hall

Sindy and Kelly are both full time, practicing Veterinarians. During breaks at the hospital, we would often fantasize about starting a business that would make people smile. Read More>>

Elizabeth Mestnik

I had been acting since I was a child. At the age of 18, I went to Meadows School of the Arts to get my BFA in Acting. While I was there, one of our guest instructors, Eve Roberts came back from a Meisner Technique Workshop in New York City with Bill Esper. Read More>>

Babette Herzog-Brown

My husband Dmitry and I moved to LA in 2014 from Florida. We decided to create our own brand for a Ballroom Dance Studio and started to look around for a great location to get started and found this cute Plaza in Encino. Read More>>

Maeve Croke

I started dancing as a kid back in Ireland where I grew up. I was very lucky at the young age of 16 I was chosen to Travel with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. Read More>>

Ann Hickey

Plush Puffs was born out of a love for both marshmallows and all they represent; great childhood memories, smiles, oooohs and aaaahs of gooey S’mores and a sense of wonder of what they could be. There is no denying I was a marshmallow fiend, especially when they were toasted. Read More>>

Randy Lehrman

I fell into the Mobile DJ business by accident when I was discovered at my sister’s own Bat-Mitzvah years ago…I do over 400 voices and impersonations and as I was hamming it up for the DJ, he told me had had just started his own company and wanted me to come work for him. Read More>>

George Hakopian

About 5 years ago, our friends had a photo booth business that they ran in the Temecula area. We experienced their photo booth and thought it created so much fun to the party. Read More>>

Susan Ashouri

I am the owner of SugarPartiesLA, a party styling business in Southern California. I am currently working from home and a mom of two boys ages 2 and 3. Life gets hectic but I get the job done. Read More>>

Krista Mason

When I was seven I wanted to help kids (like myself) going through family dilemmas by becoming a therapist. At 12, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Read More>>

Shaunelle Gowen

I completed an event planning program a few years back and gained experience working in the event business thereafter. I’ve always enjoyed the creative aspect of planning and designing events. Read More>>

Katya Grozovskaya

I was passionate about photography since I was a kid. My father is an artist and always was I big fan of an old film camera. Read More>>

Ki Ki Herr

Thom Beers is a 3 time Emmy award-winning television producer, industry veteran and creative visionary. He has an impressive resume of hit television series and Beers was Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Original Productions. Read More>>

Scott Roeb

Scott’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in everything that he does. He started his business in 1988 as an event coordinator specializing in bachelor and bachelorette parties. Read More>>

Claudio Masnicoff

My childhood involved a lot of fist fights. Growing up in Argentina a person’s appearance and belongings defined their social status. Something so little as lack of brand name clothing and shoes or what a person couldn’t control such as their parent’s occupation and religion made those who didn’t conform to other’s ideas of important targets for ridicule and abuse. Read More>>

Lauren Resendez

I first fell in love with makeup when I was about 6 years old when I received my very first play makeup set. I tried to save that play makeup set for as long as I could because I seriously cherished it. Read More>>

Marissa Pearson

Ever since I was a little girl I had a strong curiosity for eastern philosophy’s, such as Daoism and Buddhism, and I always loved the culinary tastes that came from Japan and Thailand. About eight years ago when I was a student at CSUN, I heard about acupuncture for the first time. Read More>>

Heather B. Grant

The MCNanny was founded in 2004 by Marcia Campbell. As a single mom working mother of 1, Marcia understands the challenges you face when seeking in home childcare for your precious little ones. Read More>>

Kareena Ramirez

My family and I have a long history of caring for children, it’s what we love! My grandmother, Mary, cared for over 300 foster children throughout 17 years so we grew up with tons of kids in our home. Read More>>

Kate Clancey

I started my business almost 27 years ago when my oldest son was born and designed his birth announcement. My friends started asking me to do their birth announcement and children’s birthday parties and a business was born. Read More>>