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Building the Dream: New American Entrepreneur Maria Carcamo by Suzanne LaFetra
Graduation Ceremonies for New American
Entrepreneurs Completing Business Planning Certificate Program
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The Burning Secret
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| Building the Dream: New American Entrepreneur Maria Carcamo | |||||||
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Lanzar is a Spanish word meaning to launch, or take off. And it is a word well suited to Maria Cárcamo. When Maria’s family was persecuted by the Somoza government, they fled to the United States. “It was terrible,” says Maria, as she remembers soldiers showing up at their house, guns poised, more than forty years ago. Although Maria has spent most of her life in the Bay Area, her roots are still in Nicaragua. She has always dreamed of a business that would marry the cultural heritage of her past with the business opportunities of the US. Nicoya Designs will do just that, bringing museum quality pottery to the home décor market. But Nicoya Designs was just a dream, until Maria hooked up with AnewAmerica Community Corporation. “My brother saw an article in the Examiner about AnewAmerica,” and Maria contacted them. “It was just what I needed,” she remembers. The former bank Vice President had a strong technical background, but AnewAmerica gave her what she lacked. “AnewAmerica has connected me to the right people, and given me a network of mentors,” says Maria. “I have learned how to produce test tiles by working with a pottery expert here in Berkeley. I was introduced to people on the ground who have helped with the logistics.” And her own family, still in Nicaragua, will be focused on the transport and packing of the pottery. She’s working out a marketing plan, sizing up the competition at the San Francisco trade shows, and constantly jots down ideas in a file folder that never leaves her side. “I’m learning every minute,” says Maria. “I feel like an octopus,” she jokes, as she describes the multitasking which might overwhelm a less savvy businessperson. Describing her current hurdles, she says, “I’ve got to figure out how to make the right kind of yellow glaze, one that will work with the low fire kilns they use in Nicaragua. I’m also trying to find a shipper, and someone to get sturdy boxes for us.” Not to mention file for her business license, meet with potential investors, create a website, and sniff out her competitive edge. But Maria is confident. She proudly whips out her 4” thick notebook filled with Nicoya Designs information, and displays her pamphlets, business cards, and photos of the sensual earthy, pottery. “Every time I show these to someone, they light up.” Maria Cárcamo lights up when she talks about her business, which will officially launch next April. She knows where she’s headed. She is a woman poised to lanzar. Maria Cárcamo Nicoya Designs: Museum Quality Pottery from Nicaragua Maria.S.Carcamo@juno.com (925)432-0966 Special thanks to Suzanne LaFetra, freelance writer and supporter of New America, for writing this feature. |
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| Graduation Ceremonies for New American Entrepreneurs Completing Business Planning Certificate Program | |||||||
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AnewAmerica Community Corporation and Holy Names College (HNC) will hold graduation ceremonies for 23 Latino and Vietnamese new American entrepreneurs who have successfully completed New America’s business planning certification program and will receive Certificates in Business Planning from HNC. The graduation ceremonies will be held on Monday, July 7, 2003 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm in the California Room on the HNC campus. The event celebrates a significant milestone for these new American entrepreneurs on the path toward realizing their dream of owning their own business. Multi-cultural food and beverages will be offered during the event by entrepreneurs in New America’s Virtual Business Incubator program. |
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| Sylvia Rosales-Fike, President & CEO of New America, Receives Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Award | |||||||
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AnewAmerica's President & CEO, Sylvia Rosales-Fike was awarded the first annual Latinas Moving Upward: Business Education Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented at a luncheon on June 5, 2003 with Special Keynote Speaker, Sharon Davis. Recognizing the extraordinary growth of Hispanic woman-owned businesses, the event paid tribute to the leadership of prominent Latinas in Business, Business Education, and Public/Communitiy Service. Other honorees included Josefina Lopez, owner of Corazon del Pueblo (Small Business Awardee); Alicia Vazquez from EBMUD (Corporate Business Awardee); Ana Apodaca from the Office of Senator Liz Figueroa (Public Service Awardee); Ana Luisa Mota from the Puente Project (Community Leadership Awardee); and Josefina Alvarado-Mena (Public Education Awardee). |
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