Carlsbad Local Leaders

CARLSBAD LOCAL LEADERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF

CARLSBAD SENIORS WITH

BRYAN DEVORE

More Local Leaders, Local Causes, and Local inspiration inside!

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WELCOME TO CARLSBAD LOCAL LEADERS ISSUE 1!

What is a leader? To me, it is any individual who has the courage to share their gifts with others. It’s so easy to hide, hold back, and keep to ourselves.

This magazine is made by Local Carlsbad Leaders for the community with the intention of service using our expertise, time and energy. Carlsbad Local Leaders are real people who go above and beyond to make Carlsbad a better place to live, work, and play.

For me personally, getting to know these local leaders has been a powerful experience. Everyone in this magazine has inspired me in some way, and in a time when I sorely needed it. My hope is that this magazine and its leaders will add as much optimism and inspiration to your heart as it has mine.

This is only the beginning. You will continue to see more local leaders, causes, and stories every single month.

Thank you, and enjoy Issue 1!

-Brian Koehn Founder of Carlsbad Local Leaders

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4 YOURLOCALLEADERS

LEADER

REALTOR & SENIOR ADVOCATE Bryan Devore DEVORE REALTY GROUP 5973 Avenida Encinas #110, Carlsbad, CA 760-908-3838 ʌ DevoreRealtyGroup.com Bryan@DevoreRealtyGroup.com

OF THE MONTH

Bryan Devore is a Realtor and Director of Senior Services with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. Holding the Senior Real Estate Specialist designation, Bryan specializes in creating solutions for the real estate needs of seniors throughout San Diego County. He is the co-host of Senior Savers, a reality TV show that presents the often unknown services available for seniors and their families. Bryan lives in Carlsbad and has two sons.

BARBER/ OWNER Vianna Bigornia WING & BLADE BARBER CO. 6864 Embarcadero Lane, Carlsbad, CA wingandbladebarberco@gmail.com 760-936-5077

Wing and Blade Barber Co. believes in looking good, feeling good and doing good. Vianna and her team craft haircuts that inspire clients to be their best. When not working with clients, you can find the Wing and Blade team donating high-quality barber cuts to those in need via humanity showers for the homeless.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Christine Davis EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - CARLSBAD VILLAGE 400 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad, CA 760-644-2121 ʌ chris@carlsbad-village.com carlsbad-village.com

Christine is the Executive Director of the Carlsbad Village Business Association. Ms. Davis has won both the Entrepreneur of the Year Award through the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as well as their first ever Entrepreneur of the Decade award. In 2021 she was recipient of the Woman of Impact award for the 76th Assembly District in Business/Entrepreneurship. She is also a member of the District Advisory Council on Jobs and the Economy started by Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Kathleen McNary VP OF MEMBER RELATIONS - CARLSBAD 5934 Priestly Dr, Carlsbad, CA 790-931-8400 ext 216 ʌ kathleen@carlsbad.org

As the Chambers’ primary connection hub to the community, Kathleen connects leaders, businesses, philanthropic causes, and policy interests to make Carlsbad a better place to live, work, and play.

FOOD BANK DIRECTOR Wendy Starling NORTH COUNTY FOOD BANK 1445 Engineer St., Ste 110, Vista, CA 790-931-8400 ext 216 wstarling@sandiegofoodbank.org

Under Wendy’s management, the North County Food Bank has expanded from a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in San Marcos distributing 75,000 pounds of food per month in the community to a 40,000-square-foot warehouse in Vista distributing over half a million pounds per month.

Wendy serves as a board member for Feeding the Soul Foundation in Oceanside and spends her spare time volunteering with the 501st Legion, a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization with a mission to bring good to communities through volunteer charity work and fundraising.

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” —Yoda

FINANCIAL ADVISOR Chad Spilman, CDFA ® Lic#0E56155 REDSTONE WEALTH ADVISORS A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC 2173 Salk Avenue, Suite 250, Carlsbad,, CA Cell 760-470-2902 ʌ Ofc 760-496-7560 FINANCIAL ADVISOR Jennifer Spilman Lic#4083739 REDSTONE WEALTH ADVISORS A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC 2173 Salk Avenue, Suite 250, Carlsbad, CA Cell 760-470-2901 ʌ Ofc 760-496-7560

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In addition to being financial advisors, Jen and Chad are commercial airline pilots. Beginning with the devastating events of September 11th, and the subsequent problems that befell the airline industry, they experienced firsthand the pain and uncertainty of trying to manage financially on their own. This ignited a new passion: to become Financial Advisors and help others to never feel alone financially. Jen is especially passionate about helping women become empowered financially as women have not historically been active participants in their financial lives. In addition, Chad is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and is an expert at securing fair and equitable settlements.

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5 YOURLOCALLEADERS GIRL SCOUTS SAN DIEGO Liz Sheahan, BSW, MA CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER San Diego, CA

Liz oversees all Girl Scouts San Diego’s advancement initiatives, including marketing, communications and philanthropy. She and her team work hard to engage the community in empowering girls to be strong leaders for our community and our world. A graduate of the LEAD San Diego Impact program, she currently serves on the boards of directors for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and North County Philanthropy Council.

JOB DEVELOPER Michele Jodock, Founder/CEO VANTAGE POINT 6790 Embarcadero Lane, Ste 100, Carlsbad, CA 415-572-9449 ʌ usevantagepoint.com

A social worker turned non-profit entrepreneur, Michele created Vantage Point to help people with disabilities of all kinds get hired into meaningful jobs that are perfect for them. Vantage Point was recently recognized as vendor of the year from the Department of Rehabilitation because of the positive impact her organization is making on communities, employers, and on the lives of people with disabilities.

OWNER/ INSTRUCTOR Nick Stefan GRACIE JIU JITSU 6108 Avenida Encinas #C, Carlsbad, CA 760-918-0566 ʌ info@graciecarlsbad.com

As head instructor, Nick has cultivated a family-friendly environment that is truly supportive of every student, regardless of where they are in their journey. He welcomes all ages, fitness levels and confidence levels at Gracie Carlsbad. Having witnessed people’s lives transform from all backgrounds, Nick knows that there is a place for everyone in Jiu Jitsu.

OWNER/ INSTRUCTOR Staci Stefan GRACIE JIU JITSU 6108 Avenida Encinas #C, Carlsbad, CA 760--918-0566 ʌ info@graciecarlsbad.com

Staci’s passion is in providing peace of mind and lasting empowerment to women, parents, and children through self defense Jiu Jitsu.

(Little Ninjas are her favorite!) As a Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt, Staci loves running the family business and training alongside her husband and their four beautiful children.

PERFORMANCE PHYSICAL THERAPIST Joe Walker, PT, MPT, SCS, XPS, SFMA - OWNER ATHLETES' THERAPIST Carlsbad, CA ʌ 760--681-6187 joewalker@athletestherapist.com athletestherapist.com

Owner of Athletes' Therapist, Joe graduated first in his class with a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from California State University of Long Beach in 2007. He specializes in bridging the gap between rehabilitation and performance utilizing a holistic approach to injury. While Joe has earned an elite reputation rehabbing the world’s best professional athletes and Olympians, he provides the same services to high school, collegiate, and amateur athletes as well as everyday people looking to recover from injury or surgery in the most effective manner.

RESTORATION Barry Feinman, President/ Founder RESTORATION ARTECHS, INC dba BARRY’S RESTORE IT ALL PRODUCTS barrysrestoreitall.com ʌ restorationartechs.com Cell 760-846-3323 ʌ Ofc 760-804-5707

Barry is a local inventor and entrepreneur who is passionate about making the world a more beautiful place. His breakthrough techniques and products have restored everything from the Golden Gate Bridge, local art sculptures, commercial buildings, all the way to kitchen sinks, appliances, and grills. Barry recently developed a local school to teach his proprietary processes to the next generation. He is passionate about sharing his 30 years of restoration expertise with others who want to join his mission in bringing more beauty into the world while providing for their families.

SOLAR EXPERT Sandra Daniels POWUR PBC Carlsbad, CA

Sandra is committed to creating a brighter future through sustainable energy. As a solar expert, she helps homeowners achieve energy independence and savings, while contributing to a greener future. In addition to expanding sustaining energy, Sandra is passionate about helping people who experienced setbacks get the community support they need to become financially self-sustaining.

WELLNESS COACH Jackson Hale, Owner B.S., LMT, Pn1, NASM CES/Cpt 360WELLNESS Carlsbad, CA ʌ 760-783-1306

Jackson Hale, founder of 360wellness, has built a Christian Wellness Program focused on restoring and optimizing your physical, mental and spiritual best. From recovery to movement and nutrition to lifestyle coaching, he is here for you through your journey of healing, longevity and resilience.

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MISSION ACCEPTED: LOCAL REALTOR BRYAN DEVORE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CARLSBAD SENIORS

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eniors often don’t know where to turn or who they can trust when it comes time to make major life decisions. In Carlsbad, this is something that Bryan Devore is working to change. Bryan discovered serendipitously through his real estate career that there is an entire ecosystem of trustworthy people and programs who specialize in helping seniors. The problem is, most seniors don’t know how to find these people and programs. As Bryan helped his early senior clients get access to trusted support, he witnessed them becoming healthier, stronger, happier, and more at peace.

Bryan realized that this part of his work was so much bigger than real estate and feels a sense of profound duty to the local senior population. In addition to being a local Senior Real Estate Specialist, he is the Board Chair for the Foundation for Senior Wellbeing and has launched a television show, “Senior Savers,” which connects seniors with essential resources in their communities.

Bryan works every day to better the lives of seniors in our community by raising awareness of the programs available to them and creating new ways to help and protect seniors as they work to live their best lives.

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Q: What sparked your interest in working with seniors?

A: About six years ago, I met my friend Jami through mutual friends. She owned a senior move management business that helps seniors pack and unpack items, develop floor plans for their new homes, and assist in easing the transition to a new living environment. This intrigued me and we decided to work together. I sell the homes; she helps the clients move. Before this, I had no specific experience working with seniors but soon, I was meeting with seniors and those who worked with them, such as senior communities. It made me realize how important my role was in their lives because this was likely the last time they would move. I love working with all of my clients but with seniors, it’s probably the most emotional real estate experience they’ll have and they are generally at their most vulnerable. I have a greater impact on their lives than most other clients and it's really important.

Q: What makes working with senior clients so rewarding?

A: I found my purpose working with seniors. I didn’t have an “aha” moment but connecting with them and the amount of gratitude they had for the service I was providing just kept me going. I feel like it's my job to protect them from people taking advantage of them in these situations and I feel like I am doing something to help those in my community. Hearing about the lives of my clients and seeing what they went through makes me want to be a better person and a better father.

It helps me teach my kids the importance of giving back and supporting others.

Q: What is the biggest challenge seniors are currently facing?

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A: Regardless of their financial situation, the commonality I have found is a lack of knowledge regarding the resources available to support them. There are a lot of people who need resources and there are a lot of great people who provide these resources but they need to connect and this is a major issue as seniors don’t often seek out this assistance. What we do is try to raise awareness of these resources for those that can use them.

Q: What is Senior Savers?

A: Senior Savers is a television show that helps make seniors aware of resources they can use to improve their lives.

We discuss their lives, challenges, decisions, emotions, their families and family dynamics, and help them figure out how they want to go about living the next chapter of their lives. We bring resources to seniors to help them emotionally, financially, and physically.

Q: Do you have advice for others looking to help their community in similar ways? Many people have ideas on how they can possibly help, but few follow through.

A: Go with your gut and keep moving forward. When the idea came to me for Senior Savers, I happened to know someone who made reality television. It took a lot of work, but it was a labor of love because I believe in what we are doing. If it's something you truly believe will help others and you are willing to put in work, amazing things will start happening.

Q: You are speaking at a local event coming up. Can you talk a little about the Older and Bolder expo?

A: The Carlsbad Chamber of Com-

merce is hosting its first annual Older and Bolder expo on September 18th. It’s an opportunity for seniors and their families to listen to speakers discuss a variety of aspects of senior living and about how to live your best life. I’ll be there to discuss housing but there will be other speakers to talk about a range of other topics like finances and other activities.

Q: How can people get involved in helping seniors?

A: One of the best ways to help would be volunteering your time to different programs dedicated to helping seniors.

Organizations like Meals on Wheels, Serving Seniors, and The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing are great. The work we do is about changing the perception of seniors in society and reminding people that they have value. Teaching your kids that is also a great help to our cause.

Seniors are often dismissed when they should be embraced. They have so much knowledge and information to share. Seniors who thrive are ones that have purpose and helping them find that purpose has been great.

Q: How has working with seniors impacted you?

A: It’s made me more empathetic to situations people are in and driven me to create solutions. I’ve realized that I need to take personal responsibility and see what I can do to help others. Working with seniors has made me more focused and given me purpose and just generally motivates me to do better.

The Senior Savers TV show can be viewed by searching “Senior Savers TV” on YouTube.

If you would like to work with Bryan, you can learn more at DevoreRealtyGroup.com or call him directly at  (760)908-3838.

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SALES

TIP OF THE MONTH

T

rying to impress someone is the opposite of trying to connect with someone.

Impressing people creates distance.

Connecting creates closeness.

When we are trying to impress someone, who are we focusing on?

When trying to connect with someone, who are we focusing on?

See the difference? The people you are communicating with do. ; ) Sell, market, and lead accordingly.

-Brian Koehn, Carlsbad based Sales and communications coach and Co-Founder of SalesFlourish.com Contact at bk@futureofsalesinstitute.com

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T

he vibe in Carlsbad Village is a happy one these days. Downtown Carlsbad is bustling, tourism is returning, businesses are recovering.

The pandemic is not entirely behind us yet, but the future is looking brighter by the day. And what better time to be able to genuinely enjoy all that Carlsbad Village has to offer than summertime?

Just a few short weeks ago, the Carlsbad Village Association was not certain it would even be able to host public events this year. However, since June 15th’s big announcement by the Governor, CVA has been busy as can be welcoming people back with open arms. To that end, we already have a highly successful and enjoyable 23rd Annual Art in the Village behind us, that attracted over 5,000 people into the Village to enjoy the fine art on display by over 100 local and regional artists.

CVA’s annual “movies under the stars” is back. Starting at approximately 8pm every Thursday night from July 22nd to August 12th, we will turn the iconic fountain at the corner of Grand Avenue and State Street into an openair movie theatre. This free community event is ideal for people of all ages.

This summer’s movie lineup includes classics like Toy Story, Ghostbusters, Frozen (complete with a costume contest), and the original Star Wars: A New Hope from 1977!

The State Street Farmers’ Market is moving into its 27th year in downtown Carlsbad and is as strong as ever. Providing an outdoor shopping environment for exceptional, nutrient dense food during the pandemic was a key motivator for the association. With nearly 500 volunteer hours in its operation, keeping the public, vendors, and staff safe, it was a labor of love that kept us all motivated week by week.

The Farmers’ Market is back to 50+ vendors including beef, poultry, fish, cheese, bread, eggs, honey, artisan specialties, and more fresh, local produce than you can imagine. The market also hosts five hot food vendors offering authentic Indian, Filipino, and South African food, to name just three. The State Street Farmers’ Market is in the heart of downtown Carlsbad and is held every Wednesday from 2:30pm to 7:00pm.

For details on Flicks at the Fountain, the State Street Farmers’ Market, and other downtown events and activities, please visit www.carlsbad-village. com. Come experience Carlsbad Village!

Christine Davis Executive Director of the Carlsbad Village Association

-Christine Davis Executive Director of the Carlsbad Village Association

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VICK VANNUCCI

comes back to Mother Earth

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ormer tennis prodigy, model and TV presenter Maria Victoria "Vick" Vannucci lived through the photograph, then figuratively died by the photograph.

Now owner and chef at Normal Heights' Pachamama Restaurant, Vannucci pursues a new socially aware image featuring her tale of personal redemption centering on giving back to the community and educating people about healthy food and animal conservation.

"My story is a special story," said Vannucci, 38, who speaks English, Spanish and Italian. "I look at it as a means to help the community. I learned from my mistakes. I am more than a picture."

Vannucci found herself immersed in social media outrage in October 2016 when photos emerged from a 2011 African hunting trip during which she was pictured with Argentine tycoon businessman Matias Garfunkel, her husband at the time.

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Matias came from a family, in which, hunting was something they used to do,” Vannucci said. “I was his fiancé, and when he invited me, I went. Even though I appeared in those pictures, I never shot at anything, much less killed an animal.”

Vannucci added: “I started having a hard time on what he did in that trip many years before the pictures became public. It was my own grief and sadness. Once he saw the way I felt, he never hunted again. The incident was 12 years ago now, and my depression started before the scandal. I suffer from social panic and constant panic attacks after that episode.”

Fallout from the African photo, and animal shoot stopped Vannucci's career and life in its tracks.

Until that fateful outing, Vannucci had achieved a high level of fame. She was a professional tennis player who was ranked #1 in the national rankings

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11 made by the Argentinian Tennis Association.

She represented Argentina in international tennis championships, and with tennis legend, Guillermo Vilas as a coach, won the Argentina Cup. After retiring from professional tennis due to injury, Vannucci began a successful modeling career, becoming the top paid model in the country. She participated in fashion shows all over Latin America and Europe, representing brands such as Adidas, Nike and Topper.

Vannucci also was a television presenter for Forbes Latin American as well as an actress, winning a comedy award for Best Female Actress.

And then, the African safari pictures from 12 years ago came home to roost.

"I was young and stupid," Vannucci said. "I noticed how awful it was when that picture came out. People were horrified. My fans were horrified. I myself was horrified. I knew I had to change my life."

The road to recovery was long and rugged.

Vannucci struggled with acute depression, relocated to Aspen and slowly rebuilt her life while also building a special garden at her home. “ After that episode, I started suffering of constant panic attacks. The episode changed my life forever. At the time I had my own clothes brand, with plans to expand it to Europe and America. Had to close it, had to stop working and moved to Colorado. It was in Colorado, where I started dreaming about the pachamama concept.

The more I dreamt the better I started to feel. I found a way to cure myself! During all that time, I started asking questions to myself. How did something like this happen? Why? Why wasn’t I aware? And thanks to asking over and over again those questions on my mind, is that I realized, how big of a change I needed to make. I started

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I STARTED HAVING A HARD TIME ON WHAT HE DID IN THAT TRIP MANY YEARS BEFORE THE PICTURES BECAME PUBLIC. IT WAS MY OWN GRIEF AND SADNESS. ONCE HE SAW THE WAY I FELT, HE NEVER HUNTED AGAIN. THE INCIDENT WAS 12 YEARS AGO NOW, AND MY DEPRESSION STARTED BEFORE THE SCANDAL. I SUFFER FROM SOCIAL PANIC AND CONSTANT PANIC ATTACKS AFTER THAT EPISODE.”

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reading and informing myself. I realized how many things are wrong in our planet and needs to be addressed. Sport animal hunting is one of those. The use of plastics/water is another one.

Colorado help me to start curing myself.

At the end of the day,I am convinced that thanks to the public appearance of those pictures, is that I made a really big change within me. I know that today I am a much better person than what I was previous to the appearance of the pictures.

Nowadays I am a woman who has a clear message to give to the world: the Pachamama mission.

I hope I can serve my purpose in life and leave behind a good example for my children and the community.

The concept of Pachamama -- Mother Earth -- took shape. It was that of a sustainable vegan restaurant offering top quality eco-friendly cuisine coupled with educational programs and a tithing of all profits to animal protection groups.

Vannucci was ready to hold serve.

This brought a reinvigorated Vannucci to San Diego, a place she had visited while staying in Los Angeles years before, and knew to be familyfriendly. It was seemingly perfect for her little

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girl Indiana, now 8 years old, and boy, Napoleon, now 7 years old.

Pachamama, according to Vannucci, is a symbol of transformation, a fully sustainable restaurant taking its ingredients from local farms, supporting animal goodness and ecosystem restoration.

“I want you to feel the love and energy that are part of my life," Vannucci said. "My successes, my failures, everything that has brought me to this moment. I want you to feel nurtured from the inside out. I want them to feel as if Mother Nature herself is preparing food for them."

Vannucci is certified in food handling and general management through ServSafe. She also studied at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and holds a college degree. With a passion for Peruvian, Japanese, Colombian, Chilean, Argentine and Cuban cuisine, she established Pachamama's healthy menu in 2018 “Pachamama is here to provide healthy food made with love and respect for each ingredient and the journey it takes from farm to table," Vannucci said. "Starting with the soil it is harvested in, to the people that enjoy a meal in our restaurant, we aim to enjoy the best quality nourishment from the world and offer the best quality nourishment back to the world,” All of the dishes are created with organic, whole-food ingredients with only a small emphasis on animal protein, which she sources solely from providers with high food safety and quality standards that treat their animals humanely, Vannucci said.

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PACHAMAMA AM IS HERE RE TO PROVIDE HEALTHY FOOD MADE WITH LOVE AND RESPECT FOR EACH INGREDIENT AND THE JOURNEY IT TAKES FROM FARM TO TABLE

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to animal welfare services," Vannucci continued, "in hopes that we may continue to support the cycle of life on this planet." Ten Percent of all restaurant profits are donated to the San Diego Humane Society.

Located at a 2,058 square-foot space at 3737 Adams Ave. that previously housed Cafe Cabaret, Pachamama can be reached by phone at 619738-3737. Its website is https://whoispachamama. com.

With roots extending all the way to South America, Pachamama’s name is synonymous with “Mother Earth”. Its practices maintain the utmost reverence for nature, and our business is deeply committed to working in a way that is environmentally sustainable and even regenerative while offering our customers delicious food that nourishes them from the inside out, according to Vannucci.

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Vannucci has created innovative dishes containing elements honoring countries, such as Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, and Mexico.

"We hope to awaken the palates of our customers with exciting, exotic flavors found throughout our menu," she said.

Aside from amazing food, "Amazing things are about to happen," Vannucci said, referring to her partnership with Bee Leaf USA. She will be hosting 3 p.m. Wednesday workshops on honeybees, who are responsible for more than one-third of the world's food source.

Workshops will show people how to make their own beehives.

What's more, Pachamama will start building its own beehives in mid-July, harvesting the honey for serving at the earth-friendly restaurant.

"It's an unbelievable opportunity to educate the community," Vannucci said. "Without bees, we don't have any food, and without food, we don't exist."

Earlier this year, she teamed up with Bee Leaf USAFounder and beekeeper Travis Wolfe to come up with a concept that honors her values of education, integrity and sustainability.

Wolfe said the idea aligns perfectly with the organization's core purpose to reconnect humans to nature through safe and sustainable beekeeping.

"Together, we're embarking on an educational journey to shift the negative paradigm associated with bees," Wolfe said. "After years of chasing this passion, it's incredibly rewarding to see LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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someone willing to take it to the next level while supporting bees in the right way."

While the use of honeybees has been incorporated into local hotel restaurant models, Wolfe believes that Pachamama will become the only stand-alone restaurant with a sustainable onsite beehive that also has an educational aspect for customers and elevates food and drink quality.

"I don't know of a project like this being done yet, even on a national level," Wolfe said. "It's a one-of-a-kind honeybee installation that will provide a unique learning experience."

Wolfe said the estimated 40,000-to-80,000 bees will be transferred from a nearby sanctuary and are expected to produce at least four gallons of honey within a year.

Pachamama and Bee Leaf USA partnered with Tecture Inc., a design and architecture studio in Barrio Logan to design, build and install the modified beehive.

The installation is made with heavy-duty glass that respectfully emulates the actual reality of honeybees in nature, while giving them the best chance at long-term survival.

"I opened Pachamama with the sole purpose of helping the community and planet in a small way," Vannucci said. "This is my humble attempt at helping the planet."

The modified beehive is also built to standards in full compliance with the county's Department of Agricultural Weights and Measures with the design adapted to assist the bees in harvesting honey while protecting the human population from unnecessary exposure.

Within Pachamama’s mission, is to help not only the animals welfare, but also the community in which we are. Something that makes me very happy, is that Pachamama is building an organic garden at Adams Ave Elementary. Children will learn how to take care of an organic garden, harvest and then eat the vegetables they planted and harvest themselves.

"At the end of the day we need to change," Vannucci said. "I feel if we can change as a company we're showing people everywhere they can change too." @LocalUmbrellaMedia ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

Planning your future by navigating your now.

Chad Spilman, CDFA® chad.spilman@ampf.com chadspilman.com CA Insurance #0E56155 Jennifer Spilman Financial Advisor jennifer.spilman@ampf.com jenniferspilman.com CA Insurance #4083739 Redstone Wealth Advisors A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC 760.496.7560 2173 Salk Ave, Ste 250 Carlsbad, CA 92008

Investment products are not federally or FDIC-insured, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value.

Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. The Compass is a trademark of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. © 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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LOCAL OFFICIAL SPOTLIGHT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PRIYA BHAT-PATEL ON “WHAT’S NEXT” FOR CARLSBAD Q: What’s next when it comes to homelessness challenges in Carlsbad?

A: The City Council has adopted these as ways to address homelessness as we move forward: Hire an employment and benefits specialist (program manager); Hire one police sergeant and two police officers to be primarily deployed on bike and foot patrol as homeless outreach officers providing additional four-day-a- week coverage, and contract with a service provider for two additional social workers; Enhance clinical services at La Posada Emergency Shelter by entering into a contract for two licensed clinicians; Potentially initiate a hotel/motel voucher program for a year; Amend the city's contract with the San Diego Humane Society to provide temporary shelter for pets if necessary; Hire a program manager to administer the hotel/motel voucher program and other homelessness-related programs and responsibilities (hired and on boarded).

Increase contract amount for Community Resource Center services; Formation of a standing committee on homelessness (complete and currently meeting) *The full plan is available at Carlsbadca.gov.

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volved with and excited about?

A: I am very much excited about the Sustainable Materials Plan that is coming before us to potentially discuss a single use plastics ordinance and a zero waste goal. Our team has been working hard to bring this forward and I have been personally invested in this topic by working with the business community and environmental organizations to ensure we are on the same page.

Q: What’s next for you personally?

A: Right now our focus is to ensure Carlsbad is on the path to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic - whether that’s to address economic recovery or ensuring the overall health and wellbeing of our community, I’ll be working on pushing initiatives forward that address these.

Q: What is your favorite activity to do in Carlsbad?

A: My favorite activity in Carlsbad is being able to walk to/ run to and enjoy our beaches and trails.

Priya’s dog Kishmish also loves exploring our local surroundings. :) @LocalUmbrellaMedia ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

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GIVING HUNGER THE BLUES The AimLoan.com San Diego Blues Festival Returns at 100% Capacity on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to Raise Vital Funds for San Diego Food Bank and North County Food Bank chapter The AimLoan.com San Diego Blues Festival is returning to the downtown San Diego waterfront on Saturday, Sept. 11 for its eleventh year. The festival brings nine talented blues acts from across the country into one venue for a day of good music, good food and good deeds.

This year’s Blues Fest will feature nine musical acts on two stages including its headliner, Grammy-nominated sister act, Larkin Poe. In addition, festival guests will hear the musical stylings of Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Aki Kumar, Nikki Hill Band, Backtrack Blues Band, Tia Carroll, The Fremonts and Tracy Lee Nelson.

No matter who takes the stage in September, it will surely be a moment to be treasured by all in attendance as the community transitions back to enjoying in-person events again.

“The AimLoan.com San Diego Blues Festival is a fun, family-friendly event that was tremendously missed this past year,“ said San Diego Blues Festival producer, Michael Kinsman.

“We produced a virtual event in 2020 to continue raising vital funds for the San Diego Food Bank, during the pandemic, when they needed it most.

We accomplished that, but we are excited to be back in action this year at 100% capacity!”

In addition to bringing top-notch blues artists to the San Diego community, the annual event has an even bigger purpose each year – to support the critical hungerrelief programs of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and its North County Food Bank chapter.

Since the pandemic reached the San Diego community back in March of 2020, the Food Bank experienced a sharp increase in demand for its services. They went from feeding 350,000 people per month to 600,000 people, on average.

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With the support of a steadfast network of more than 500 partners with feeding programs, the Food Bank looked for innovative ways to enhance and improve the efficiency of its existing food distributions to meet the increase in demand. One of the ways they did this is by creating the Super Pantry Program.

According to Food Bank staff, the Super Pantry Program, which consists of 35 high-volume distribution sites strategically located throughout the county, is going to be instrumental in maintaining operations post-pandemic as they anticipate seeing the demand continue in the months ahead as families continue needing support to help make ends meet.

“Since the pandemic hit the region more than a year ago, the Food Bank and our nonprofit distribution partners have seen an unprecedented amount of households visiting sites to pick up food to bring back home. Even as the economy reopens, we don’t expect the demand for our services to go down anytime soon,“ stated the Food Bank’s Vice President of Operations, Vanessa Ruiz.

“Families who were impacted by the pandemic in different ways are still working on rebuilding their lives. The Food Bank and our network of nonprofit partners are here to make sure no one has to make that tough choice between paying bills and providing food for themselves and their families.”

On the day of the event, festival guests are encouraged to bring donations of nonperishable food items like jars of unopened peanut butter, canned meats, canned fish, canned vegetables, canned soups, pasta, oatmeal, and other staple pantry items to place in donation bins outside the front entrance.

Tickets for the festival start at $40 online and will be $50 at the front gate on the day of the event. Children, under the age of 12, receive free entry with one paid adult general admission ticket. All proceeds benefit the Food Bank. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit SDBluesFest.com. /LocalUmbrellaMedia

Food Bank volunteers will be on site collecting donations of nonperishable foods.

The San Diego Blues Festival is an annual event to be enjoyed by all ages.

Bring your chairs because there is plenty of lawn space available at the Blues Festival.

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CARLSBAD AUTHOR of the Month

JACKSON HALE

J

ackson Hale is a faith based Carlsbad Local Leader who focuses on supporting the underserved when it comes to wellness. His non profit allows him to not turn anyone away who is looking for help with their 360 wellness. Jackson also specializes in helping other faith based leaders avoid burnout. His book, “You were Created for Greatness,” goes over his philosophy of wellness and describes how to implement his 360 degree plan of wellness in your life. It can be purchased at Amazon. com.

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I’M LOCAL PROFILES OF LOCAL PEOPLE BY LOCAL UMBRELLA MEDIA Roosevelt Williams III, President and CEO of Young Black & ‘N Business (YBNB)

Describe your business: We help early entrepreneurs grow their professional network by offering high value exposure opportunities and provide entrepreneurial content from real entrepreneurs. “No one can do everything, however everyone can do something” — That’s the power of our YBNB network. Our YBNB focus is to provide: instructional, entrepreneurial and educational content to our network. We provide: exposure, expansion and entrepreneurial education to our YBNB network via our newsletter, magazine and social media platforms.

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What made you decide to start this business?

I am originally from San Diego and I saw this important need in our local community. Early emerging entrepreneurs need help and we do that by creating opportunities for them. My hope is to leave a legacy and provide an inheritance for the next generation.

How did you get started?

We began with networking mixers and then moved to creating festivals celebrating the achievements of others.

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What drives you to keep moving forward?

I am motivated to help and assist others. I work for environmental justice too. This means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. When I see my peers meet their metrics, it makes all the hard work worth it.

I am an avid chess player. I love classical music. I am a retired cobbler.

I am a dad with two children, public servant and proud of winning many titles including: Mr. Black San Diego, Mr. Gold Coast Classic and Mr. Heritage. My great grandfather shared these wise words with me, “Use your whole name. It is up to you to either make your name a good name or a bad name.” I am proud of my accomplishments and will strive to work hard to reach our goals. I will leave a legacy and a blue print for others to follow.

What has surprised you the most?

When times get tough, I am proud of my mental fortitude and patience.

There is so much support in our community and there are limitless opportunities. We just need to create the right conditions for this to happen.

Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone. But if it is your calling, the winning spirit is contagious. I tell my clients often, “Your network is your net-worth!”

How do you motivate and encourage your staff?

I always try to lead by example. I share with them my personal struggles and testimony to let them know that I have been there too. We have weekly updates and meetings to make sure we are all on the same page.

Transparency is key. My staff members are shareholders in my company too.

What are your future goals?

We have our 100 year plan that includes creating 100 millionaires in our region. This also includes creating a media metropolis with the YBNB magazine growing to a national and global publication. Share with us more about you.

Contact information: See our linktree to view our newsletter, magazines and projects: https://linktr.ee/ybandnb ybandnb@gmail.com 5704 Elk St. San Diego, CA 92114 www.ybandnb.com

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HORSES HELPING HEROES By: Molly Galliher

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21 erving 25 years in the Navy, Mike Oluvic had faced many challenges, perhaps none as long-lasting as those that came when his service was over. After retiring, Mike, like many other service members, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression among other mental health issues. Battling these would be a life-long task. Shortly after retirement, Mike and his wife, Tammy, moved to Alpine California and rescued 2 horses, something Tammy had always wanted to do. In caring for the horses and helping rehabilitate them, Tammy saw a vast improvement in Mike’s mental health. Through helping the horses, Mike was helping himself in a way that didn’t involve expensive treatments or prescription medication. This was something that Tammy and Mike wanted to share with others in similar situations.

Saddles In Service was founded in 2017 by Mike and Tammy Oluvic to support veterans and first responders like Mike focus on mental wellness due to the stresses of their service. Since its founding, Saddles In Service has helped hundreds of service men and women on their mental health journeys and is only getting bigger. Along with helping heroes, Tammy and Mike have also worked to rescue and rehabilitate horses in need. This nonprofit’s focus on helping the community and raising awareness about the importance of mental health has gained nationwide attention. We had the opportunity to speak with Tammy about her work.

Q: What is Saddles In Service?

A: Saddles in Service is a veteran-founded nonprofit. Our mission is to provide mental wellness and healing to our veterans, active-duty military, and first-responders along with doctors and nurses that are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, job related stress, or traumatic brain injuries. We partner them with a rescued horse. We rescue and rehabilitate horses and give them a new purpose. It works so well because our heroes feel like they are giving back to the horse but in essence, they are both being healed.

These people are all service oriented. They are the people that were willing to give their lives for us and I feel blessed to be able to give back to them.

On the horse side, seeing these horses blossom and bloom is great. Seeing their personalities come to life and watching how much they enjoy working with our heroes feels like seeing little miracles all the time.

Q: What made you start this organization?

A: My husband was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia after serving 25 years in the Navy. Right after he retired, we moved to Alpine and I rescued two horses. I saw what interacting with the horses was doing for him mentally and realized this was something that could have an impact on others in similar situations. It’s like a non-pharmaceutical type of healing.

Q: When did you develop your interest in horses?

A: When I was young, my aunt had horses so I’ve been around them all of my life. I’ve been riding since I was 3 and even rode English Dressage in high school. I’ve always loved them.

Q: Where do you get your motivation?

A: I feed off of the energy of the people I work with. Everyone is so positive. It’s so great to see people pulling together to help each other.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the upcoming golf tournament fundraiser?

Q: Is there a particular moment from your work that stands out to you?

A: We have a couple of heroes that were on the verge of suicide. Now that they’re out at the ranch, they’ve spoken out about how if they hadn’t found us, they wouldn’t be here today. It’s not even just about the horses, it’s about the sense of camaraderie, that brotherhood and sisterhood, that they were missing when they got out of the military. Saddles in Service is like a whole new family. These two men are huge proponents of what we do because it has literally saved their lives.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: On the human side of things, it’s seeing that I’m making a difference in people’s lives.

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22 A: This is our very first tournament and we’re so excited.

It is our big fundraiser for the year. We don’t charge anything for the program and none of us are paid so we need money to offer our program to help us get through the year. With COVID, we weren’t able to have a fundraiser last year so we’re hoping this one is big. The tournament is sponsored by SDG&E, AMR ambulances, and others.

The tournament is Friday, July 30th at Cottonwood Golf Course. It is a scramble tournament with a shotgun start and there will also be a silent auction and a barbecue. We want to make this a great experience for everyone. We are also planning on bringing our Budweiser Clydesdale horse, members of the Hole-In-The-Wall gang, and the country singer Amy Scruggs will be performing as well.

People can sign up on our website saddlesinservice.org under the golf link.

Q: How has COVID impacted Saddles In Service?

A: We closed down during the first two weeks along with the rest of the world. Shortly after that, I was getting phone calls from a lot of veterans that were struggling because many of the resources they counted on were no longer available. I called all of my wranglers, the people that work one-on-one with the heroes. I asked if they could

come back and help not only to help with the veterans, but to help care for all of the horses and everyone was more than willing. We were able to open back up and ended up doubling our numbers last year. So many people needed us but the donations were especially difficult because of what was going on in the world. We rely heavily on the donors so we were impacted twofold. Last year we delivered just under 1300 individual program sessions.

This year, we’ve already delivered 1100 and it’s only June. We will probably more than double our numbers from last year.

Q: How can people donate?

A: People can go straight to our website and click on donate. People can sponsor a horse or, soon, a hero, or make a general donation online. Checks can also be mailed to our PO box. We are currently working to open new locations in Texas and Wyoming so these donations are more important than ever.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your horses?

A: We have such amazing horses- they love being with people and are so willing to help and support the veterans.

We currently have 17 horses. One of them is named Red. She is a very opinionated draft horse and the guys love her- they love the challenge. She is able to provide them with an adrenaline rush in a healthy way instead of forcing them to turn to other outlets and brings them so much joy. We’ve also just received a grant that will allow us to purchase new trail horses and a horse trailer so we can expand our services.

Q: Can you talk about awareness and the importance of mental health in regards to your program?

A: By making people aware of the mental health issues many people face and our existence, we can reach more people. We were featured in a documentary called Wounded Heroes by Michael Gier. Out of all the Equine therapy locations across the country, we were chosen to demonstrate the benefits of our program. It focuses on alternative resources to drugs that help people with PTSD. We will also be featured on the Discovery Channel to bring awareness to the cause. Awareness is key. Mental health is so important. I think a lot of people don’t realize how stressful these veterans’ and first responders’ lives are. Mental health needs to be something people can talk about openly. A lot of people don’t want to go to therapists because of the stigma so coming out to the ranch offers them a place to reset and reground themselves.

Q: What is your favorite part about the San Diego community?

A: San Diego is such an amazing city- you have everything. There are beaches, mountains, and such great people. I also love that it has such strong ties to the military. Did you know San Diego has the highest concentration of veterans in the nation? The weather is also an added bonus.

Learn more at saddlesinservice.org

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CARLSBAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Congratulations to new members!

Laughing Pony Rescue www.laughingponyrescue.org Tresp Law, APC www.tresplaw.com Beach Vibe Rental & Sales LLC www.beachvibesocal.com Anchor Audio, Inc. www.anchoraudio.com Lovely Little Ladies Salon, Spa, and Celebrations www.lovelylittleladies.com

Gabriella's Italian Clothing SalesFlourish www.SalesFlourish.com Camston Wrather, LLC. www.camstonwrather.com ENJO California www.enjo.us Furniture Reuse Solutions, Inc. www.furniture-rs.com

New Chapter Insurance www.newchapterinsurance.com Snapp & Associates Insurance Services www.snappassociates.com Benefits by Design Insurance Services www.benefitsbydesignca.com The Lightfoot Planning Group www.lightfootpg.com

Primary Funding Corporation www.primaryfunding.com

Henry Schein Orthodontics www.HenryScheinOrtho.com

MilliporeSigma www.milliporesigma.com

Moradi MD www.moradimd.com

Friends of La Posada www.friendsoflaposada.org

Burns International Inc. www.brendanhburns.com

Farmers Insurance www.agents.farmers.com/ca/ carlsbad/bryan-cawelti

Interfaith Community Services www.interfaithservices.org

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Devore Realty Group www.DevoreRealtyGroup. com Oak & Elixir www.oakandelixir.com Tabu Shabu www.tabushabu.com The Village Kitchen & Pie Shoppe www. villagekitchenpieshoppe.com Revel Energy www.Revel-Energy.com Advanced Conservation Management Inc. www.Advancedcminc.com

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if I wanted to achieve my desired results.

My coach helped me see the things that I could not see. He helped me create massive results in my business without sacrificing my time with family. Coaching transformed my life. As a result, I was able to launch a successful business, deepen my relationship with my husband and kids, and learn how to make myself a priority.

After 3 years of my own personal and professional development, I made another investment in myself by becoming a Certified Master Coach. I now live my life with so much purpose and intention and in partnership with my husband, we’ve launched our coaching practice, Faraimo Coaching & Consulting. As a coach, I am committed to helping women create a life that they are excited to wake up to each day. To be fulfilled in their work, truly connected in their marriages, and with their children. Most of all, I help women discover the power and fire that’s always been inside of them so they can be empowered to truly create the life they want on their terms.

Hi Liz, what’s a common piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?

People are often told to “Wait until they are ready and everything is perfect'' before pursuing what they really want. This belief is a result of the advice and conditioning that typically comes from family or society and it’s what holds people back from ever launching their product or service. If you wait until you’re ready, you will never be ready. If you wait for perfection, it will never come. And you’ll never go for that dream or launch that program. I believe that you just have to go for it! Take what you have created, whether it’s a service, product, or idea and start getting it in front of people. From there you will have feedback and the opportunity to evolve and improve along the way. Every successful business began with someone who was willing to just get started without knowing every step of the process. Once you make the choice to take action, you will receive the opportunities and resources that will help your business continue to evolve and grow over time. My advice is to just go all in!

Who would you like to give special credit to for helping you get to this point of success?

My shoutout goes to my husband Preston and my 2 kids. My dream to start my very first business required me to take a massive leap of faith and leave my corporate job. They believed in my dream and vision and have supported me on this unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship.

They are my why and have truly shown me how proud they are of me. I am truly blessed and grateful to have a strong team alongside me.

What are some of the local spots where you’d want to take a friend from out of the area?

I would spend the week doing a ton of things outdoors from beach days at Carlsbad Beach by the village and sunrise hike at Torrey Pines. We would definitely squeeze in a spa day at my favorite Rancho Bernardo Inn paired with a brunch and mimosas.

Sushi on the Rock would be a dinner spot after a day of retail therapy at my fav UTC mall! I'm all about experiences and creating memories through time, conversations and good company.

Website: www.lizfaraimo.com & www.cetsd.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizfaraimo/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-faraimo-314b6649/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liz.pres Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/care-excellence-team-oceanside

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Image Credits Marcy Browe Branding Photographer www.marcybrowe.com

Liz, can you give our readers an introduction to your business, including what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I always dreamt of going into business for myself, making an impact in people's lives and speaking on stages to share my story. Over time I realized that my corporate career was no longer serving me. I wasn’t happy in my work and that dissatisfaction and frustration started to flow into the other areas of my life.

The influence and impact I wanted to make was no longer aligned with the work I was doing. Finally, I decided this was not the life I wanted to live, so I took a leap of faith and resigned from my job. My personal ten-year journey as a caregiver for my father, who suddenly was unable to live on his own, paved the way for my first business, Care Excellence Team (CET). CET specializes in helping families navigate their options for assisted living and memory care for their loved ones. It was the hardest yet most fulfilling experience as I was new to the world of entrepreneurship with very few connections in the industry.

I experienced a lot of trial and error over the years, learning as I went, networking and experiencing a lot of “Nos.” My persistence and drive to see my vision come to life is what kept me going and over time I started to get more “Yes’s”.

I realized quickly that my natural gift of connecting with people and creating strong trusted relationships really opened so many opportunities for me to grow my brand and name. I have learned so much about business that I never knew and so much about myself as a leader in the process. One of the most important and impactful decisions I made in the beginning of my business was hiring a life and business coach. As a mom, wife and business owner -I really need accountability, a strong mindset and clarity

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liz Faraino

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Iconic Warwick’s Bookstore Saved by the San Diego Community

By Molly Galliher

Warwick’s is a La Jolla Icon. Originally opened in Minnesota in 1896, the bookstore moved to La Jolla in the 1930s and has made its home there ever since. It is the oldest family-owned and operated bookstore in the United States and is well-loved by the community, something that was made clear in recent months.

After decades in the same building, the store was faced with a major dilemma. During negotiations for a new lease, their landlords were offered an unsolicited 8.3-million-dollar cash offer on the property that they couldn’t refuse. Nancy Warwick, the fourth-generation owner, was devastated.

“It was the worst news I had ever received about the store,” she recalls.

The owners of the property, the Corey family, had a longstanding relationship with the Warwick’s and decided to honor the terms in the previous lease which included a first refusal clause and gave Warwick’s the opportunity to find a store-friendly buyer if they could meet the terms of the other offer. Warwick’s was a major part of Nancy and she wasn’t going to let this opportunity to save the store slip by.

With the help of real estate broker Steve Avoyer, Warwick’s had hope. Using his connections to Jack McGrory, a local philanthropist and civic leader as well as a regular customer of the store, Warwick’s had found a principal investor to join Nancy and her husband. Steve and Jack started making calls and almost everyone they spoke to was interested in helping save the store. The two men found 33 local investors to join them to outbid the original offer and take Warwick’s back.

“It was an amazing story of community and of people taking charge and putting in the effort to direct their community’s future. I’m very proud.

I feel very humbled by it too,” Nancy muses.

With at least 20 more years now guaranteed on Girard Avenue, Warwick’s is commemorating their 125th anniversary and their residence with a mural of the store’s history created by artist Lori Mitchell. Things are looking for Warwick’s in the years to come.

Nancy discusses the store below.

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Q: How has Warwick’s changed over the years?

A: Warwick’s is the oldest family-owned and operated bookstore in the United States. My great grandfather started the store in 1896 in Minnesota. After about 20 years, he relocated first to Iowa and then to La Jolla in 1939 to be closer to his sister. He purchased an existing bookstore and opened Warwick's. We’ve expanded over the years and today the store is half dedicated to books, half to gifts, jewelry, and art/office supplies. A lot of our efforts focus on events and community programs now. We regularly partner with Words Alive and bring authors to local elementary schools.

Q: What was it like to take over the family business, especially considering its long history?

A: It was unexpected that I was going to have the opportunity when I did. My grandmother worked until she was 98 years old. My parents decided to retire at 65 and at the time I was in the last year of my dissertation in anthropology at UCLA. My husband and I had a house up there and we had just had our son. It wasn’t on the radar that we’d be making such a big life change.

After talking to my dad, I decided to do it. I’ve loved the store since I was a kid. It’s kind of part of me, it’s part of my background. Growing up with a family business was very special. A lot of family businesses are very dysfunctional but, in our case, it was very positive and rewarding.

We moved when I finished school and it was nice to take over a store that was already well managed. I didn’t have to establish a store. I could focus on expanding the business instead of fixing things.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job?

A: The most rewarding part is the community connection we have. We have customers that come in as part of their weekday walk and talk with our staff. I think this sense of community is rooted in what we sell. It’s a store that people of all ages and interests like. It’s a fun place to watch and interact with the customers.

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Q: How has the pandemic impacted Warwick's?

A: We were shut down from March 20th to Memorial Day. From there, we were only a crew of 7 doing online orders, curbside pickup, and delivery. It was exhausting. Even though our online sales went up a lot, it was no match to what we were used to when the store was open.

It was enough to get by with such a reduced staff but still had an impact. The huge blow was the loss of our events program. We’ve been able to convert to digital events but to not have events or people coming from UCSD, things changed.

Now that we’ve been able to open, business is starting to pick up.

Q: What happened when your landlord received a bid on the store?

A: The Corey family built this commercial property in 1921 and has owned it ever since. We have been tenants for decades and had a very good relationship with the Corey family. They never had any intention to sell. It was a dream of my family’s growing up to buy the building but eventually, it got to the point that even if they had decided to sell, we would never have been able to afford it.

When we started to negotiate our lease, we hired Steve Avoyer, a real estate broker, to help us go over things. We were expecting to get a 10-year lease and thought all of the details had been ironed out when a member of the Corey family called to tell us they had received an unsolicited offer the buy the building for 8.3 million dollars in cash in 30 days and the family had voted to accept the offer. We had such a long relationship with them.

I was stunned and devastated. It was the worst news I had ever had about the store ever. Because we had a right of first refusal to buy the building in our old lease, I requested that he allow us the opportunity to find a Warwick’s-friendly buyer.

The Corey family respected that and gave us 15 days but we had to meet all the terms and better the offer. Steve, who is very well-established in the community, got on the phone and contacted Jack McGrory, a well-known civic leader and philanthropist who lives in La Jolla and is a regular customer of the store. He was very interested and

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met me at my office. He decided to become a principal investor with my husband and me. Steve and Jack went out and found 33 other couples interested in investing in the building. They made a lot of phone calls- most of the people they talked to agreed to invest. At that point, it became very exciting. We were able to meet the terms, better the offer, and close at the same time the Corey family would’ve had an escrow close. It was an amazing story of community and of people taking charge and putting in the effort to direct their community’s future. I’m very proud. I feel very humbled by it too. To have this at a time in the world where so many feel such a lack of control over what’s going on around them, to have a “take-charge” moment where people show they can make a difference, was especially poignant.

Q: What are the future plans for the store?

A: We signed a 10-year lease with 2 five-year options to renew, so 20 years in this building.

We have remodels of the store in progress and as this year is our 125th anniversary, we have some special things planned. We’ve commissioned a mural for the store to commemorate its history. It’s a sort of whimsical timeline by artist Lori Mitchell.

We are also doing an online history album and a children’s bookmark competition and are going to have an extra special raffle at our annual open house the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Q: What is your favorite part about working in the San Diego community?

A: The warmth and loyalty. Our customers care about the staff’s well-being and we care about them. It’s fairly common to have customers who shopped there when they were young bringing in their kids. I’ve gotten a lot of letters about memories people have about our store. People even come from out of state and make sure to stop at Warwick’s. The friendliness and warmth and sense that people feel like they have an impact on how the store is run is great. There was always a sense that the whole community had a stake in the store and I like that. This is especially true now.

Visit Warwick’s at 7812 Girard Ave in La Jolla or at www.warwicks.com

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PASSION in BUSINESS: DNA Photo+Style

By Molly Galliher

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D

ani Alger and Anna Clevenger are more than just business partners; they are best friends. Both women began taking photos of their children, a hobby that quickly turned into a passion, one they wanted to develop. Separately, each of these women ran their own photography businesses. After years, each knew they could do more. Both Dani and Anna wanted to expand their businesses but felt they couldn’t do it alone. After a chance meeting, both came to the conclusion that they could build a great business together. Collaborating, Dani and Anna started DNA Photo+Style at the beginning of 2019. Utilizing their different styles, the women have successfully helped rebrand many San Diego-based businesses and continue to expand.

DNA Photo+Style is a labor of love. Both mothers, Dani and Anna have been able to create a successful business while simultaneously caring for their families by differentiating themselves. Through the past two years, the company has carved out its own place in the photography world as a source of branding for both businesses and individuals. Instead of focusing on weddings and events, DNA Photo+Style takes a different approach, working to build personalities for businesses and bring out the individuality in their clients.

Q: Tell us about DNA Photo+Style. What made you both start this company?

Dani: We were both photographers, with our own businesses.

We got to know each other during the long hours on the sidelines of the soccer field watching our son’s play. We naturally talked about photography and our goals of growing our businesses. We both wanted to get to the ‘next level,’ but felt intimidated working solo on the bigger jobs we were striving for. In October 2018 we started meeting up to learn, practice, and create our own unique style. We decided to officially partner and in January 2019 we launched dna photo+style!

Anna: We both had our own businesses, but each felt we had more potential. Initially, we discussed being each others' LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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“accountability partner”. Through that process, we realized we made a great team. To this day, it is still a huge benefit to feel that you are responsible for another’s success as well as your own. I know Dani is working hard for “us”, and I want to do the same.

Q: How difficult was it to start a business?

Dani: We built major momentum in our first year of business, we were continuing to grow when COVID hit in March of 2020.

Anna and I were doing so well and having a blast when it all came to a screeching halt, we didn’t see each other for almost two months. By June we started doing outdoor practice sessions and slowly our business started coming back. Clients were reaching out to us again, and by August 2020 we were back at it!

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30 Anna: It’s almost as if COVID gave people the push to put themselves out there again. It drove people to start fresh by rebranding themselves and their business.

Dani: People had to rethink how they were doing business.

When almost all business interaction went virtual during quarantine, an up-to-date and sharp online presence became even more important.

Q: What is a typical day at work like?

about photography at that time was essential in keeping my own identity in addition to being a mom.

Dani: I was raised with Entrepreneurs and also married one.

I had my own coffee business before kids and knew I wanted to have some kind of venture of my own after. Like Anna, I enjoyed photographing my own kids, it gave me something to do that was fun and creative. Other people started asking me to photograph their families, and my business evolved from there.

Q: Do you have any advice for people looking to start a creativity-based business?

Dani: Everyday is different, which keeps it fun and interesting.

We have a studio in Encinitas, but most of our shoots are on location- between Orange County and San Diego. Our actual shooting days are only part of the job, the other parts are: editing, pre and post shoot consultations and marketing. Mondays are always ‘office day’ at our own spaces (but we are constantly on the phone with each other!). Whether shooting in the studio or on-location, we always block time for the two of us to plan and organize the shoot (ok, sometimes we are talking about some crazy story usually involving our teenagers!!). When our clients arrive our head is already in the game, we’re set up, music is playing, and it’s ON! Q: What is the best part about your job?

Anna: I don’t think I can choose just one part. I love the excitement of meeting new people and learning about their businesses. I love that my job allows me to be creative, and has a constant push for me to learn. Also, it doesn’t get much better than having my kids taking an interest in what I do, and telling me they are proud of me!

Dani: There are so many things we love about our business and working together. How cool is it that we created a business from our passion? It’s also extra fun when you get to work with your best friend. Anna and I are in the same stage of life, we’re the same age, we’ve been with our husbands for over 25 years, we are both Mom’s of lots of teenagers, and funny enough we each have a set of boy/girl twins! We definitely pick up each others slack when the craziness of life happensand it does! Best of all, we’re having fun. We love what we’re doing and we love the people we get to work with. Anna and I are both high energy personalities and our clients have a blast right along with us!

Anna: Having a partner allows me to relax in situations where I previously would have had anxiety when working alone. It’s beyond helpful to bounce ideas off one another! Together we we double the creativity, perspectives, and images for our clients.

Q: What got you both interested in photography in the first place?

Anna: I was living in Brooklyn, NY and I was knee deep in babies. To make the days at the park as interesting for me as it was for the kids I would take pictures of them. I enjoyed it so much that I started night school at Photo Manhattan. Learning LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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31 Anna: There’s no such thing as ready. If you keep waiting to be “ready” you may never start. You don’t need to be an expert, and you’ll always be learning and growing. Starting is the key to doing what you want.

Dani: I totally agree with Anna, most of the learning is in the doing. It’s never going to be perfect and most of the things you need to know you cannot read or have someone tell you, you must jump in and fumble around a bit to find out what works!

I also suggest not putting so much pressure on your passion by expecting to make money from it right away. Start by making it a side-hustle, it takes time- just keep going!

Q: When a client comes to you, what can they expect from the experience?

Anna: By the time a client comes to us, they really know what to expect. We make sure they are very clear on the type of images they will be getting. We walk them through the whole process from what they should wear to how they will be posed.

The only thing that may come as a surprise is how much fun they will have!

Dani: The feedback we hear most from our clients is, “That was so much fun!” Most people do not look forward to ‘Picture Day,’ they feel nervous and awkward. Being in front of a camera is vulnerable and unnatural for most. We direct and guide our clients so they can get out of their own head, relax and let us take them through our fun process.

Q: Has there been a particular project that has stood out to you?

Anna: A lot of different jobs flash through my head from that question. Recently, we photographed 4 high school senior girls that are best friends. We did some individual shots of each of them & then captured their chemistry together. This was amazing for me to watch how much these girls mean to one another and how much they loved the process. We went to the studio, the beach, a trail, and the middle of a road! Their excitement increased mine!

Dani: Our dna Branding Sessions are definitely my favoritethey are the most creative. We really get to know our clients in the pre-shoot process. By asking the right questions we are able to make a specific plan for their photo session, making sure we curate and capture the right images for all the different areas of their life.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Dani: Thank goodness for Pinterest, endless inspiration!

Also, there are a ton of great photographers (even locally!) who are collaborative and great sources of inspiration for us.

Anna: Through our experience, photography is such a kind industry. There’s space for everyone and we all help each other.

Q: What is your favorite part about working in the San Diego community?

Anna: I feel so lucky that we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. We have access to the beach and the mountains in the same day if we want! From my perspective the people here are focused on living life as their true selves.

A flip flop lifestyle seems to make for a lot of happy people!

Dani: It’s the hub for so many different industries, creatives, and businesses. People who can choose to live anywhere live here. Another perk, specifically for our business, is that we can shoot outside almost every day of the year!

Learn more at dnaphotoandstyle.com

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