Our Home Town 2014

Our Home Town

Fa m i ly Bu si n e s se s & E n t r e p r e n e u r s

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A Special publication of the

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Our Home Town: Family Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Our Home Town

Fa m i ly Bu si n e s se s & E n t r e p r e n e u r s

C o n t e n t s Swenson Shear............................................................... 4 Woods Furniture............................................................. 5

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A Cut Above

Swenson Shear is a local business with global impact

BY ELIZABETH ARAKELIAN Turlock Journal

In a world of importing and outsourcing, there are three little words that can make one big difference: Made in America.

Swenson Shear, a local company that manufactures steel cutters, bears these rare three words on their product that is shipped around the world. Locally owned by Dean Doerksen, whose father Art Doerksen purchased the company in 1976, Swenson Shear has revolutionized the construction industry by creating more effective and safer methods to cut metal panels.

“We are the only people in the world who make this product,” said Jonathan Dravecky, CEO of Swenson Shear. “It’s a family-owned business, but we are moving with the times and rolling forward with the market.”

A business to business company that sells mainly to contractors, big box stores and distributers of building materials, Swenson Shear has become a construction industry leader. The shears are mainly used to cut steel for metal roofing and all of the blades are made and the shears are assembled at the Central Valley plant.

While individuals would normally use a pair of heavy-duty scissors to manu-

Photo contributed

Jonathan Dravecky, CEO of Swenson Shear

ally cut steel, which results in a pinching method rather than a clean slice, the Swenson Shear models affords individuals the ability to cut steel in a quicker and safer fashion resulting in a clean, dull edge.

For decades Swenson Shear has sold

several models of shears to cut varying sizes and types of steel, but the company has made a name for itself with an all-inone roofing tool: the Snaptable. Originally launched in 2002, and designed at the local headquarters, an updated model, Snaptable HD, was just released last October. The product allows metal to be cut, notched and hemmed, such as curling the edges of a roofing panel down to allow rain to slide off of the roof, all on one surface making it an efficient game-changer in the construction industry.

“It’s basically an assembly line and it is a major timesaver,” said Dravecky, who attributes part of the success of the Swenson Shears and Snaptable to the fact that

they produce cleaner results without the use of power or electricity.

While the Swenson Shear products have become a necessity at construction sites, it was only six months ago that the company began branding their product.

The tools are now enhanced by orange and black colors and the company will even customize their products for clients. With the recent launching of their new website that features an e-commerce function which allows customers to order online, Swenson Shear is more engaged with the industry than ever.

“We have generational customers across the country and we’re thankful for that,” said Dravecky.

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Our Home Town: Family Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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Woods Furniture: Fourth generation continues tradition of quality, embraces online marketplace

BY CARA HALLAM Turlock Journal

Founded in 1950 by Thurman Woods, Woods Furniture Gallery has a long history of providing quality furniture to the Turlock area.

Now owned by brothers Dave and Randy Woods, the grandsons of Thurman Woods, Woods Furniture has been passed down through the generations, making it one of the longest running family businesses in the community.

Alongside his wife, Elsa, Thurman Woods was dedicated to not only selling furniture, but also teaching others about its natural variability.

Continuing this tradition, Thurman’s son, Darryl Woods, took over the family business with his wife, Gloria, while the furniture gallery was located in downtown Turlock.

Now, with more than 60 years of the family business being passed down through four generations, Woods Furniture Gallery has moved its main gallery to Taylor Court, just off Highway 99. Keeping the downtown Turlock location for the business warehouse, current owners Dave and Randy Woods have expanded Woods Furniture Gallery’s business strategy and efforts in providing the quality, and often unique, furniture that Turlock and surrounding communities have come to expect from Woods.

“Nature is unique and not perfect,” said Randy Woods, as he explained how their wood furniture can at times experience natural variability, much like his grandfather, Thurman explained to his customers. “And lots of humans still make fur-

niture so that not one piece of furniture is alike.”

Randy and Dave Woods have made a commitment to explaining to their customers that since many of their furniture pieces are made of natural leather and wood, there will be natural variables such as leather having range, barbed wire and natural color variations. Additionally, as Randy explained, wood tends to expand and contract, while having knots, deep graining, distress marks, seasoned splits, and other natural characteristics. As Thurman Woods explained to his own customers, nature is not perfect, but it creates unique furniture pieces that Woods Furniture Gallery has been dedicated to providing.

While Randy and Dave Woods have continued many of their grandfather Thurman’s traditions in the family business, the two brothers have also made their own strides in expanding the furniture gallery’s marketing efforts. As the furniture industry continues to transform with the advancements in technology, the two owners have dedicated themselves to ensure that Woods Furniture Gallery is on the cutting edge of the furniture industry.

“Woods Furniture Gallery still loves to see shoppers in our Highway 99 location, but national surveys have shown that 68 percent of furniture and mattress shoppers research their purchase online first before going into a furniture or mattress store,” said Randy Woods. “To keep up with this trend, Woods Furniture has developed an online live chat system that is 15 hours a day, 7 days a week to help those internet shoppers find exactly what

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Founder Thurman Woods talks with his son, Darryl, who took over the family business, Woods Furniture Gallery, before passing it on to his sons, Dave and Randy Woods.

they’re looking for.”

The online chat system allows online customers to talk with an in-store Woods representative, who helps answer any questions the customer might have, including telling the customer exactly what the gallery has in stock. Many times, the online chat representative will help the customer by providing them with pictures and details of furniture pieces currently in the showroom that match what the customer is looking for. For example, if a customer gets online and tells the chat representative that they are looking for a red chair, the customer will then receive an email within moments with pictures,

Woods Furniture Gallery’s original location, at 433 E. Main Street, was first opened by Thurman Woods in 1950. Although the gallery is now located on Taylor Court, off of Highway 99, the business still keeps a warehouse in downtown Turlock.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

prices and details of all the red chairs that are currently in the Taylor Court gallery.

“If the chat representative cannot find what they’re looking for in the showroom, then we also have our sales staff who will help the customer find what they’re looking for either through our warehouse or through our many catalogs which we can order from,” said Randy Woods. “It’s just one of the several services that Woods provides to help make furniture shopping an easier, and pleasant experience for our customers.”

With services such as the online live chat system, and in-home delivery, it’s no wonder that the Turlock Chamber of Commerce named Woods Furniture Gallery Small Business of the Year in 2013, during the Best of Turlock awards.

“We’re proud to say that Woods has adapted to the times, and we will continue to offer the best products and services available, which has been our tradition since our grandfather founded Woods Furniture Gallery in 1950,” said Woods.

Woods Furniture Gallery carries a full list of manufacturer items including Ashley, Lexington, Broyhill, Flexsteel, Lane, Tempurpedic, Stanley, and many others.

Additionally, the business offers free inhome design consultations, and several outdoor play sets and utility garages.

Woods Furniture Gallery is located at 4918 Taylor Court, and can be reached at 656-2392. To learn more, visit www.woodsfurniture.com

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Guillermo and Karina Ramirez have dedicated themselves to providing delicious, quality food to the Turlock community, and are on their way to opening their latest venture, Memo’s Cocina and Tequila Bar, in Downtown Turlock this spring.

Journal file photo

Small family business leads to corporation of the year

BY CARA HALLAM Turlock Journal

After years of being involved in the restaurant industry, husband and wife Guillermo and Karina Ramirez have dedicated themselves to providing delicious, quality food to the Turlock community, and are on their way to opening their latest venture, Memo’s Cocina and Tequila Bar, this spring.

Aside from bringing healthier versions of traditional Mexican food, the newest restaurant will highlight tequila, offering handcrafted cocktails alongside a variety of high-end tequilas. With hopes to educate their customers on the different flavors, types and history of tequila, Guillermo and Karina Ramirez say that the restaurant will feature tequila dinners.

Memo’s Cocina and Tequila Bar is just one of the many restaurants owned by the Ramirez family, as the couple follows their family’s tradition of running several family-owned Las Casuelas Mexican res-

taurants in the Turlock area.

What first started as a small Mexican restaurant in Ripon, Las Casuelas has expanded into four restaurants in total, leading the restaurant to be deemed “Corporation of the Year” during the 2014 Chamber of Commerce Best of Turlock awards.

“Receiving the Corporation of the Year award was a huge honor,” said Karina Ramirez, who accepted the award with her husband Guillermo on behalf of their family. “We couldn’t explain how we felt, because we were going against big corporations. So for us, a small family-owned business, to get something like that was huge.”

While Karina and Guillermo Ramirez are preparing to open their newest restaurant in the coming months, Karina says they couldn’t have done so without the sacrifices made by Guillermo’s parents, Ana and Guillermo Ramirez, who have more than 30 years in the restaurant business.

“His parents first opening the little Ripon restaurant, and that’s where Guillermo and his siblings all started working when they were growing up,” said Karina Ramirez. “They worked so hard to open that restaurant, and sacrificed a lot just to give them a good life. Everything that we have is because of them. And it’s just so meaningful to see how successful it has become.”

After opening the Ripon Las Casuelas Mexican Restaurant, the family worked hard to open three other locations, including Modesto, Manteca, and Turlock. Although Ana and Guillermo Ramirez still own the restaurants, their children, Elsa, Claudia and Guillermo, have taken over many of the responsibilities in running the business.

“They’re kind of semi-retired now, and have taken the back seat of it all and let the siblings run the restaurants,” said Karina Ramirez. “But it’s still a familyrun business, and they’re still very much involved. His mom, Ana, will still go

into the kitchens and make sure that all the recipes are right, and his dad is just so calm, and intelligent. We all support each other very much, it’s a really beautiful family.”

While Karina and Guillermo Ramirez are still very involved in helping the family run the four Las Casuelas locations, the couple is currently setting their focus on their newest restaurant, hoping that it will bring together their years of experience in the restaurant industry to offer the “best of the best” and a unique option for downtown customers.

“We’re going to bring together everything that we have learned over the years,” said Ramirez. “This new restaurant gives us the opportunity to show our guests the best of the best…We saw that Downtown Turlock needed another restaurant, and this is something different.”

Memo’s Cocina and Tequila Bar is set to open in Downtown Turlock this spring, while Las Casuelas Turlock is located at 3203 Entertainment Way.

Our Home Town: Family Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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Hilmar Cheese: Churning out dairy innovations for three decades STAFF REPORTS Turlock Journal

A notion scribbled down on a coffee shop napkin and nurtured through the commitment of 12 local dairy families, has grown into a company that is one of the leading cheese and whey producers in the industry.

From its small start in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has become a standard bearer in cheese and dairy production that continues to churn out industry innovations.

Opening up a cheese production company was a big gamble for the 12 founding families considering they knew very little about the actual process of making cheese. But they did know cows and they were armed with the research that the Jersey cows they were raising were ideal for making cheese. Hoping to make up for their lack of cheese insight, the company hired cheesemaker John Jeter, who is now the chief executive officer and president of Hilmar Cheese Company.

“They had the gumption, the idea, the thought … then they were willing to risk everything they had on that proposition,” Jeter said.

By the following year the company was getting milk from 15 dairy farms and had filled their first three vats of cheese.

A decade later, Hilmar Cheese Company had expanded into whey proteins and lactose products. Hilmar Cheese Company and Hilmar Ingredients can now be found in more than 40 countries. Products are made at two facilities, the home base in Hilmar and a facility in Dalhart, Texas, which opened in 2007. The company is planning an expansion of a milk processing facility in Turlock that is expected to open in about 18 months.

Three decades after it started, the com-

Photo contributed

Hilmar Cheese Company founding owner families pose for a picture in 2002. The founding owners built their company on the promise of Jersey cows and family, community values. These values remain paramount for the company today.

pany remains a family-owned and operated enterprise with second and third generation members stepping into the business.

“The future is very bright and there is no reason it won’t be, provided we don’t lose those core values of building relationships through integrity, through sharing the wealth and prosperity, to making our surroundings a better place than we found them and teaching the younger generations that come along to do the same thing,” said founding owner Bill Ahlem.

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

More than paint makes Lancaster great

BY ELIZABETH ARAKELIAN Turlock Journal

Millions of paintbrush strokes and 28 years since its opening, Lancaster Painting has become a staple in Turlock and the surrounding communities for its excellent service.

Family-owned even before Steve Talkington purchased the company in 1986 to run with his wife and daughters, Lancaster Paintings features a close-knit staff that has customer satisfaction at the heart of its business. The company also provides several services that extend far beyond painting, including: cabinet refinishing, deck and fence preservation, graffiti removal, graffiti prevention, power washing, gutters, dry wall and textures, concrete staining, specialty staining, wall paper installation and removal and more.

“We’ll even replace those hard to reach light bulbs. We do a lot of those little, extra things for our customers and I think that is what sets us apart in the industry,” said Jennifer Beede, client advocate and

sales assistant.

Lancaster Painting doesn’t just care for its clients as the company ensures that it is offering a quality service by providing various trainings for employees each month. Not only does the company stay on top of industry trends, but Lancaster’s proactive approach ensures that all employees deliver the same signature touch.

The company has also garnered attention in the local area for its community outreach. For the past four years, Lancaster Painting has accepted nominations form local community members to provide a family or organization a free paint job. The company also frequents local events, such as the annual Christmas Parade and Festival of Lights, with its popcorn truck that provides complementary treats to attendees.

“These [activities] are just an opportunity for us to give back to the community.

If it wasn’t for the community and our customers’ referrals we really wouldn’t be where we are today,” said Beede.

Lancaster Painting employees gather for an-all day painting session of the exterior home for their 2014 Paint it Forward project.

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Our Home Town: Family Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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Entrepreneurs vie for $24,000 in prizes in business challenge STAFF REPORTS Turlock Journal

Journal file photo

The women of Amalia’s Cocina — from left, Stephanie Jourdan, Brenda Noel, Amalia Portillo, Ida Norwood and Jamie Norwood — taste test their Enchilada Sauce in a freshly baked chicken enchilada casserole. The family run business out of Denair won first place in the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge in 2011.

The San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge is part of a regional economic development strategy. The Challenge is being implemented through a partnership of the San Joaquin Angels, University of the Pacific, San Joaquin Partnership, Stanislaus Economic Development and Workforce Alliance, the Business Council, Inc., NEC Small Business Development Center- San Joaquin Delta College, and the Alliance Small Business Development Center.

Winners of the previous three Entrepreneur Challenges report they are making good progress with their businesses.

“The funding and professional assistance that we received from the Challenge has helped us to put our product in the marketplace spotlight. We now have sales in Florida, Las Vegas, Canada and even Dubai,” said 2012 winner John Paoluccio of Inventive Resources.

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Sixteen entrepreneurs from San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, Amador and Tuolumne counties have been selected to participate in the first round of competition for over $24,000 in cash and business services in the 2014 San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge on March 5.

The 16 quarter-finalists are proposing a broad range of business ideas from food products to hi-tech surveillance devices including electronic devices, social networking, media products and services, health care products, educational services, food products, safety products and various other consumer goods and services.

Contestants competing for the $10,000 in cash and $14,000 in business services will have two minutes each to present their business ideas, in what is known as an “elevator pitch”, to a panel of judges and a voting audience in the first round of this American Idol-style business plan competition. Eight winners will be selected from these eighteen quarter finalists to proceed to the second and possibly third rounds of competition to be held on March 26.

The March 5 event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Stockton Golf & Country Club, 3800 West Country Club Boulevard, Stockton. Members of the public are invited to attend for a cover charge for each event of $15 prepaid or $20 at the door. Food and beverages will be served. For more information or to register to attend the events go to: http:// www.sjchallenge.com.

“These aspiring entrepreneurs have now taken the first steps to starting their own business in our region, and we hope the competition will encourage them to continue to pursue their vision. Many of the 250 past participants in the Challenge have started and/or grown their businesses. One particularly successful 2010 participant sold his software business to computer maker Dell,” said Mark Plovnick, San Joaquin Angel President and University of the Pacific Director of Economic Development.

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

LUSO Media

Helder DeSousa and Nelson Leite and their LUSO Media company reach 72 countries from their Turlock office.

Reaching out to the Portuguese community locally and globally

BY KRISTINA HACKER Turlock Journal

Fostering interaction in the Portuguesespeaking community, both locally and globally, is the driving force of Helder DeSousa and Nelson Leite and their LUSO Media company.

In a recent LUSO Media show, Leite interviewed local insurance agent Nelson Costa about the new Affordable Care Act. The interview was conducted in LUSO’s Turlock office and streamed live onto the media company’s website, through both radio and video channels.

During the interview, listeners and viewers could call into the show and ask questions or send in their queries through live social media interaction — all in Portuguese.

“The interaction is great,” said Leite.

“People go to the same place and listen to the same thing and then they become friends through Facebook and other channels...everybody gets connected.”

LUSO started out as an Internet radio channel three years ago and recently launched its video channel. At the media company’s website, viewers can see breaking news from Portugal, live broadcasts of rosaries at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, local church and community events, and special appearances by up and coming artists.

DeSousa and Leite are also looking for ways to include more of the community, especially the younger generation.

“We want to open the airways to the younger generation so they can have their own shows,” Leite said.

The Turlock media company started as a labor of love for DeSousa, who’s

KRISTINA HACKER / The Journal

only had one college broadcast class and worked part-time at a radio station when he was 18 years old.

“It’s something that has always been close to my heart,” DeSousa said.

Leite worked for three years at a radio station in New Jersey before moving to Turlock and partnering with DeSousa.

While LUSO is based in Turlock and covers local events throughout the Cen-

tral Valley, the website has regular visitors from 72 countries. The two-man media company credits new technology for the ability to reach such a wide audience.

“Technology is making it a lot easier, like broadcasting live feed from anywhere, even your cell phone,” said Leite.

Find LUSO Media at www.rtpusa.com.

The company is also on Twitter @lusomediausa and Facebook at lusomediausa.

Best business investment for 2014 Fueling employee engagement (BPT) - Do your employees feel personally connected to the organization they work for? Would they recommend your workplace to others? If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” you’re far from alone. Employee engagement is way down, so low that a recent study found that two-thirds of the U.S. workforce is not fully engaged.

What exactly is employee engagement?

Boiled down, the term means employees who are fully involved and enthusiastic about their jobs. Beyond simply being satisfied, engaged employees feel connected and committed to their coworkers and the organization where they work. Employee engagement isn’t only good for the individual worker, but has numerous benefits for the organization as well.

“Engagement is directly tied to productivity and loyalty,” says David Fagiano, chief operating officer, Dale Carnegie Training. “This coincides with ROI, which is the reason why every business should pay close attention to their em-

ployees and their well-being.”

Only 29 percent of U.S. employees are fully engaged, according to a study from Dale Carnegie Training and MSW Research. Furthermore, 26 percent are considered disengaged. Disengaged employees are two and a half times more likely to leave their job for any level of pay increase than engaged employees. The study also found that young employees and older groups are more engaged than middle-aged people, with engagement peaking among employees who have been at their place of employment for three to five years.

“Empowering people to make decisions about their work will generate enthusiasm and inspire people to try harder, producing the strongest lift to engagement,” says Fagiano. “The single most important person for driving employee engagement is their direct supervisor. This person truly sets the stage for positive or negative outcomes.”

Managers should be aware of the three

organizational drivers of employee engagement, according to Fagiano: 1. Relationship with immediate supervisor — Does this person appreciate and recognize the employee?

2. Belief in senior leadership — Do employees believe the company is headed in the right direction?

3. Pride in working for the company — Do employees feel a sense of worth when doing their jobs?

“Really good supervisors know that people are driven by their emotions,” says Fagiano. “If they feel engaged, they’ll work harder and be more likely to help their coworkers. The power of positive emotions should never be underestimated.”

The common connection between all engaged employees is that they feel valued. A recent Dale Carnegie white paper, titled “Emotional Drivers of Employee Engagement,” explores emotions that are connected to feeling valued. Here are the four core emotions of feeling valued and

how supervisors can use them to build more engaged employees: Confident: When employees feel confident, they are more productive and more likely to take on new challenges. Build confidence by giving sincere praise. Be specific about what you think they have done well in the past and reinforce it with a positive statement or suggestion about the future.

Empowered: When employees have the tools and support they need, they feel empowered. Keep an open door policy for questions and conversation. Truly listen to what employees say. Ask them what projects they’d like to work on. Show them you genuinely care and have high expectations.

Enthusiastic: Enthusiasm is contagious.

One employee who feels these emotions can spread positive energy to the entire group. Boost enthusiasm by sharing company plans for the future and be open to employee suggestions.

Our Home Town: Family Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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