CLIENT SUCCESS AND TESTIMONIALS

Sign Zone LA Secures $12,650 Contract with Los Angeles County through ProcureLA Program Support

Sign Zone LA, Inc., is a full-service sign company trusted by architects, interior designers, developers, and retail brands throughout southern CA and beyond. As a family-owned business established in 2002, it has built its reputation on its mastery of creative problem-solving, signage artistry, and expertise in adhering to strict building and compliance requirements.

PACE Business has enjoyed working with Sign Zone LA since June 2024, connecting with PACE Business through a partner referral. In addition, since the launch of ProcureLA late last year, Sign Zone, under the co-stewardship of Chris Nalbandian and Lucy Karsian, has taken advantage of the resources and services available through the program, including one-on-one consultations, networking events, and webinars, to name a few.

While working closely with Sign Zone, it has produced deliverables essential to the government procurement process, including: completion of at a WBE certification application; development of a capability statement; signing on to government procurement portals; and two proposal submissions, the second of which awarded Sign Zone a contract totaling $12,650 from Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department.

Congratulations! PACE Business looks forward to continuing to work with Sign Zone on new bid opportunities and support its continued growth and success.

From a 700 Sq. Ft. Taquería to a Multi-Location Success with $75,000 in Grants and Government Contracts: Cuernavaca’s Grill Secures 2 Catering Contracts with LAFD Following LA Fire Response

“Thank you for everything PACE has done for Cuernavaca’s Grill. We are truly so grateful, you have no idea how much it means to us. The guidance, opportunities, and support you continue to provide make all the difference, not only for us, but it’s a ripple effect that I’ve seen in our community.”

Nayomie Mendoza at the 2025 SEPS (Sports & Entertainment Procurement Summit), Panel 3: Winning Big — Lessons From Small Businesses Behind Major Events, on October 23, 2025.

In the heart of Los Angeles, Cuernavaca’s Grill stands as a testament to hard work, family legacy, and authentic Mexican cuisine. Founded in 2005 by Marcos and Maria Mendoza, first-generation immigrants who pursued the American Dream, the restaurant began as a 700 sq. ft. eatery in Long Beach before relocating to a larger space in LA. Over the years, their dedication to serving fresh, handmade Mexican dishes built a loyal customer base, allowing them to expand their original location and later open a second restaurant in Bell, California in 2023.

Now led by Nayomie and Jackie Mendoza, the next generation of entrepreneurs, Cuernavaca’s Grill is embracing new opportunities for growth while staying true to its family roots.

Nayomie initially reached out to PACE in 2024, when she attended PACE’s Business Grant Workshop in 2024, where she learned best practices for securing grants and government contracts. She also learned about resources on where to look for business grants.

Through 1:1 business counseling with Cristina Espiritu, Procurement Manager at PACE (Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment), Nayomie received tailored guidance on navigating government contracting opportunities and learned how to identify relevant RFPs (Requests for Proposals) from local government agencies. Cristina guided her through the bid submission process, ensuring compliance with requirements and provided feedback on capability statements to make them more competitive. Cristina also assisted her in the registration process for RAMPLA and other procurement databases, increasing visibility for potential contracts.,

These strategic moves have positioned Cuernavaca’s Grill for catering opportunities, securing contracts with the LA County and the LA Fire Department. PACE continues to send Nayomie potential RFPs, giving Cuernavaca’s Grill access to ongoing bidding opportunities that align with their services.

The restaurant’s success has also led to major brand collaborations, one of which was with Strawberry Shortcake during Hispanic Heritage Month. In 2024, Cuernavaca’s Grill received a $75,000 grant from Siete Foods on The Drew Barrymore Show, providing a financial boost for expansion efforts.

From a small family-run taquería to a thriving multi-location business, Cuernavaca’s Grill continues to bring the rich flavors of Mexico to LA while creating economic opportunities for the local community. With PACE’s continued support in government contracting, proposal bidding, and strategic business growth, the Mendoza family is well on their way to turning their family restaurant into a household name.

You may view their Instagram page and Yelp Business for more information.

Braven Agency Empowers Small Businesses with $750,000 LA County ISD Contract, Bridging the Digital Divide and Boosting Local Economies

Braven Agency, a digital marketing agency with a mission to empower small businesses, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to serving underserved communities. Through a combination of business consultations, technical assistance training, and comprehensive digital marketing services, Braven Agency has helped numerous small businesses thrive.

One of Braven Agency’s most significant achievements is their recent award of the Los Angeles County’s “Delete The Divide Program for Small Businesses” RFP. This prestigious contract mandates Braven Agency to provide critical digital marketing support to 100 businesses located in low-income census tracts within Los Angeles County.

The “Delete The Divide Program” aims to bridge the digital gap faced by underserved businesses by providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in the modern digital landscape. Under this program, Braven Agency will offer a suite of services, including:

Website Creation/Enhancements: Building professional and user-friendly websites or enhancing existing ones to improve online visibility and user experience.
Branding & Logo Design: Developing strong brand identities that resonate with target audiences, including logo design, color palettes, and brand guidelines.
Social Media Strategy: Developing and executing comprehensive social media strategies, including content creation, scheduling, and targeted paid advertising campaigns to increase brand awareness and drive customer engagement.
Business Assessment & Consultation: Conducting in-depth business assessments to identify key areas for improvement and provide tailored recommendations to enhance sales and overall business performance.

Securing the “Delete The Divide Program” RFP was a significant milestone for Braven Agency. The agency acknowledges the invaluable support provided by the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), particularly Andrew Barrera, their Procurement Relationship Manager.

Andrew Barrera played a crucial role in guiding Roberto Martinez from Braven Agency through the RFP process. His expert consultation and advice proved instrumental in ensuring the agency’s proposal effectively addressed the county’s needs and demonstrated a clear understanding of the program’s objectives.

Braven Agency’s work through the “Delete The Divide Program” will have a profound impact on the local economy by empowering small businesses with the digital skills and resources they need to succeed. By increasing their online presence and improving their marketing efforts, these businesses will be better equipped to reach new customers, increase sales, and create jobs within their communities.

Looking ahead, Braven Agency remains committed to its mission of serving underserved communities. The agency plans to continue expanding its services, exploring new partnerships, and leveraging innovative technologies to empower even more small businesses to thrive in the digital age.

From Networking to Growth: Good Works Consulting Fueled by $100,000 in Funding and Expert Guidance from PACE

PACE first encountered Good Works Consulting, LLC at a networking event last summer through a partner agency. They reached out to PACE soon thereafter, expressing a desire to receive one-on-one consulting services on procurement and government contracting.

PACE, under the Los Angeles MBDA Business Center, began working closely with Good Works on a proposal submission for the City of Buena Park for DEI Evaluation and Consulting Services. Shortly after completing the submission, the MBDA business center began working on a business loan application with Good Works to invest in their sales and business development capacity.

From Its Founding to the Present

Good Works Consulting was founded in 2019 by Francis Benjamin and Monique Cadle. The business is a global consulting practice that specializes in organizational development, human resources strategies, and leadership development with an expert focus in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The combined experience of Francis and Monique in DEI initiatives and leadership and organizational development allowed Good Works to remain profitable since the company’s founding. This, in turn, helped Good Works develop and maintain a strong track record of high sales conversion rates, demonstrating their ability to effectively convert opportunities into revenue.

However, because of limited sales investment and internal capacity, they were unable to fully capitalize on certain leads, resulting in missed opportunities and unrealized growth. This created a capacity constraint that forced them to abandon promising sales prospects that could have become long-term clients.

To directly address this, Good Works sought a loan thru PACE’s Finance Corporation (PFC) to invest in sales, marketing, and business development resources. The additional capital will allow them to leverage their capabilities by increasing their client base, pursuing leads more effectively, and expanding their market presence.

Further, the loan proceeds will allow them to retain four (4) full-time positions and one (1) part-time position and create two (2) additional full-time positions.

PACE and the MBDA program are excited to have been an integral part of this phase of Good Works Consulting’s growth strategy. We are even more excited to continue to work with them on securing additional opportunities as part of a global business development strategy.

Wishing you much continued success, Francis and Monique, and the entire Good Works team!!

From Pharmacist to Entrepreneur: How a $250,000 Loan Expanded Medshop Pharmacy and Increased Profits by 5%

Anna Monis is an experienced pharmacist with 18 years of direct industry experience. Prior to establishing Medshop Pharmacy, Anna worked as a full–time pharmacist for several reputable pharmacies. To pursuit her entrepreneur dream, Anna established Medshop Pharmacy on 4/12/2016. Medshop Pharmacy is a licensed community/retail pharmacy that currently provides prescription medicines to customers. Their key customers are local health care providers, such as professional offices and long-term care facilities that include assisted living, and board and care home services.

Approximately 90% of the company’s revenues are derived from these customers and the remaining 10% from walk-in-customers. There are approx. 8 to 10 assisted living homes within a 5-mile radius of Medshop’s location, including Jemae Crest, Imperial Care, Narra Tree, Alain Crest, Cerritos Assisted Living, and Fagan Home Care, to name a few. Medshop’s major supplier of pharmaceuticals are independent Pharmacy Cooperative and America Source Bergen Corporation. Medshop accepts government insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid, and private insurance.

Mrs Monis came to Pace to apply for a working capital loan in the amount of $250,000 to facilitate the growth of the business. Mrs. Monis planned to join two office spaces into one to (1) increase their inventory level and expand their product line to include the sale of wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and other health care products and (2) purchase additional prescriptions in large quantities, which enable Medshop’s to get a discounter price resulting from the large volume

With the help of a PACE loan, Medshop was able to achieve an increase of net profit by 5%.

Outcome Communications Secures $9 Million Contract with LA Public Library

Lucila Garcia, President of Outcome Communications | With its proven track record in creating impactful campaigns across diverse sectors, Outcome Communications is poised for continued success in the public relations & communications space.

PACE and the Los Angeles MBDA Business Center has had the pleasure of working with Outcome Communications since the spring of 2024, connecting with the MBDA Business Center as a result of participation in a contract accelerator program PACE developed in conjunction with a partner agency.

From our initial meeting, Outcome has been an engaged and pro-active partner in developing a growth strategy and seeking bid opportunities. This has included advancing an agenda that outlines the procurement and certification process and how best to search for bid opportunities.

While working closely with Outcome, it has produced several deliverables essential to the government procurement process, including: completion of at least two certification applications; development of a capability statement; and two proposal submissions for the City of Los Angeles, the latter of which helped Outcome Communications land a contract totaling $9 million with the Los Angeles Public Library!

From Its Founding to the Present

Outcome Communications is a Woman-owned and led MBE-certified public relations and communications firm founded in Los Angeles in 2017. Specializing in planning, and public and media relations – providing a holistic and comprehensive approach on campaigns – has enabled it to successfully create and implement campaigns in transportation, education, technology, healthcare, and custom boutique services for small businesses.

Since its founding, Outcome has developed a proven track record of creating unique campaigns that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. They have partnered with numerous organizations to craft stories that ignite transformative change, all while maintaining an emphasis on empathy, creativity, and strategic thinking. Its expertise in integrated communications and digital engagement allows it to amplify messages with intent, assuring meaningful connection with stakeholders and creating lasting impact to the communities it targets.

Further enhancing its communications expertise, its bilingual and multi-cultural approach allows Outcome to incorporate culturally relevant messaging that effectively targets its intended audience.

PACE and the MBDA Center is beyond excited for the opportunities that lay ahead for Outcome and its contract with the Los Angeles Public Library.

We also look forward to continuing to work with Outcome on new bid opportunities and support its continued growth and success. Congratulations!

Jacklyn Enriquez, CEO of Indeed Construction Clean Up

Indeed Construction Clean Up, Inc. was founded by Jacqueline Enriquez, President, in October 2018. Jacqueline originally was going to form the company that specializes in commercial janitorial services, but soon realized at the recommendation of a colleague, that it would be more profitable to develop a construction cleaning corporation servicing large prime construction contractors, performing cleaning and maintenance services on construction and tenant improvement projects.

Subsequently, Ms. Enriquez enrolled into a contractor training program, eventual taking the contractor’s exam with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Contractors State Licensing Board and successfully secured her D-63 Contractor’s License.

Construction cleanup contractors, cleans up and/or removes from building grounds or structures any debris resultant from any construction project, including but not limited to concrete, dirt, scrap lumber, plaster, drywall, any paint or adhesive products from windows, floors, ceramic tile and bathroom fixtures.

After maneuvering the contracting opportunity landscape and facing many closed doors, Ms. Enriquez was finally successful in securing a construction clean-up contract in downtown Los Angeles with Cobalt Construction in early 2019. After completing that contract, the company’s reputation was enhanced based on performance and the fact that she was a woman minority business owner in the construction industry!

Subsequently, due to the pandemic, Indeed Construction Clean Up started to experience difficulties in securing new contracts and ultimately sought help from her Chase Branch Manager and was introduced to Vanessa Torres, Vice President, of Diverse, Women & Veteran Commercial Banking with JP Morgan Chase.

Upon the introduction, Ms. Torres enrolled Jacqueline into a special mentorship program to promote Racial Equity for Black & Latino business owners. This program was also designed to facilitate business development mentorship strategies with external partners and was ultimately introduced to Andrew Barrera, Los Angeles MBDA Center’s Procurement Relationship Manager in May 2022.

Shortly before the introduction, an opportunity came to fruition with AECOM, a prominent International Prime Contractor who recently moved their global headquarters to Los Angeles. In April 2022, a construction clean-up opportunity became available at the LA Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, when AECOM decided to replace the previous contractor on a major renovation project. After a short interview and reference check, Indeed Construction Clean Up, Inc. was hired to complete the LA Grand Hotel project.

As a result of the Company’s exceptional performance on the LA Grand Hotel project, Ms. Enriquez was invited to meet with Ken Billips, AECOM, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Roger Fisher, Turner Construction, Manager of Minority & Disadvantage Business Enterprises to be considered for contract work as a Preferred Vendor on the Intuit Dome construction project. The Intuit Dome is under construction to become the permanent basketball stadium for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers Franchise.

The Los Angeles MBDA Center’s Procurement Relationship Manager, Andrew Barrera was invited to the AECOM/Turner Construction pre-qualification meeting, and highlighted Ms. Enriquez’ performance capabilities and leveraged Indeed Construction Clean Up’s enrollment as an MBDA client. The meeting was a positive success, resulting in Jacqueline being invited by Turner Construction to submit a Subcontractor Prequalified Statement application. Mr. Barrera, working closely with Ms. Enriquez assisted in the drafting of the application that was submitted in February 2023.

Shortly thereafter on March 3, 2023, AECOM/Turner Construction executed a contract with Indeed Construction valued at $1.7 Million Dollars to perform clean-up related services for the duration of the project. PACE was later invited and participated in a construction site tour along with JP Morgan Chase at the Intuit Dome project in April 2023.

Recently, a Senior Construction Department Executive with Turner Construction contacted Ms. Jacqueline Enriquez for consideration to work on other projects that require union labor, necessitating either the company to become a union shop or in securing a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA). The Los Angeles MBDA Center is currently working closely with Jacqueline on the Turner Construction request and estimates Indeed Construction Clean Up, Inc. revenues to more than double in 2024, to hit the $5 Million Dollar range!

Additionally, we wish to acknowledge Ms. Enriquez’ recent acceptance into the Staford University’s “Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, Latino Business Action Network (LBAN) Program”. This is a next level Entrepreneurial 8-Week Executive Training Program offered through the Staford Graduate School of Business (GSB). 

Timote Fehoko, President of Fehoko Concrete, Inc.

Dive into the inspiring journey of Timote A. Fehoko, President of Fehoko Concrete Inc, a master in concrete sidewalks and flatwalks. As a second-generation contractor, Timote honed his skills working alongside his father before taking the leap to start his own venture. His path to success, however, was not without challenges. From grappling with working capital issues – a hurdle many small businesses face – to scaling and managing larger public work projects, Timote’s resolve was unwavering.

A key catalyst in his success has been the invaluable support from the PACE Business Development Center. He successfully navigated these challenges, solidifying his business’s growth and expansion with our guidance at PACE. Here’s a highlight of contracts that Fehoko Concrete received:

$358K contract from Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. to do concrete work on the construction of the Higuera Street Bridge replacement.
$1.2m. contract from Environmental Construction, Inc. to work on curb and gutter improvements using concrete for the Robertson Blvd Sidewalk Improvements project.
$275K contract from Griffith Company to do concrete work on a Caltrans project.

Michele Bannister, CEO Cervus, Inc.

PACE WBC and procurement client Cervus, Inc. is a Women Veteran owned and certified small business located in the County of Los Angeles. CEO, Michele Bannister, her husband, Andre W. Bannister Jr. (Co-Owner, VP Government Procurement), and Peter Cardenas (Co-Owner, VP Director of Project Management) created this as a Veteran Collective Company in 2019, owned and operated by three successful veterans. Cervus, Inc. is a Solar Installation & Construction company which recently became an authorized dealer for SunPower Corporation, a top five ranked solar panel company by consumer reviews.

Michele Bannister served 7 years in the military and was Honorably Discharged. She has over 10 years’ experience working as an Operations Manager, managing residential and commercial mortgage loan sales, short sales, forbearances, loan modifications, VA, FHA, conventional and conforming, purchase, construction, rehabilitation, investor purchase and refinance loans. Including herself, the three Veteran owners had dedicated a significant portion of their lives to serving in the United States Armed Forces. Each partner’s exceptional talents combined with their previous Veteran’s professional experience is what makes the Company thrive. As a veteran-owned small business, Cervus, Inc. strives to embody the ideal values attained while serving in the United States Armed Forces. “Our core values are centered around, loyalty, respect, selflessness, honor, and integrity.” Currently, Cervus, Inc. services residential and businesses located in Los Angeles and surrounding counties.

Aided by PACE Procurement Manager, Mr. Andrew Barrera, Cervus, Inc. was able to complete a solid business plan, incorporate, create a well-defined capabilities statement, get registered on various contracting Supplier Vendor Portals, and obtain numerous Small Business Certifications over the course of 2019. CERVUS is now designated as a Women Owned Business (WBE), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), Small Business Public Works California Small Business (SB), Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) and are a participant of the City of Los Angeles Enterprise (LSBE). Finally, in late December 2019, Cervus, Inc was able to secure a business location, ready and able to start the new year. Through the diligent guidance of Mr. Andrew Barrera, and motivated leadership of Michele Bannister, Cervus, Inc. was able to jump start the new year with a $58,000 contract from LA County Public Works on January 13, 2020. This contract was completed by February, but the positive momentum in hindsight during this challenged 2020 Covid-19 crisis year, has proved monumental. Cervus, Inc. repositioned itself to land numerous remodeling contracts totaling $223,727 extending into 2021. The Company is looking forward to continue their business development strategies to take Cervus. Inc. to the next level.

Kelly Nguyen, CEO IDLOGIQ, Inc.

PACE Business assisted Ms. Kelly Nguyen, CEO and cofounder of IDLOGIQ in aligning her company for procurement opportunities in Los Angeles County. IDLogiq is a disruptive technology company that provides Global 5000 companies with highly secure, FIPS-compliant, state of the art cryptographic products and services to combat counterfeiting. Currently, and in light of the national pandemic COVID-19 crisis, IDLOGIQ and it’s Tracelogiq technology is one of two companies under PACE Business that has progressed to an advanced review stage in the information technology sector within the Internal Services Department (ISD) of Los Angeles County. Kelly’s team consists of other entrepreneurs with a proven track record of successful exits in high-tech, pharmaceutical, and medical industry. Through Kelly’s leadership, her company envisions a world free of counterfeit drugs, electronics, clothing, and much more within a global environment working together for business efficiency and safety.

Kelly is an experienced entrepreneur and executive with a proven track record. Prior to IDLogiq, Kelly was the CoFounder/CEO of Mission Road Pharmacy, a specialty pharmacy with an annualized revenue of $160M+ and growing at more than 200% annually prior to being acquired in 2012. Kelly holds 3 pending patents on blockchain-powered cryptographic and anti-counterfeit technology, and holds a Doctor degree in Pharmaceuticals from the University of California, San Francisco.

Despite the well credentialed entrepreneurial team Kelly has surrounded herself, and the various technology recognition successes over the past two years, the extremely long sales cycle of their various disruptive technologies has kept IDLOGIQ from securing consumer mainstream recognition that could lead to greater local and national contracts leading to widespread consumer application. Four months ago, through mcGyver mcCargar on the PACE marketing team, Kelly met with Ms. Swann Do of the Women’s Business Center who guided her in securing SLB (Small Local Business) Certification, and pre-LBE (Local Business Enterprise) Certification that would better position her company for higher profile government contracts. From our PACE Finance, loan counselor Phuong Le met with the IDLOGIQ team to discuss optional business working capital loans and to further them along, introduced them to our PACE Procurement specialist Mr. Andrew Barrera. Mr. Barrera saw great potential with Kelly and IDLOGIQ and assisted her in drafting various capability statements and proposal submittals on various contract portals. Both Swann Do and Andrew Barrera have also introduced IDLOGIQ to the PACE WorkSource to source and find future qualified people for potential job opportunities upon securing some of these contracts.

Under the current National and State of California Disaster declarations due to the current and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, PACE Business and procurement specialist Mr. Andrew Barrera continues working diligently with positioning Kelly and IDLOGIQ with many new government contract opportunities. To date successful proposal submissions include the ISD of LA, as well as the City of Long Beach which is also highly considering an IDLOGIQ contract. IDLOGIQ is currently also being considered for a possible ventilator production contract through it’s OEM agreement with Metran Co. Ltd of Japan who’s inventor/founder has been a long-time IDLOGIQ Advisory Board member. With the securing of these crisis demand solutions for local, state and national contracts, IDLOGIQ will easily double its annual revenue, and be in a strong position to hire additional employees in pursuit of delivering on these highly prioritized company procurement awards.

Aishah Yco, K&A Textile, LLC.

PACE only recently crossed paths with Ms. Aishah Yco, a young aspiring entrepreneur, at our Mid-City partner AADAP where she had taken a temporary job as a receptionist while building a startup online cosmetic accessory business. In a casual discussion while at AADAP, she shared her online business ambition and soon developed a trust with PACE business counselor Frank Sosa. Amidst the recent Covid-19 national “safer at home” quarantine and mandated brick & mortar business closures, PACE business counselors helped Aishah within weeks, turn her online cosmetic startup into a now growing wholesale importer.

Having established overseas supplier relationships due to her cosmetic startup endeavor, Aishah had one supplier convert to mask manufacturing. She immediately saw an opportunity and established an export agreement that would provide her wholesale surgical masks and other PPE medical supplies now in urgent global demand due to Covid-19. In a short time and in concert with her sister back in Singapore, she was able to move quickly with PACE business counselor’s advice and a referral to Mr. Andrew Barrera, PACE procurement specialist. Mr. Barrera walked Aishah through the rigorous application and necessary requirements.

After just a few weeks, Aishah had attained an official state LLC, tax ID, seller’s permit, as well as other city, county and state registrations needed to put her in an advanced LA County vendor position to acquire a coveted medical tender contract. Her county order is now pending further product clearance hurdles and price negotiation but is looking very promising. Having her sister’s help in Singapore, she has launched a company website and identified numerous other potential clients. To date K&A Textile LLC has also secured at least three private orders, including the AADAP office, and other preliminary requests of up to a million units.

Now officially established here in California as the wholesale company K&A Textile LLC, Ms. Aishah Yco is cofounder with sister Kathleen (who will operate from her residence in Singapore), and a third partner based in Ireland. They truly are now positioned to grow as an international company. Currently, Aishah is managing the domestic US ramp up. Plans now include, searching and finding a suitable warehouse within the county; and besides herself, adding a support staff of at least one administrative or a shipping and receiving assistant.

Aisha serves as partner and marketing director based in K&A Textile LLC’s head office in California, USA. Her business development with organizations in the US are adding value to the company. She has a background in Business and Tourism in Singapore in 2010-2013 and BA in Business Management in Los Angeles, California. She will lead and participate in procurement activities that support all key business objectives in the US. PACE business counselor Mr. Frank Sosa continues to work with Aishah, recently helping her to open an HBSC account for her new LLC. PACE procurement specialist Mr. Barrera also continues to guide her toward other procurement opportunities. Aishah Yco and K&A Textile LLC (www.ppepurchases.com) is grateful for all the support PACE has provided throughout this whole process that has literally changed her life.

Rosa and Elizabeth, ALAS Media

Local latina sisters Rosa and Elizabeth Ruvalcaba Mendez, both co-owner entrepreneurs behind ALAS Media launched their video production company in 2007. From the beginning they performed a multitude of various marketing, corporate and documentary projects from equestrian to cultural, lifestyle to social impact, and from commercial to non-profit. In 2016 they met Mr. Andrew Barrera who has consulted them progressively and now under PACE has helped them open the door towards regularly bidding on government and private sector contracts. Over the years they have attain at least 9 different business certifications with the most recent in 2019 being the WBE and CPUC. PACE Procurement has helped them develop their capabilities statement, identify target contractors, and design a unique infiltration strategy to have their product seen by appropriate procurement officers. Tier 1, 2 and 3 contracts are now being pursued with A, B and C ranked target client lists. Utilities and large corporations have been identified such as Commercial Banks and Metro. Small Cities & County Departments as well as large nonprofits and local Chamber contacts have been facilitated and annual events earmarked for future bidding opportunities. This past January ALAS Media was awarded a year-long contract with Metro to create construction progress video content for public broadcast. This one contract helped ALAS Media increase their annual sales by 25 percent. Future procurement business is no doubt looking bright for ALAS Media.

Currently, under the National and State of California Disaster declarations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ALAS Media has been impacted with many annual event contracts postponed or in many cases cancelled all together. The sisters were able to secure a Federal Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan over the summer months of 2020 which has helped them maneuver the Covid19 crisis. PACE Procurement continues to work closely with the sister’s, opening up new bidding opportunities that look promising for additional diverse projects. Both Rosa and Elizabeth still maintain the passion for their storytelling work and are ever grateful as well as excited to continue working with PACE Procurement. The government and private contracting world has proven to provide the balance in client diversity that has and will continue to help ALAS Media sustain long term success.

Amber Wynn, Chistopher Rashad Holdings, Inc.

Ms. Amber Wynn, who promotes herself as a “philanthrepeneur,” secured a $47,000 Tier II contract to provide Grant Writing workshops for 28 non-profit organization located primarily in South Central LA. The contract, through Heluna Health as primary contractor, is under the County Department of Public Works. Amber was first introduced to PACE Business Development Center and procurement specialist Mr. Andrew Barrera through attendance at his Procurement Workshop in the fall of 2019. As an accomplished professional with Phd. credentials, Andrew saw great potential in Amber who desired to seek contracts assisting non-profits with fund raising, reporting & executive management services. Andrew conslulted her in the procurement contracting process, which starts with having a high quality service to offer.

Having over 30 years of nonprofit experience, including program development, strategic planning, nonprofit management, board development, capacity building, grant writing & fund development, (largest award $3.2 million), Amber has served in numerous positions including Program Administrator with Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ Youth Fair Chance program, Grant Writer/Media Outreach Director for University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County, Executive Director for Girls Inc. Los Angeles, Grant Writing Instructor for Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Philanthropic Development Manager for DaVita, a Fortune 500 company, Program Director at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network giving out $7 million in research grants and currently, as a nonprofit consulting entrepreneur. Amber received her undergraduate degree in English from Loyola Marymount University, and her Master’s degree in Public Administration. Amber provides a SIMPLE, SMART, SAVVY approach to management consulting by leveraging her experience as grant writer, nonprofit leader, board member, funder and business professional to provide companies with a clear road map for development, management, compliance, sustainability, and growth.

Andrew continued to work with Amber, registering her business on the various Supplier Vendor Portals (i.e. LAUSD, LACCD, DGS, LA County, etc.), and guided her to start securing Small Business Certifications, Contract Sourcing, Capability Statement development and submitting proposals. He also discussed various areas how Amber could generate revenue, and helped her identify those non-profit entities capable of affording her consulting fees and the possibility of expanding her professional services into the for-profit sector. Under PACE Business Development Center procurement specialist Andrew Barrera, Amber Wynn had developed a solid short term goal to go after contracts and/or services that she could secure immediately. Within two month Amber was awarded this first contract and is on her way to secure other lucrative contracts in both the non-profit and private for profit sectors.

Gung Hoe Garden Girls, Inc.

Ms. Katharine Pinney and her all female landscape company Gung Hoe Garden Girls, Inc. successfully secured a $48,201 private sector landscape contract. Beginning in August 2019 and following the counseling of PACE procurement specialist Mr. Andrew Barrera, Ms. Pinney was able to generate numerous bid invitations for commercial, residential and private sector contracts ranging from $50,000 to $2.3M. Ms, Katharine Pinney is a licensed landscape contractor and Public Works Contractor, able to execute designs at the highest standards and on budget. Extensive horticultural knowledge of California native plants and vegetate suited for our Mediterranean climate has been her calling card. She also has drafting skills and is capable of producing full landscape plans within HPOZ and HOA guidelines. As a project supervisor she is very familiar with zoning requirements and able to procure necessary permits at City Departments. Her attributes include the ability to collaborate and interact with project managers, subcontractors, architects, landscape architects and other industry professionals. She is comfortable working with people of diverse backgrounds and able to collaborate as a team member at all levels.

Gung Hoe Garden Girls, Inc. is located in the Lincoln Heights District of Los Angeles, CA 90031. Ms. Pinney is a passionate 10+ year experienced landscape designer, specializing in creating eco-friendly outdoor spaces and gardens. She was referred to the PACE Business Development Center by Mr. Andrew Barrera, who is now the Procurement Counseling Manager. Mr. Barrera knew Ms. Pinney would be a good fit for his new procurement program and would be helpful in re-aligning her business with procurement opportunities.

Andrew helped Ms. Pinney review her business growth plan, cash flow needs, and assisted her design a business expansion strategy that includes government procurement opportunities. By February 19th Katharine received her 6th invitation for a private sector $50,000 contract and on March 3rd with the assistance of Mr. Barerra she was awarded the contract. As with other previous bid invitations Mr. Barrera walked Ms. Pinney through the entire bidding process to help position her final business bid in the best way possible for obtaining the contract. Since being awarded the $48,201 private sector “Matoba Project”, she has been invited to bid on another municipal project through Gensler, an international architectural firm and the Prime Contractor. This exciting City of Los Angeles project involves the Old Washington Irving Library Renovation, a transformation of an historic library branch from the 1920s into an archive, research, exhibition, and education center. Gung Hoe Garden Girls is now experiencing tremendous contract growth opportunities under the assistance of the PACE Business Center. We know her business will be a great success as the demand for her unique landscaping credentials and project management skills grow with each new contract!