Uday Bali has been among the campus’ biggest fans since transferring here as an undergraduate in 2005 when the university opened. He’s served as student body president, graduated in 2008 with highest honors and a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, and has returned here for graduate school, working in Professor Roland Winston’s solar energy lab. Now add “entrepreneur” to his list of accolades.

The concept of Mig E Fresh Trash Cans came about, after countless years of two young men’s responsibility at home to empty the family trash and hating having to handle the required city  trash bins. Ironically, these two friends, Miguel Negrate and Doug Siebert had some insight on the trash can world since Doug was a city trash collector for three years but became unemployed because of the economy.

In July 2007, Fresno Live.com was launched as a website that presented insight on restaurants, entertainment and other activities are available in the Fresno area. When Scott and Adam Johnson first started the website, they knew they wanted to make it more than a simple site for reviews, but did not know where to go to get the knowledge to grow their business.

In 2005, Donna Webb came to the Central California Small Business Development Center (CCSBDC) for advice on starting up her own business.  As a sales account manager at a major national bookstore, Donna managed a territory of nine California stores.  These years of experience provided her with the knowledge and skills to become a small business owner and an independent book sales consultant.

The Beccard family established A&L Products in 1978 to manufacture and sell small to HUGE size tents for various uses.  The company has become a true family business with three of their children working in the business. The majority of  A & L Products’ clients are business owners needing customized tents of various sizes for events and festivals.  While the rental side of the business has stayed stable because of the long time established clients/events, sales have been impacted greatly from the economic conditions.  Diana came to the Alliance SBDC seeking assistance on a recovery plan to pay back expenses, deal with labor costs and expand sales both nationally and internationally.

The 6-acre Farmhouse Inn, Restaurant and Spa was purchased in 2001 by siblings Catherine and Joe Bartolomei, whose family has farmed in the Sonoma County area for five generations. The property came with an excellent reputation in the food world; in its May 2007 issue, Gourmet Magazine name it one of the “World’s 36 Best Food Destinations.” The Bartolomeis continue to improve and refine the property, receiving the “One Star Preferred Destination” from the Michelin San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country Guide” in 2007.

Andrea and her husband moved from Las Vegas to Sonoma County in early 2008. The first order of business was opening a flagship cupcake shop.  Andrea had her sights sets on a chain of shops and in less than a year she opened store number two. Store number three is in negotiation as we speak.