In a highly saturated fast-food industry, the Asian owned Panda fast food enterprise is conquering the taste buds of Americans with gourmet Chinese cuisine. Andrew Cherng started the enterprise with his father in 1973. With a SBA loan they set up their first restaurant, Panda Inn, in Pasadena California. Ten years later, an opportunity to move their high-end restaurant into a fast-food setting became available, and Panda Express was born. Andrew’s wife joined the company, after a successful career with Hughe’s Aircraft and the two of them took the business to the top. Today, PANDA RESTAURANT GROUP, has four restaurant chains, the original Panda Inn: its clone fast food Panda Express, the newly added Japanese restaurant chain Hibachi-San, and the convenient order-to-pick-up Panda-Panda. The company grosses over $400 million in sales, has over 6,000 employees and has close to 500 locations. Their goal is to own 10,000 locations in their lifetime.
Marissa, Maria, and Vincent DeRosaare the owner’s of Picasso’s Café Bakery and Deli (www.picassoscafe.com) The Picasso story began in 1989 with the dream of two people, owners and operators Vincent and Maria DeRosa. Their objective was to cater to corporate breakfast and lunch coterie while "creating food products that are a work of art"- hence, Picasso's . The DeRosa's have successfully designed cafe, bakery, and catering menus to present quality products with an emphasis on eye appeal, taste, and price. The couple met while attending USC. Daughter Marissa has made her career with Picasso's as Vice President, overseeing Picasso's Marketing and Special Events. The entire family believes in giving back to the community and Picasso's plays a generous and active role in many local community events and donates to several worthwhile charitable organizations. Picasso's employs a culinary team of five.
Linda Stone came to the United States from the Philippines with only $350. She went to school and became a full-time computer programmer, only to realize that temporary employees working at the same company were making twice as much money. The company she worked for asked her to bring in other programmers into the company. Linda realized that her services could become a business and consequently founded APR CONSULTING, a temporary employment firm. Linda provides services for Southern California Edison. Upon the recommendation of Edison’s supplier diversity manager, she joined Edison’s supplier management program. Although she attended an entrepreneurial management program at the University of California, Los Angeles to help manage the firm, Lisa credits Edison’s supplier management program for building her business sense.
After graduating from college, Tammy Vali Martin started working at her father’s company, DEB CONSTRUCTION, which he started in 1976. She joined the company despite her father’s wishes, who thought Tammy should avoid such a male-dominated business. Now, she runs the company with her brother. Tammy runs the office while her brother runs the field. She recently completed building a new branch for Comerica Bank, which was well-received. She looks forward to receiving more projects from them, especially as her company continues to grow. Already, the company has seen a lot of growth within the last two years. Tammy currently has a staff of approximately 50 employees in northern and southern California and struggles to find new superintendents and project managers for the company. This year, she expects $35 million in sales.
Shani Chen started her the business in 1999, six months after she arrived in LA in hopes of pursuing a career as a television writer. She says “necessity bred invention” because she suffered a case of severe dermatitis because of the dramatic change in climate. She decided to experiment and develop a salve to rub on her skin if her dermatitis ever came back, but it never did. She saved a few paychecks, researched making creams and salves, and started hand-making her body care line on the side after work for friends and family. Oshune Body Care specializes in unique products for the body, used by both men and women. The company’s mission is “to nourish, cleanse, and fortify the body” with its all-natural creams, lotions, massage oils and more. The name “Oshune” comes from the Yoruba religion, where Oshune is a deity representing love, sensuality, and prosperity. The business has made $50,000 in sales over the last five years, which is considerable growth from the $2,000 Shani made the first year. Her goal for the future is to have a store of her own, and eventually a chain, similar to “the body shop.” One day, she’d love to be able to go public. She sees her future kids in the kitchen with her, continuing to make hand-made products, and one day -- her grandkids.
