NELLIE'S EXERCISE EQUIPMENT
Sandy Delgadillo (www.nellies.com) was born in Uganda, but in her teenage years, she and her family were forced out the country because of political turmoil. She came to the United States eventually attending Hollywood High School. Sandy started her career in the banking industry, where she met two very important people: Her future husband (David Delgadillo), and the owner of Nellie’s Exercise Equipment. The owner of Nellie’s told Sandy that he wanted to get rid of his business and asked her if she was interested in purchasing it. Initially declining the offer, David coaxed Sandy into taking another look at the business. The store was in poor condition, but generated a fair amount of customers. Sandy and David purchased Nellie’s Exercise Equipment because they saw the opportunities for improvement and expansion. Since purchasing the store, they have opened seven additional locations across Southern California and increased their staff from zero to 20 people. Today, their customers include healthcare and rehabilitation facilities as well as home-use clients. They also donate machines to local groups in need of fitness equipment.

RODEO CARPET MILLS
Carmen Murray (800-533-3292) was one of ten children raised by a single mother in a very poor area of Mexico. When she was nine, her newly married parents moved her entire family to the City of Commerce in California. She is still living there, and her business Rodeo Carpet Mills is also located there. Despite cultural differences, and a language barrier, Carmen was able to learn English quickly and graduated from high school. Carmen first became acquainted with Rodeo Carpet Mills when Lou Sugarman hired her as a part-time receptionist. Due to her exceptional ability, Carmen was then promoted to a buyer and then a general manager of the entire company. She was then given stock options, and when Lou retired, she was given full run of the company and was later able to purchase it for her very own in 1995. Rodeo Carpet Mills designs and manufactures high-end rugs and carpets. Most of the fabric comes form New Zealand and is very costly. All of the rugs and carpets are custom made in her facility in Commerce. Carmen’s company is now very busy with orders, but this wasn’t always the case due to the economic downturn a few years ago. She currently employs thirty-five employees and expects to make around $5 million in revenue this year.