Business News
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LUCERNE, Calif. – Across the country, news of restaurants closing for good due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been widespread.
Even as COVID challenges continue, Lucerne resident Cynthia Epperson has put it all on the line to own her first Subway franchise.
As a widow, mother and grandmother, Epperson never imagined she could own her own business. Living in a small town with a population of less than 3,000, there weren’t many job opportunities available. Epperson worked various roles throughout her life, including a teacher’s aide and a manager at Foster Freeze, the only other franchise restaurant in town.
When her husband passed away in 2011, she knew she needed to find a stable job to support herself. She applied to the local Subway restaurant down the street from her house and has been working there for the past 10 years. Epperson steadily worked her way up and was promoted to manager.
A few months before the pandemic, Epperson was given an exciting offer: the opportunity to take over the store, and own her first Subway franchise. She would work with mentors over the next several months to finalize the process. It felt like a dream.
Then the pandemic hit.
Like many throughout the country, Epperson was fearful of what COVID-19 would bring. The store she managed – but did not yet own – was forced to close initially to reassess its business plan. As manager, she was privy to the decline in sales and its effects on the store. Despite the uncertainty, Epperson pushed through and continued with her mission to own her first store.
“Purchasing a franchise during COVID was a huge leap of faith,” said Epperson. “With so many restaurants closing, I was afraid our store might be next. While I had my reservations initially, I felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I needed to take advantage of it.”
Over the next several months, she worked closely with her district manager Himanshu Patel, the vice president of operations Alia Ganem, and her area development director and local franchisor Akki Patel, to advance the process of owning her own store. While she had no prior business experience, she felt very supported by the company and knew she was making the right decision.
“When they initially offered me the store, I thought they were crazy,” said Epperson. “I had no experience owning my own business, but Letap Group’s team have been very supportive throughout this whole process. Whenever I need anything, I can easily call Akki and he will send his best people to help, no expenses spared.”
“Cynthia is the perfect example of what we look for in a Subway franchisee,” said Akki Patel, president of Letap Group, which supports hundreds of locations throughout northern California and Nevada, and also is a franchisor for Subway. “She is hard working, determined and is following her dream. While she’s been dealt a difficult first hand, we know Cynthia has what it takes to adapt and persevere through the pandemic.”
The Letap Group and Subway have been helping first time franchisee buyers and store managers achieve the American dream of owning their own business for the past 16 years. Akki Patel, who bought his first Subway franchise at the age of 20, leverages his life lessons and can-do spirit into helping others build their own businesses; providing business counseling, financing, training and operational support as they launch within the Subway family.
“Every year I personally meet with qualified managers at each Subway franchise to present them the opportunity to own their own business,” said Akki Patel. “Many of them are content with their current jobs but a few, like Cynthia, seize the opportunity to become a successful business owner and achieve their dreams.”
As manager, Epperson worked tirelessly with her team to keep the store afloat as sales declined from pre-pandemic levels. She was able to successfully keep all of her staff on board by changing the store hours and adjusting schedules around individual needs. Today, sales at the store are up close to 20 percent from her most difficult months, and Cynthia sees increasing signs of growth.
In December 2020, Epperson officially became the new owner of the Lucerne Subway franchise. While she hasn’t owned the store for very long, she has already started thinking about the future.
“Everything that I am doing, I am doing for my family,” said Epperson. “As a mother and grandmother, I want to make sure that I am setting my family up for success, and I have the ability to do that now. I know they are proud of me and I hope to make them proud by leaving this legacy behind for them.”
Epperson’s Subway store is located at 6272 E Highway 20 in Lucerne. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The board is composed of 12 voting members, each representing an establishment with a valid California License to Sell Nursery Stock. No two members shall represent the same organization.
Members will represent a wide spectrum of the nursery industry, and the Board will be geographically representative of the nursery industry in California.
The term of office for board members is four years. These positions are mid-term appointments and the terms end on Jan. 31, 2025.
Members typically meet twice per year, but can meet more frequently if needed. The members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the California Department of Human Resources.
In addition, the board includes up to nine nonvoting ex officio members from the County Agricultural Commissioner and Sealers Association, the University of California, and groups affiliated with the nursery industry.
The mission of the Nursery Advisory Board is to grow and maintain a strong relationship between CDFA and the nursery industry in order to secure the industry’s future. The board facilitates communication between state and federal regulators and the nursery industry, and it advises CDFA’s Nursery Services Program on policies, fees, and other issues concerning nurseries and nursery stock.
Individuals interested in being considered for this Board appointment should send a brief resumé to Board Manager Juan Koponen by May 17 at California Department of Food and Agriculture, Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220 N St., Room 344, Sacramento, CA 95814, Attention: Juan Koponen.
For additional information, you may contact the Nursery Services Program at 916-654-0435.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This bill establishes clear guidelines for when companies from the olive oil industry can use “California” in labelling and marketing their product.
This measure will protect consumers and farmers by providing clear information about the source of the olives and olive oils in the products they buy.
California has had a thriving olive oil industry since the mid-19th century. The state produces approximately 4% of the world’s olive oil from over 75 varieties of olives.
Due to California’s well-established reputation for producing high-quality olive oils, the demand for California olive oil is steadily increasing. And, the demand for purchasing the names and brands using “California” or California regions is growing along with it.
As a result, a bottle of olive oil may be advertised and branded as “California” or a specific California region, but actually come from other countries. The requirements for testing and quality are also different for oils that are not 100% Californian. This has led to consumer confusion, and places California olive farmers and oil producers at a competitive disadvantage.
“To us, it’s really quite simple,” said Peter and Debbie Hunter from Longview Ranch in Winters, CA. “If a bottle is labeled as ‘California Oil’ it should be just that: 100% California produced olive oil. If a packer wants to blend non-California oils, then the bottle should not have the California moniker front-and-center. We adhere to strict regulations and labor practices in California, and consumers are beginning to recognize that. We must make sure that the trust in ‘California’ brands is not eroded.”
AB 535 establishes clear guidelines for when olive oil producers can use the term “California” in their labeling. The bill strengthens existing law by making it illegal to make any false representation that an olive oil is produced entirely from olives grown within California when it is not.
Similarly, the bill prohibits any representations indicating that an olive oil was produced from olives grown in a specific region of California, unless at least 85% of the olive oil was produced from olives grown in that region.
“California has the best agricultural products, and the highest environmental and labor standards, in the world. Consumers look for California-grown foods because they associate California with quality. Allowing companies to trick consumers into thinking they’re buying a California product because they slap ‘California’ on their package undercuts everything we’re trying to accomplish as a State,” said Aguiar-Curry. “This bill will ensure that consumers know exactly what they are buying, and it will help to support our local farmers who are producing world class oils from olives grown here in our State. These folks may try to confuse my colleagues, but they’re making a profit off our state, and the price we ask for that is to actually produce a California product.”
By establishing stronger guidelines for olive oil producers to follow in their branding, labeling, packaging, and advertising, AB 535 provides consumers with clear information about what they are purchasing.
AB 535 does not restrict blending oils from different sources and destinations, but it makes clear through establishing standards that when “California” is used, the product actually comes from California. This bill strengthens the integrity of the world-renowned California olive oil brand.
Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa Counties, parts of Colusa, Solano and Sonoma counties, and all of Yolo County except West Sacramento.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Ethics in Business honors organizations and individuals demonstrating ethical business practice in the workplace, the marketplace, the environment and the community.
The awards program is presented by Rotary District 5130.
Nominees do not have to have a connection to Rotary.
There will be four categories of recognition for Northern California organizations: large, medium, and small business (based on numbers of employees) and nonprofit organizations of any size.
Award recipients will be recognized for going beyond expected standards in the ethical conduct of their organizations. Nominations can be entered at www.NorthCoastEthics.com.
Organizations receiving recognition will be selected by a blue-ribbon committee of North Coast business leaders with awards presented at the District 5130 Conference luncheon scheduled for October 8 in Rohnert Park at the Doubletree Hotel.
The North Coast Ethics in Business Award is a vision of Rotary District 5130 Governor Doug Johnson.
Johnson strongly believes Rotary’s core values are closely aligned with the consistent organizational practice of ethics in business.
“As Rotarians, we want to honor businesses that are doing things right – and that embody the Rotarian values of public service, fairness, integrity, and community spirit,” said Johnson.
The District Conference event will also feature the award of educational scholarships for the 2022 academic year to high school seniors.
The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is July 15.
Sponsors for the awards and scholarship program are welcome and will receive recognition in marketing materials and during the event.
Rotary District 5130 has 47 Rotary clubs, six Rotaract clubs, and more than 2,700 members in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
More information on Rotary, the Ethics awards and scholarships can be found at www.Rotary5130.org.
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