Women's Business Center of Utah Blog

We just talk about the good stuff.

Recipe for Success: SLICE, Diane Sheya

We sat down with Diane Sheya, co-owner of Salt Lake Culinary Center (SLICE). SLICE is hosting our Recipe for Success Kick Off event.

WHY DON’T WE START WITH AN INTRODUCTION?

My name is Diane Sheya. In 2013, my husband and I became co-owners of the Salt Lake Culinary Center. About twenty years ago, my husband and I were involved in a gourmet cooking club with some friends. Every month we would get together and cook a meal, if you were hosting you would decide the menu. We would rely on menus from Gourmet magazine back in the ‘80s, and we started to see a trend in cooking: from using dried herbs, to “hey, I’ve got parsley growing in the garden, why am I not using it?” We decided that we were going to start cooking classes in our home using fresh herbs. We’d come up with menus every month and it was really fun doing the research. That’s what drives me, finding a new ingredient, or finding a new technique, or a new cuisine I’m not familiar with. Read More

Spotlight on Women Business Owners: Judy & Geana Schachet, A Touch of Country Nails

A Mother & Daughter Business is Born

Judy and Geana Schachet are approaching a big milestone this May, one year in business. Judy and Geana are co-owners of the business A Touch of Country Nails in Cedar City. The pair are originally from Las Vegas, Nevada but they had always wanted to live in Utah. About nine years ago Judy was laid off from a good paying government job and she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next, so she took a couple of years off to think about it and she moved to Utah. Her daughter Geana was a dog groomer and she was impressed with how she had been able to build such a loyal following of clientele. Judy figured if Geana could do it with dogs, then surely people would be easy too.

Judy decided to go to nail school and become a nail technician and eventually got her instructors license. About a year later Geana decided she had burned out on dog grooming and wanted to try something new, so she followed in her mother’s footsteps and went to nail school. They both went to work together at a nail salon owned by someone else. During this time they learned a lot of lessons about what to do and what not to do in running a business. They developed a loyal list of clients and started to dream. Read More

Recipe for Success: Buzzed Coffee Truck, Trina Perez

We sat down with Trina Perez, owner of Buzzed Coffee Truck, about her business journey. Meet Trina in person at our Recipe for Success Kick Off.

DID YOU ALWAYS THINK YOU WOULD BECOME A BUSINESS OWNER?

It came about for two reasons. I moved to the Rose Park neighborhood 7 years ago, was working in the community and got fed up about not having any place to get a decent cup of coffee. I was also burnt out and unhappy in my current career and I didn’t see myself being able to do it for much longer. I always thought having a coffee shop would be so much fun, but I think everyone thinks that. I wanted to open a coffee shop in the Rose Park neighborhood, and started to explore that option and quickly realized there was not a chance. I did not have the capital and no one was going to give me the money to open a brick and mortar. I thought…I never have seen a coffee truck around Salt Lake, and the food truck scene is healthy and happy. So I bought a FedEx truck and did it. Read More

Recipe for Success: Local Enthusiast SLC

We sat down with Sara Day, the face behind @local_enthusiast_SLC on Instagram. Meet Sara in person at our Recipe for Success Kick Off.

HOW DID YOU TURN YOUR LOVE FOR FOOD, TRAVELING AND CAMPING INTO A BRAND?

I started Local Enthusiast when I was a poor college student. I knew eventually that I wanted to start a business and I knew if I was out there supporting others it would eventually come back to me when it was time for my business to blossom. I didn’t have any money and so I was like…‘well there are other ways to support people.’ I focused on showing cool things to do in Utah, architecture, local businesses and seasons…things I could afford at the time. Like Ruby Snap Cookies; my and my friends still talk about how we would splurge on three cookies and that was our thing for the week haha.Read More

Loved Foodtrepreneur? Meet Recipe for Success!

Foodtrepreneur Festival, Reimagined

For four years the Women’s Business Center of Utah organized the Foodtrepreneur Festival to celebrate food entrepreneurs and foodies. The festival comprised of a combination of local food vendors, live music, a panel discussion and the opportunity to sample delicious food while talking to entrepreneurs who created the delectable bites.Read More

Spotlight on Women Business Owners: Julia Stolworthy, Sweet & Knotty Bakery

Spotlight on Women Business Owners: D Sarver, Perfect Curve

Spotlight on Women Business Owners: Liz Butcher, Butcher’s Bunches Handcrafted Preserves

Love for the Land

Liz Butcher has always felt a strong connection to the land. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States from Italy and became farmers on the East Coast. Her husband grew up in a farming community in Northern California. When they got married, he told her he wanted a garden. They began growing produce together and selling it a local farmer’s market. When the recession hit, they noticed all of their neighbors began growing produce on small plots and flooding the market with cheaper produce.
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Spotlight on Women Business Owners: Darlene Fuhst, Prohibition Ink Custom Tattoo

Moving to Utah to Open a Tattoo Parlor

Darlene Fuhst and her husband JJ Ohlinger moved to Salt Lake City two years ago to open their tattoo parlor, Prohibition Ink Custom Tattoo. Both trained artists, they eventually realized tattooing was a way to pursue art while making a living. JJ has built a very successful tattoo career and travels to conventions around the world. Darlene handles the day-to-day operations of running the business.
Read More

Spotlight on Women Business Owners: Maria Cortes, Strappy Couture

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Maria Cortes quit her Human Resources job in 2015 after getting sick from all the stress. She started her own business from one simple idea.

Maria has always worn heels and noticed her feet would often slip out. She tried a few products meant to solve the problem but they didn’t work. She fashioned her own solution from a ribbon and some velcro, and her friends kept telling her she needed to do something with it.
Read More

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