SFDBA Entrepreneur Mentorship Spotlight: Rome Jones

 SFDBA Entrepreneur Mentorship Spotlight: Rome Jones

This past March, the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance (SFDBA) launched at one of the last major events in San Francisco before the Shelter in Place. At the SFDBA launch event, over 100 Bay Area community members gathered to advance the mission of the first organization of its kind to focus on businesses owned by individuals with disabilities. The SFDBA has galvanized individuals from diverse backgrounds including entrepreneurs with disabilities, advocates, students and educators. One of these individuals is Rome Jones. Rome is enthused about the mission of the SFDBA, readily identifies with his disability, and is very active in his chosen profession of real estate and in the local community at the public policy level.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Rome was born and raised in San Francisco in the Bay View Hunter’s Point district. Having grown up in this neighborhood in San Francisco coupled with his disability, Rome has faced many challenges that he has overcome with his positivity and sheer determination. Rome has been a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities and involved locally with District 10 as an activist for positive change in his community. Rome's passion was evident when SFDBA spoke to him and heard about his dreams of getting into property investment. Rome currently is a real estate agent with Stranberg Realty and co-founder of Pinpoint Building Group.

Through the SFDBA network, Rome was connected with volunteer advisor Noah Snyder, a seasoned property investor in the Bay Area. Noah has spent a considerable amount of time mentoring Rome on the “how to” of getting into property investment and breaking things down into a process. Jones said “Noah has really given me a clearer picture of where to start. Noah has been a strong listening ear and always provides information for me to learn more.“ Noah is planning on giving Rome a socially distanced tour of some of the properties that his company has invested in. Rome on the other hand said that the Pinpoint Building Group is starting to gain more momentum and they are searching for investors and their first piece of property. 

SFDBA network of disability-owned businesses supports entrepreneurs like Rome to fulfill their dreams. To learn more about the SFDBA and become a member, click here: www.sfdba.org or email: info@sfdba.org To learn more about Rome and the work he is doing email: romemjones@gmail.com

 

Survive & Thrive During & After COVID-19

How Can Disability Owned Businesses Survive & Thrive During & After the COVID-19?

Disability owned businesses are vital to the Bay Area and Northern California communities. We must continue to strategize, stay engaged and connected to ALL resources and partners. Historically disability owned businesses are creative and stay agile to the changing environment and economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic shelter in place, businesses locally have adapted to their environment to insure supplies and provisions are available.

1. Continue to improvise and adjust to your environment: Stay nimble- Is there something else you can offer your clientele OR service delivery in a different way? A few examples of what businesses in the Bay Area are doing:

• Seven Stills pivoted from making whiskey and beer to hand sanitizer: https://www.sevenstillsofsf.com/sanitizer
• Mozzeria Pizzeria is doing take out and delivery: https://www.mozzeria.com/
• HumanMade is making masks on their 3D printers: https://www.humanmade.org/
• AbilityHacks is moving their innovative meetups to an online format for the time being to keep their community connected and innovations: https://abilityhacks.org

The San Francisco Disability Business Alliance (SFDBA) is willing to consult with businesses owned by individuals with disabilities to insure that they are financially solvent and considering all options.

2. Evaluate business strategy and reshape strategy to insure continuity:

• Assess cash flow, financial risks, distribution, overhead and supply chain
• What operational risks need to be cut or adjusted? 
• Stay attuned to suppliers and consider alternate suppliers if need be
• Consider minimum operating requirements
• Consider alternate sources of capital, debt refinancing or additional credit support from banks or government entities, curtail unnecessary spending

Communication with all stakeholders and transparency is essential to insure flow of business and expectations from all involved. Stay engaged with all stakeholders to insure fluid delivery of goods and services and keeping the business solvent. 

3. Communicate with relevant stakeholders and stay engaged with your community:

• Keep customers apprised of adaptations or modified schedules/delivery of goods and services 
• Communicate changes and resources to employees and allow flexible work schedule and working from home if possible
• Discuss terms of loans with creditors & investors
• Stay in touch with suppliers regarding delivery of goods and services 

The SFDBA can provide advocacy to assist with connection to resources. Systems navigation can be challenging and isn’t always intuitive. The SFDBI can consult with businesses to make sure they are finding the right resources for their businesses’ needs.

4. What resources are available to help support your business or employees?

• SBA loan resources: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options
• California state loan resources: https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019/
• Work reduction strategies: https://sfmade.org/blog/work-reduction-strategies/
• Employment Development Department Work Sharing Program:  https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
• Rent relief negotiation tactics: https://sfmade.org/blog/rent-relief-negotiating-tactics/
• Resources for businesses and employees: https://oewd.org/resources-businesses-and-employees-impacted-covid-19

Now is the time to prepare for the ‘new normal’. If we all stay nimble and think outside the box we will be more equipped and ready for the changes ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic will increase our humility and sense of humanity. It will also increase our ability to improvise and adjust to circumstances that are sometimes beyond our control. Stay positive, stay safe and stay connected to your resources and guideposts to weather the storm.

5. Build resilience now to be prepared for the new normal

• Take action and develop your strategies now to determine how you will flex with the changing times
• Review your business plan- How can you change course to make sure that you are heading the right direction?

Services Offered:

• Annual Membership to SFDBA with access to networking & educational events
• Assisting business owners with finding the right resources for their small business needs
• Provide business advising and peer to peer mentorship
• Assist disability-owned businesses to pursue preferential business certifications

SFDBA contact Information: 

Peter C. DeHaas

Founder & Executive Director 

San Francisco Disability Business Alliance (SFDBA) 

415-650-6841

peter@sfdba.org

www.sfdba.org

SFDBA 2020 Launch Breakfast

On Monday March 2nd the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance had their kickoff breakfast at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco. Over 100 people attended the event including disability owned businesses, small business supports, advocates, students, local leaders, elected officials and allies. On Monday March 2nd the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance had their kickoff breakfast at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco. Over 100 people attended the event including disability owned businesses, small business supports, advocates, students, local leaders, elected officials and allies.

Executive Director Peter DeHaas started the event with a brief history and background of the SFDBA and their vision for the coming year. The SFDBA will create a directory of disability owned businesses, co-sponsor two entrepreneurial events, engage more disability-owned businesses and create referral contacts for services and supports. Following Peter was San Francisco Chamber of Commerce President and native San Franciscan Rodney Fong. Rodney conveyed the importance of inclusion in business. 

SF Chamber President & CEO Rodney Fong

DeHaas talks with Drew McPherson & Francisco Peralta from AbilityHacks

DeHaas then lead a fireside chat with the following disability-owned businesses from the Bay Area including Mozzeria the nation’s first and only deaf owned pizzeria, Yantern an entrepreneurial support organization for folks with all types of disabilities, AbilityHacks an incubator of assistive tech solutions by and for individuals with physical disabilities and Desgin Trifecta an innovative custom woodworking manufacturer and producer of the famous 360 Knife Block design. They all discussed their experiences owning businesses, challenges and advantages to being an entrepreneur.

DeHaas chatting with Russ & Melody Stein of Mozzeria and Yantern

Lloyd Lewis from ARC Thrift of Colorado reflected on the importance of inclusion in business and shared some of his experiences and successes. Senator Scott Wiener finished the event with a riveting story about his own father who struggled with epilepsy and went on to be an ophthalmologist.

Lloyd Lewis from ARC Thrift 

State Senator Scott Wiener delivering keynote speech

The SFDBA would like to thank all of the disability-owned businesses who participated, its sponsors, strategic partners, allies and other partners who participated. The inaugural SFDBA launch was a complete success and we look forward to the momentum of this event creating more connectivity in the community and carrying us into our programming for 2020! Please email peter@sfdba.org if you would like to learn more or become a part of our growing alliance.

https://360knifeblock.com/

https://www.mozzeria.com/

https://www.yantern.com/

https://abilityhacks.org/

All photos © Meria.Agency

https://www.meria.agency/