Episode 65: Small Business Panel

Other Episodes: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104

EHS Pilates, San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations, Beacon Economics and SF Treasurer & Tax Collector's Office

Stay updated on future episodes by subscribing to Voices of the Community on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, or where ever you listen to your podcasts

“We see the light at the end of the tunnel. We definitely, again, I'm trying not to use the word pivot anymore. I feel like I've pivoted. So many times that I'm just pivoting in a big circle right now” - Tracey Sylvester

Welcome to our one-hour special panel discussion on small businesses. In today’s special episode we wanted to provide a broader understanding of the status of our small businesses by bringing together voices from small business owners, members of merchant associations that represent multiple small businesses across the City of San Francisco along with the San Francisco Treasurer & Tax Collector's Office and an economist to provide us insights on how the pandemic has impacted our small business community from the individual to the regional

Maryo Mogannam

Maryo is President of the San Francisco Council of District Merchants. A Palestinian immigrant, I was raised in West Portal. My mother, a widow with 5 children in tow, settled in West Portal when I was 7. She got tired of getting evicted for having too many children. The only solution was to buy, and West Portal was the perfect place to raise a family back then. It still is.

I was a little immigrant kid during the summer of love. My mom wanted to get back on the plane and go back home. Could you imagine the culture shock? I was no taller than most hemlines on miniskirts! Being the youngest of 5, I learned to step back, take notes, and learn from the folly of others.

Fast forward a few decades and I became co-founder and CEO of The Postal Chase Inc. We have 4 locations - all in San Francisco. I am also the President (emeritus) of The West Portal Merchants Association. In 2000 I ran for supervisor in District 7 and I was the co-founder of the Cole Street Fair in 2004.

Tracey Sylvester

Tracey started her Pilates career when she joined EHS as a business manager in 2004. In 2007 She purchased the business from Ellie Herman along with her business partner Nancy. As of 2016 Tracey is the sole owner of EHS and is looking forward to applying for Legacy Business Status in SF in a few years. Tracey has completed her teacher training journey and is currently training as an apprentice.

Before her time at EHS, she had worked in the optical industry for over fifteen years as a general manager, media spokesperson, new business developer, and a licensed optician. Tracey also works in the service industry and has a passion for food and wine; volunteering for 18 Reasons and Slow Food Nation which keeps her current in farm to table education and trends in the movement. She now bartends a few days a week at the American Conservatory Theater. Tracey is a 20 year resident of the Mission District and has been dancing for the local go-go dance group The Devil-Ettes, off and on, as The Rebel, since 1998.

In 2007 She is the co-founded the United Pilates Collective, which existed to create a dynamic community that provides benefits, business support and information sharing for the Pilates professional. Tracey’s passion is to bring a sense of community to EHS Pilates and give her clients an oasis from the day-to-day city grind. Tracey also believes that a Pilates studio can be fully integrated by incorporating a wellness center; focusing on energy, health, and strength. Expanding on that vision she launched the EHS Restorative & Therapeutic Yoga program in 2017. She is passionate about the EHS Mission Collective periodic events at EHS; bringing the SF art, music and performance community together to celebrate neighborhood, community and culture.

Tracey has been serving as a Board Member of the Mission Merchant Association and a Member of the Valencia Corridor Merchant Association. Both rolls keeps her finger on the pulse of the neighborhood and allows her the opportunity to effect positive changes in the community she calls home.

Amanda Fried

Amanda is the Chief of Policy and Communications and oversees taxpayer assistance, communications, legislation, and financial empowerment initiatives for the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector.

Amanda joined the organization in October 2014. Prior to joining the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector, she served as Deputy Director in the Mayor’s Office of Housing, Opportunities, Partnerships, and Engagement (HOPE) for Mayor Ed Lee, as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor in New York City, and as a legislative aide.

Amanda grew up in Philadelphia and earned a B.A. in Political Science and Urban Studies from Stanford University, and a Masters in Public Administration from the New York University Wagner School of Public Service. She lives in San Francisco with her family.

Adam J. Fowler

Adam J. Fowler is Director of Research at Beacon Economics. Mr. Fowler’s work focuses on regional economics, housing and urban policy, and the intersection of the creative economy and economic development. He leads the firm’s Sustainable Growth and Development practice and also serves as Director of Research at the UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development. Mr. Fowler holds an M.A. degree in Political Science from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas and pursued a Ph.D. in Political Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

San Francisco Council of District Merchants

Over the past seventy years, the San Francisco Council of District Merchants has distinguished itself by drawing together the disparate merchants’ associations in the neighborhood commercial districts of the City. Together, we have advocated for street lighting, traffic control, parking, and legislation to improve the business climate in the City.

Our Association members represent a variety of local businesses, including an eclectic mix of food and drink establishments, salons, spas, boutiques, schools, business services, entertainment venues, and more. Our Mission is to protect, preserve, and promote small businesses in San Francisco.

EHS Pilates

EHS Pilates strives to create an environment that embraces community, diversity, and total well-being. We are a Pilates-based movement studio and education center. We host a large array of group classes & private instruction offered by our licensed Pilates businesses that include: Pilates, Rehabilitative Pilates, Pre & Post Surgical Rehab, Foot and Gait Therapy, Preggo Pilates, Gentle Pilates, Bodhi, and Qi Gong. We only license with the most experienced and exceptional instructors who will help you look and feel your best.
EHS hosts:
• Private & Group instruction.
• CoreAlign providing core-controlled aerobic training while dramatically improving muscle tone.
• Foot & Gait Center providing pain-free solutions through better body mechanics.
• Movement & Manual Therapy featuring Chiropractic, Shiatsu Massage, Cranial Sacral therapy, medical weight loss, and alternative wellness.
• EHS Institute Teacher Training Program with course content provided by Balanced Body, an internationally recognized education provider.
• Preggo Pilates specializing in pre & post-natal fitness and Diastasis splinting and rehabilitation.

What Makes EHS Special?

While EHS Pilates is a neighborhood studio that serves the needs of our community, it is also an internationally recognized educational center. EHS is home to the EHS Institute, which provides top-caliber Pilates education, as well as continuing education for all movement professionals. We are the Bay Area’s premier presenter of master teachers in the mind-body arts and EHS Pilates only licenses with experienced and committed instructors. The atmosphere is bright and sunny; a place where people can share their knowledge and learn from each other.

The San Francisco Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

The San Francisco Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector serves as the banker, tax collector, collection agent, and investment officer for the City and County of San Francisco. As the entity responsible for safeguarding the City's money, the Office uses this expertise and authority to assist San Francisco residents through award-winning programs and initiatives that help low-income families build economic security and mobility.

Beacon Economic

Beacon Economics, LLC is an independent research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and objectively-based economic analysis that enables its clients to make informed decisions about investment, growth, revenue, and policy. The company is certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) with the state of California.

Founded in 2007, Beacon Economics entered the spotlight as one of the earliest and most adamant forecasters of the subprime mortgage market meltdown – and as one of a handful of organizations to stand against the tide and correctly calculate the depth and breadth of the global financial and economic crisis that followed.

The accurateness of its economic forecasting has helped establish Beacon as one of California’s most reputable economic research firms. The company’s specialized practice areas include Sustainable Growth and Development; Housing, Land Use and Real Estate Advisory; Economic and Revenue Forecasting; Economic, Fiscal, and Social Impact Analysis; Litigation Support and Expert Testimony; and Regional and Sub-Regional Analysis.

Unlike other consulting groups in this sphere, many of which are directed by MBAs or urban and city planners, Beacon Economics is led by, and works with, Ph.D. and Master’s level economists. The academic training and credentials of its experts set the firm apart and are at the root of its commitment to objectivity and analytic excellence.

Leveraging unique proprietary models, vast databases, proven methodologies, and sophisticated data processing, Beacon Economics’ work is used by a diverse array of private and public sector clients including major cities and counties across the western United States, Wall Street hedge funds, banks, and credit unions, the creative industries, public utilities, real estate developers and investors, leading sports franchises, and major entertainment events and venues.

Videos

To find out more about our Small Business Panel Check Out These Videos:

Subscribe to the Voices of the Community newsletter to stay updated on future episodes and issues that matter

“The resilience of the small businesses, but not as businesses, but as a community. We’re all business people and you think we’re business people. But we’re not just business people. I live in San Francisco. My kids go to school in San Francisco. I’m a consumer, I’m a small business person, but the way I saw my merchants come together, it really was, you know, almost tear jerky inspiring ”

— Maryo Moganna,President,San Francisco Council District Merchants Associations

Donate to Voices of the Community

We are fiscally sponsored by Intersection for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which allows us to offer you tax deductions for your contributions. Please consider making a donation to help us provide future shows just like this one. If you want to send us a check, please make checks payable to Intersection for the Arts and write [Voices of the Community] in the memo line of your check. This ensures that you’ll receive an acknowledgement letter for tax purposes, and your donation will be available for our project.