Published in the July 20 – Aug. 2, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Kathy Sullivan

Kathy Sullivan

Kathy Sullivan

Having just spent a week watching some of the world’s best female golfers play at the U.S. Women’s Open, I was reminded of other women I know who are tops in their fields. Downtown Morgan Hill has many examples of business women who are working hard in the career of their choice and making it look effortless.

While golfers work in their sport as single players, many of the women I talked with told me teamwork was the reason for their success.
Debra Creighton, owner of Huntington Station Sports Pub, was encouraged by her husband to open her first restaurant, Glory Days, 11 years ago. She is proud that more than 60 percent of her staff has been with her for six years or more. She enjoys the challenges of solving problems and the flexibility of running her own business.

Rosy Bergin has been co-owner of Rosy’s at the Beach with her husband Rich. While she started working for Rich at his San Jose restaurant before getting married, she is now making more of the decisions as Rich is slowly working his way into retirement.

When she first opened Rosy’s, she dealt with salesmen who were use to dealing with only male owners. After a rough first year, the salesmen either adapted or were replaced with those who would work more in sync with her business model.

Cecelia Ponzini not only works as a bookkeeper at her husband Gary’s Ponzini Community Garage and Towing, she has a full time commitment as CEO of the Edward Boss Prado Foundation.

Her personal struggles raising four children by herself at 20 gave her an empathy for the suffering of others. Showing respect and dignity while serving others is the motto she lives by. Ponzini gives much credit to her hard-working board of both men and women for the success of Cecelia’s Closet and Food Pantry, along with other humanitarian works.

Renee Carrillo, co-owner with her daughter of GVA Café since 2012, advises women or men interested in opening their own business to just go for it. She started with a flower shop to help provide income and experience for her daughter.

She has also been named as Stellar Business Owner by the National Association of Business Owners.

Murphy’s Mercantile, Tryst, Olivia’s Boutique, Betsy’s Restaurant and Lounge, A-Jay’s Cheese Steaks and Bikram Yoga are just of the few local businesses with women owners.

Our newest store, Stagnaro Tack and Apparel,at the location of the previous Kitchen Spatula, also has a female owner, Michelle Arani.
These women all serve as role models for everyone.

Kathy Sullivan is a board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.