Pockets of Knowledge

Jan Bernstein Chargin has lived in Gilroy since 2001. She was born and raised in New York City and moved to California after her graduation from Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics. Her early career included working as a manufacturing supervisor at Frito-Lay, several years as an independent artist, gigs in catering, retail, and caregiving, as well...

Born and raised in East San Jose, CA. Annette Gonzales Jones grew up in a family and community of hard-working individuals that strived to provide opportunities for a better future for their children through education. She carries great gratitude for the life lessons of her family and community, especially from those who were not able to pursue higher education. As a Latina and first-generation co...

Kitty Lai is a passionate Brand Design expert and Founder of ME Brand - a Brand & Design service. With over 20 years of industry experience and managing design teams for global brands, she is now inspired to help businesses and professionals who offer products or services create an impact on their audience using the power of branding, design, and visual communication. She’s bringing her skill...

Julie was born in Los Angeles and quickly moved with her parents to San Jose, California when she was eight years old. Her parents divorced when she was 15 years old. She received her bachelor's in Art History at San Jose State University and her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology at the College of Notre Dame. She is currently in the second year of her Ph. D. in Criminal Justice. She has bee...

Hiba Weber is Co-Founder/ CEO of SellerMobile. Over a decade ago, Hiba started an online brand. One brand lead to more brands, and they started selling in multiple marketplaces and they hit $20 million in annual sales. It was technology, that they built around their e-commerce businesses that gave them an edge in the marketplace (and an eventual successful exit). They built on the technology and l...

Nora Dunn, aka The Professional Hobo, sold everything she owned (including a busy financial planning practice) to travel the world in 2006. She has enjoyed a travel lifestyle ever since and is considered one of the original Digital Nomads and Lifestyle Travel Bloggers. Specializing in slow travel, she has lived in and traveled through over 75 countries while working remotely. She combines her expe...

Amy Wees is the CEO of Amazing at Home E-Commerce Consulting, a world-renowned company that has helped thousands of brands launch private label products on Amazon and beyond! Amy's knowledge in product development, sourcing, marketing, and sales has enabled her to help countless entrepreneurs develop their own successful businesses.  Amy's courses and consulting are ranked among the best in t...

Desiree Stanley is a long-time business owner, serial entrepreneur, and newbie podcaster. She’s dedicated to showcasing the amazing women she knows and meets in order to share knowledge, expertise, and life lessons so that everyone grows. She is a mother of two nearly adult daughters, a wife for 27 years, and a 10+ years runner living near San Jose, California. She received her degree in Psycholog...

Meghala Divakaran is a former Program Manager in a high-tech company and is now a cottage food baker! Her journey has been an interesting one. She started her own company, Vegan Superfoods, a cottage food business that offers vegan, nut-free, gluten-safe energy bars and cookies to fulfill a personal need (that ultimately changed into a business proposition) to have access to quality sources of pro...

Dr. Reena Patel is a board-certified cardiologist practicing in Los Angeles. Motivated by her desire to impact the lives of patients over their lifespans positively, Dr. Patel has spent much of her career cultivating a practice based on preventive medicine. Being able to treat existing heart disease is a true scientific achievement but she believes that preventing the epidemic of heart disease bef...

Cathie Gillespie Physical Therapist, MPT. She is originally from Colorado but has lived in San Diego for the past 30 years. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1992 with a BS in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. She moved to San Diego in 1992 while working in a PT clinic and applying to graduate school for Physical Therapy. She graduated from the Western University of Health Scienc...

Kiah is the founder and director of Pacific Pups Rescue in Los Angeles, and the co-founder and CEO of Pacific Pups Products. Kiah started her non-profit animal rescue in 2016 with the goal of rescuing the dogs and cats who were being overlooked in the high-kill shelters of Los Angeles. She wanted to help the dogs that most others were leaving behind . She and her fiance were funding it from their...

Janene has over 40 years of knowledge in all areas of the mortgage business. Having spent many years on the operations side, Janene has the expertise to analyze a client’s financial situation to determine the best loan product to fit their needs. From the high-net-worth client to the first-time home buyer, Janene provides safe and sound financing solutions. As a mother and grandmother, Janene...

Nikki has been teaching Pilates for over 14 years now. A Southern California native, she recently moved to Northern California after spending 10 years living in Seattle, WA. During her time in Washington, she owned & operated (4) Pilates studios. Her original studio was a labor of love called Intimate Pilates, the other (3) were part of the Club Pilates Franchise. She was the Grand Prize Winne...

Michelle is a Mixed Media Artist, Workshop Instructor, and wanna-be homesteader. Known by her friends as Miko, she joined the art community later in life after her son graduated from high school and she found herself with extra time. She recently opened up her own Etsy Store, MikosStudio, to sell printable, digital copies of her artwork. Michelle offers large in-person workshops and private instru...

Christa’s mastery of social media and cutting-edge technology has helped her deal with the challenges of buying and selling real estate. She encourages clients to take advantage of her high-tech resources in the form of virtual home tours, top-notch photography, and a real-time market presence. Her website and YouTube channel feature informative and instructional videos that offer helpful tips for...

After leaving a teaching career in 2008, Fiona Soutter saw the opportunity to establish an online business. The mother of three was drawn to the idea of being a ‘digital nomad’ - she wanted the flexibility of working anywhere, anytime. Fiona dedicated her efforts to learn about the world of digital marketing. She founded a consultancy business, spoke at events, published her book, Mumpreneurs Onli...

Discussing the role of Nutrition in overall health, well-being, healthy habits, and more with Melissa Yamashita. A 52-year-old wife, mother of 2 boys, 2 dogs, and full-time High School Spanish teacher. She started exercising consistently about 15 years ago when her older son was a toddler. At the time working out had become her social event and escape. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutri...