ANNUAL COMPETITION AWARDS $50,000 TO LOCAL BUSINESSES
LAKEPORT >> The 1Team 1Dream finals held at Konocti Vista Resort on Sunday where a crowd of over 100 people saw Catherine Ann Reese of Reese Ranch Retreat walk away with the $20,000 to prize during the gala event.
After winning the top prize, Reese said, “I feel amazing. I’m honored to be a part of this competition. It took a lot of effort to reach in deep to share my story. I’m honored to have won the 1Team 1Dream small business competition. Life is full of challenges, I hope to inspire others.” She added, “Don’t let challenges stop you, let them push you to do even better in all areas of life, including business. That is what I’ve done.”
Hands Up Lake County/1Team 1Dream is the idea conceived by cofounders Maryann Schmid and Olga Martin Steele. According to their website,
“It’s a business competition to encourage and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in the community. Throughout the process, participants will have the opportunity to receive advice and mentorship from experienced business leaders with a proven track record in business.”
Prize money of $50,000 was earmarked for distribution to the top five finalists. Major sponsors included the Lodge at Blue Lakes, the City of Clearlake, Foods Etc., the City of Lakeport, and Lake County Tribal Health donated to make the prize money possible. Event sponsors included SMBC/Savings Bank of Mendocino County, First Community Credit Union, Law Office of Mary Heare Amodio, among many others.
Out of 50 applicants, five were selected for the finals: Reese, Ashley Ruth Garrigus of Wild Hope Bakery, Jennifer Marie Gayda of Bottle Rock Candle Studio in Cobb, Anahi Maria Silva of Party Ideas, Valeri Ann Stallings
of Send Rover on Over/doggie daycare, training, boarding and grooming, and as an alternate, Brianna Elisabeth Thomas of Red Feather Leather.
Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) sent a video congratulating the finalists, speaking of how good Hands Up Lake County is for the local economy and promising to be at next year’s gala event, in person.
The five finalists took to the stage for presentations of their businesses, which included financial projects and what they would do with the prize money. After each presentation, judges asked the contestants questions.
Gayda talked about how she would develop her web presence, expand the State market and hire two employees. She told how she was at her physical and mental limit of what she could do with the business, which so far has included her candles being in 18 stores throughout Northern California,
doing various local markets and events, private candle parties and fundraisers.
Garrigus told how she would would open a brick and mortar in Middletown, hire more employees for the bakery while still collaborating with local businesses for resources.
Reese told of her journey to create Reese Ranch Retreat, established in 2017. Her retreat won “Best Idea of the Year” for Stars of Lake County in 2021. The idea: animal experiences, goat yoga and build-your-own stuffed animals. In 2022, with her competition winnings she will bring “backyard glamping” to Lake County where they will bring a Canvas Bell tent to a customer’s backyard, set it up, fully style it with luxury furnishings, complete with an in-tent movie experience.
Silva, told how she began Party Ideas, located in Clearlake. She told how she never had had a party as a young child and how she “became
the woman with magical party ideas.” Her services and products include: party designs and events, custom piñatas, custom decor and coordination of party logistics. She said she would use her competition winnings to purchase a large format printer and cardboard cutting machine.
Valeri Ann Stallings of Send Rover on Over, amused the audience with her ugly sweater story and how, when she showed the sweater she had bought online (and wore to the event) to her husband, he responded with, “You did not tell me we had been invited to an Ugly Sweater party!” With any competition winnings, Stallings is going to expand her dog grooming business by purchasing a grooming tub, table and supplies, purchasing a grooming van and all grooming contents plus training for the grooming interns.
All finalist spoke of plans for “paying it forward,” giving back to the community and other businesses.
During the judges’ deliberations, Andre Williams/ vocalist, songwriter and producer, entertained the crowd with classic songs such as “Unforgettable.” He even amazed the audience with throwing his voice onto nine-year-old Blakely Morrow, who certainly looked like she was doing her own singing.
Fifth place winner was Garrigus winning $4,000. Fourth place went to Gayda winning $6,000. Third place was Silva of Party winning $8,000. Second place was Stallings of Send winning $12,000.
Stallings also won the Fan Favorite Award and Brianna Elisabeth Thomas (alternate) of Red Feather Leather won the Founders Award.
Clearlake’s City Manager Alan Flora, gave closing remarks. He spoke about community involvement and that he hopes the public will investigate businesses who did not make the finals as they are already out there doing business. He mentioned last year’s first prize winner, Lam Printing, and how they’ve doubled their business since winning 1Team 1Dream. He also laughed, giving a friendly jab to Lakeport’s city manager, Kevin Ingram. “Doing business in Clearlake is much better than Lakeport or other areas of the county.” Flora laughed again, “Sorry Kevin.”
The diminutive figure of Maryann Schmid, dressed elegantly in a short skirt and sparkly top, revealed that she and husband Peter have sold The Lodge at Blue Lakes to a family from San Jose. After handing over the microphone to Steele to read a letter from Chester Co, who plans to continue supporting Hands Up Lake County, Schmid said, “My retirement from The Lodge at Blue Lakes will mean that I’ll have more time to dedicate to 1Team 1Dream. We will have a bigger and better Hands Up Lake County 2022.”
Bruno Sabatier, District 2 Supervisor, said, “The entrepreneurial spirit in Lake County is alive and obvious through this program. I’m inspired by what I saw and I hope other people with business ideas and dreams can be inspired as well.”
Steele said, “It is very humbling to hear the stories, the challenges, that these small businesses have endured and so rewarding that they want to be here. These business are going to bring to life the slogan ‘Shop Local.’ They’re bringing the choices, they’re bringing the services so that we can actually experience that vision of shopping local. That’s where we’re going, one small business at a time.”
“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal,” Schmid said.
To visit 1Team 1Dream website, go to: www.1team1dream.net