When it comes to creating hot cocoa bombs, cake pops and other scrumptious confections, Annalisa Anzar basks in the sweet smell of success.
She runs her small business, AA Desserts, out of her Stockton apartment’s kitchen, where she creates gift boxes and elaborate dessert displays for events. To grow the business, she recently joined the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for inspiration and advice.
“They really encouraged me to get involved with the events … and put myself out there more,” Anzar said.
These days, however, it’s not just the Hispanic chamber that’s giving fledgling businesses an edge. Rather, the chamber, with about 300 members, also collaborates with the African American and Asian chambers as well to put on bigger events and to increase the groups’ joint clout.
Together, as the San Joaquin County Ethnic Chambers Alliance, they have about 1,000 members combined in businesses that employ an estimated 75,000 workers. Those kinds of numbers give power to organizations that once felt powerless.
Before the three groups came together, “we weren’t invited to the table. We didn’t have a voice,” said Lisa Vela, the Hispanic chamber’s CEO. “We have a little more respect now.”
Each of the chambers had their own strengths that are now shared with the alliance. The Hispanic chamber is closely aligned with its state organization, which puts an emphasis on advocacy and shaping policy. The African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County has a program called SJ Boost, which aims to provide mentoring, technical assistance and coaching. The Central Valley Asian-American Chamber of Commerce is especially strong in working with smaller businesses.
The three chamber’s leaders talk frequently and meet with elected officials and other influential individuals.
The idea of combining the groups, when needed, took root in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many unexpected challenges during that time, business needs called for creativity.
Many businesses were forced to move from their storefronts to operating entirely online or using delivery services to reach homebound customers who were suddenly ordering everything from sushi to socks. Idled by the regular jobs with bills to pay, some workers were forced to try to create businesses.
“If you can’t get a job somewhere, you’ve got to do it yourself,” said Leslie Edman, executive director of the Central Valley Asian-American chamber.
Vela recalls one go-getter, a woman who built a business during the pandemic shutdowns delivering batteries — size AAA to heavy automotive cells — to homebound families.
The three ethnic chambers realized they encountered many of the same issues when it came to helping members cope with new situations. To help businesses get through, the chambers set up online workshops to show business owners how they could survive and thrive.
Today, the chambers continue the collaborate, coming together in person for mixers and events. They still wrestle with joint problems that face their members. For instance, one of the most vexing of all facing small businesses: Access to capital and landing contracts.
“Our minority-owned businesses are not getting as many opportunities as other, larger businesses or those outside San Joaquin County,” Vela said. “We are trying to uncover these disparities.”
The chambers also tackle myriad other topics that can otherwise deter small business formation. It might be insurance, licensing, permitting or procurement.
“Sometimes the work we do isn’t sexy, but it’s meaningful,” Vela said.
One member of the Hispanic chamber who is succeeding is Anzar. A single mom with sons ages 2 and 4, she was laid off from her job in a dental assistant in 2020. Looking for a new path, she listened to her friends who lavished praise on her cooking and baking skills.
She started AA Desserts and crafts elaborate sweets in her kitchen, usually in the evenings after the boys have fallen asleep. She assembles elaborate gift boxes containing a range of confections. One distinctive specialty: Cocoa bombs — chocolate-covered orbs that when dropped into milk or water and stirred, burst open to create chocolate milk with the marshmallows floating to the top.
At first, she started selling online but has since tried to market through events like the ones sponsored by the chambers. She said she caught the attention of a Stockton police official at one event who liked her treats so much he hired her to cater a dessert bar for an awards ceremony. “He was over the moon with my desserts,” she said. Anzar said she embossed a police emblem atop a chocolate-covered Oreo, which was a hit.
Now, having created dreamy displays of her sweets, Anzar said she wants to cater a wider array of events, like baby showers and weddings. “Right now, that is my goal: Branch out,” she said.
Craig Wafer knows about branching out himself. Wafer, CEO of the African American chamber, was laid off from his software development job in the Bay Area after 20 years. He said he decided then to strike out on his own: “I wanted to find something where I can be the boss.” Now he works as an independent insurance agent.
It helps that the county is a hotbed of entrepreneurism, Wafer said. His chamber’s members include hairdressers, arts and crafts specialists, and others who struck out on their own and often are in need of advice — the kind that can be found through SJ Boosts.
Michael McDonald credits the SJ Boost program for giving him additional business skills.
McDonald launched his business, Michael’s Heavenly Sweets, after retiring as a juvenile detention officer in 2021. He sells his peach cobbler, chocolate-covered berries and a fall favorite, caramel apples, from his website and does special events.
He said he especially appreciates how the African American chamber is working with others.
“Unity is huge. You can accomplish more when you come together,” McDonald said.
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