They are young. They are hardworking. And at a time when
good-paying employment is hard to come by in San Benito County,
they’ve created their own dream jobs and are enjoying each minute
at them. Guided by passion and strong business ethics that espouse
honesty, straight-forward communication and a love of their
product, these three entrepreneurs have all found success
– very close to home.
Hollister – They are young. They are hardworking. And at a time when good-paying employment is hard to come by in San Benito County, they’ve created their own dream jobs and are enjoying each minute at them. Guided by passion and strong business ethics that espouse honesty, straight-forward communication and a love of their product, these three entrepreneurs have all found success – very close to home.
Fence-builder turned wine-maker enjoys the sweet taste of success
Frank Leal, the 33-year-old owner of Leal Vineyards, is the definition of a self-made man. He works hard and plays hard and says there is nothing else he’d rather be doing than making wine. Last year, the winery, which opened in 2001, sold 10,000 cases, double the amount of the previous year and expects $2 million in sales this year. Leal’s wine is sold in seven states and the business was recently named one of the top 20 best new wineries in the world by Food & Wine magazine.
“When you have a love for a product, you don’ just stop when it’s OK,” said Leal. “You go further.”
The young entrepreneur attributes his success to his working class roots as one of four kids in a family of Portuguese immigrants. Even on the weekends, Leal and his three brothers and sisters worked alongside their parents at their East San Jose home, where he formed a work ethic that he has carried throughout his life. From his father, he learned not only how to swing a hammer, but how put up a fence and put the knowledge to use by starting his own fencing company when he was only 17. The business was wildly successful and after less than a decade, Leal had 25 employees working for him. It was there that he learned about bidding, budgeting and managing a staff, skills he says he applies to his winery, located off Fairview Road, every single day. But what also motivates Leal, who never attended college, is his intense desire to win.
“I am the kind of person who wants to be in the limelight,” he said. “It takes a lot of effort to be the best but it’s what drives me.”
In 1999, Leal headed to Napa and worked at a friend’s winery. There he learned about the subtleties of a grape and how to coax the best tasting wine from the fruit. Two years later, he sold his business and bought land in Hollister and began building his next enterprise with his own hands. His childhood friend, David Griffith, helped out and Leal eventually hired him as his wine maker. Today, Leal Vineyards is so popular that weddings there are now being booked for 2006 and sales are expected to increase. Leal doesn’t think his success is an accident, but the direct result of his passion.
“If you get up every morning and you are not enjoying yourself, then you lack the bounce…and you should not be doing it,” he said.
More than just PR, San Juan local finds unique space with marketing company
It’s not uncommon for Jennifer Roybal-Marquez to stay up until 4am creating a radio commercial for a client, making sure it is done just right. That’s just the kind of person the 30-year-old resident of San Juan Bautista is, who founded her own advertising and marketing agency and has an office in Old Town Salinas. Since 1999, Seal Rock has helped hundreds of local businesses get more exposure through radio and television ads, billboards and monthly newsletters. The company also carved a niche for itself by catering to the Hispanic market, which Roybal-Marquez said was largely under-served before her arrival on the scene. Today, it has upwards of 30 clients and averages a $1 million a year. A second office in San Francisco is also in the works.
But the start was far from glamorous.
Roybal-Marquez began by selling her fledgling door-to-door in San Juan Bautista, where her family is from. And despite initial rejection, the young entrepreneur persevered.
“I pounded the pavement everyday,” recalls Roybal-Marquez. Her first client was a horseshoe maker in San Juan Bautista, which led to more expensive accounts. Seal Rock’s clients include restaurants like Doña Ester’s in San Juan Bautista, Latin music groups and private firms.
Ambition, passion and hard work, coupled with a close relationship with clients, are what have made her successful, said Roybal-Marquez. Seal Rock’s cutting edge technology – all of their equipment is digital – doesn’t hurt either and helps the company produce ads that are tailored to the needs of their clients.
“What makes us most excited is helping somebody encapsulate their dream in 30 to 60 seconds,” she said.
But if it wasn’t for a family illness, Roybal-Marquez’s life could very well have taken a different turn. After graduating from San Francisco State, the 30-year-old went to work for Apple Computers, climbing the ranks at the Silicon Valley giant to senior management before she was 25. But in 1999 her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died soon after.
“The business is a tribute to my mother,” she said.
In addition to her business, Roybal-Marquez sits on the Artichoke board and that of the American Red Cross. She is also working on a documentary to prevent kids from drinking and driving, which Seal Rock plans on donating to local schools.
“This is a dream come true,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Mixing it up: San Juan’s salad king has roots in San Benito County
When you pick up a bag of salad mix at the grocery store, think of Stephen Wyrick. Although he doesn’t like to brag, the 36-year-old owner of Pride of San Juan is a huge part of the $25 million salad mix industry which has become synonymous with convenience in a fast-paced world. In its decade of business, Pride of San Juan has grown into a powerhouse that employs over 500 people during harvest and about 50 year-round. And at a 20 percent annual growth rate, Pride of San Juan is poised to get even bigger. Currently, the company is adding 200,000 acres of processing and greenhouse equipment, which means more jobs and more product. Several years ago, the company expanded its operations to Yuma, where it farms spring mix from late November through April.
Farming runs deep in Wyrick’s family, who have worked land in San Benito County for five generations.
Wyrick did not want to be interviewed by The Free Lance, sighting an old farmer superstition that talking about success is bad for business.
But Paul Matulich, the county agriculture commissioner, said the company was not only the largest agricultural employer in the county, but also pumped money into pest control and fertilizer businesses.
“It has done wonders for the local economy,” said Matulich. “Wyrick is a very knowledgeable young man.”
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
