Betty Porto, Anna Ouroumian, & Nancy Melikian Part I
Betty Porto is Vice President of Porto’s Bakery and Café with locations in Glendale and Burbank. Portos is a family-owned and operated café featuring a Cuban-style menu and a full bakery. Bettys mother Rosa Porto started the business in 1971 as an immigrant after arriving from Cuba.
Betty originally pursued a career in law while also working for her parents in the bakery. However, as the business grew, she and her siblings decided to pool their efforts and apply them to the family business. We loved the business, Betty says. We were proud parents of a growing business and we wanted to nurture it.
Bettys mother also changed careers paths due to unplanned circumstances. She went from being a teacher in Cuba, to making cakes in the United States. Life throws challenges your way, but with hard work and passion you can always achieve personal growth and, in turn, success, Betty says.
Betty says her mother is her career mentor, explaining that her hard work and vision demonstrated to Betty that everything is achievable. Having a career is challenging and Betty feels that women need to know the sacrifices that accompany a career. She feels that women need to be in a place on their lifes path that allows them the ability to juggle their personal lives with their careers. Success, according to Betty, is a continuous motion that leads you to the next level of growth.
For the last 10 years, Anna Ouroumian has been President and CEO of the Academy of Business Leadership (ABL) in Rosemead. Anna is responsible for setting the strategic vision of the organization, for its fundraising, development of programs, and success in executing the organizations vision and mission. Her goal is to transform ABL into a national and international non-profit organization, affecting the lives of millions worldwide.
One of the visions Anna works toward is the unique task of helping youth see themselves as leaders now versus 20 years from now. She believes that young people can be in charge of their lives today rather than later, and they are capable of making meaningful contributions to their families, their communities, their country, and their world while building financial prosperity and fulfillment for themselves.
Anna has had several mentors in her life, but one that made an everlasting impression recently passed away. Adrienne Hall is a leader among leaders, Anna says. Adrienne helped Anna by providing career advice and guidance. In 2003, Adrienne nominated Anna for the Harvard Womens Leadership Board and in 2006 helped her earn the Trusteeship of the International Womens Forum. Anna plans to continue Adrienne Halls work. I have become compelled to continue my mentors legacy of empowering young girls and women through the international component that I created at ABL.
Nancy Chapman Melekian is the President of Milestone Products, Inc. in Monrovia, a business that commemorates lifes special moments and significant milestones. Milestone Products specializes in the production of custom lapel pins that commemorate and promote organizations, businesses, events, and charities with powerful, classy and affordable custom designs. Milestone Products was incorporated in 1983, and Nancy has been its president for the last 17 years.
Nancy believes that as an entrepreneur, having a passion for your projects end result motivates the process of each endeavor. She feels that her clients are the type of people who work to make a difference in the world and those who help create a sense of community through festivals, events and organizations. Nancy feels proud to contribute to their efforts.
Being a member of community organizations stretches Nancys understanding of all the facets of the community. She credits the level of her companys success for allowing her the opportunity to share marketing skills and donate custom products to organizations in her community who can benefit from increased visibility.
Nance feels that in order to respond to changing demographics and increase business, they must strive to be responsible for adhering to business and social standards and ethics within their international production teams. Her company is committed to best business practices without sacrificing quality and price to their clients.
Duration : 0:8:39
