In the Cards

Gregory Perkins of African American Expressions grew a nationally-renowned card business from humble Sacramento roots

In 1991, Gregory Perkins was a Sacramento corrections officer struck by a calling to make a difference. He realized that most greeting cards lacked representation of the African American community. Perkins worked with his cousin, an artist, to develop three Afrocentric greeting card designs in an effort to create what he calls an “uplifting product that African Americans can take pride in.”

Oct 19, 2018 Eva Roethler

How to Have Hard Conversations in Family Business

Here are six tips to help family businesses have hard conversations in the workplace without taking things personally (although they can be applied to all types of businesses).

Oct 12, 2018 Kevin McCarthy

How Stroopwafels Helped Sacramento Legalize Food Bikes

Dutchman’s Stroopwafels may be the first business to cook on a bicycle in Sacramento, but local entrepreneurs have been finding creative ways to combine the area’s twin passions for cuisine and cycles for decades.

Oct 8, 2018 Jennifer Fergesen

Dilemma of the Month: Negative Feedback From Direct Reports

Recently, my boss held a meeting with my direct reports where they filled out a survey about my performance as their manager. When my boss shared the results with me, he disclosed that “someone” mentioned I wasn’t allowing my team to learn, but rather I was micromanaging them. In discussing my frustration with a peer, she expressed that he is not allowed to do this. Can you shed some light?

Oct 4, 2018 Suzanne Lucas

3 Steps for Using Discernment in Your Business

Discernment is a criminally underused tool of business owners. We often forget that the one person who knows the most about a company’s vision, mission, budget, team capacity, goals, strengths, weaknesses, projects and growth potential is not the random person who wandered into the store — but the owner of the business.

Sep 27, 2018 Kelly Azevedo