In honor of Women’s History month, we wanted to honor some amazing women, who also happen to be our clients.
TMC Financing was built by women and proudly maintains a staff of over 50 percent women to this day. “I am a big believer of ‘lead by doing’ says founder, Barbara Morrison. “It is not enough to talk about promoting diversity and equality in the workplace. You must take action.” Building a company which is supportive of women has always been a priority for Barbara.
In addition, TMC Financing promotes the growth and development of female and minority-owned businesses throughout California and Nevada. Over the past 10 years, TMC has financed over 400 female-owned businesses.
In honor of Women’s History month, we wanted to honor some of the amazing women who are behind these businesses.
Anne McKibben, CocoaPlanet
Founder of CocoaPlanet, Anne McKibben, created a new concept for chocolate based on her early childhood memories of eating beautifully crafted European chocolates. She has created a state-of-the-art Chocolate Factory and modern French Cafe in downtown Sonoma. Her chocolates are based on refined taste and balance, insistent on the theory that chocolates should be good for you AND intensely satisfying. Her premium dark chocolates have 64% cacao and Pearls of Flavor. They are 100% natural, non-GMO verified, gluten-free tested, but best of all, are low in sugar at eight grams or less per round bar. .
McKibben utilized the 504 program to purchase and completely renovate a property in the heart of Sonoma, where she hosts chocolate and wine tastings, factory tours, and offers authentic French cafe fare. One-third of the CocoaPlanet building is used as the CocoaPlanet Tasting Room and Cafe that has a large glass window to view the production process. She has also added a large garden for additional outdoor seating for the cafe. Anne has crafted an incredible product and a successful business by chasing her dreams (and love for chocolate). You can find her award-winning creations at the Sonoma Market, Whole Foods, Oliver’s, Mollie Stone’s, Andronico’s, New Leaf Market, some hotels, and at many wineries and pharmacies and online at Amazon and at CocoaPlanet.com.
Dr. Sara Gordon, Marin Optimal Health
Dr. Sara Gordon,
Owner of Marin Optimal Health, is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine who specializes in Functional Medicine and Nutrition. She has over 30 years of experience plus 23 years as an owner/operator. Marin Optimal Health is dedicated to restoring health and helping patients make lifestyle changes that lead to lasting wellbeing. Dr. Sara provides her patients with the most comprehensive healthcare experience that makes a lasting difference in their lives.
Dr. Sara operates out of San Rafael in a building she purchased in February of 2016 with a 504 loan. By owning her own property, Dr. Sara was able to establish a home for her business and create a beautiful tranquil setting to make her patients feel relaxed.
Shoshana Uribe, Manzanita Wellness Clinic
Shoshana Uribe, Founder and Owner of Manzanita Wellness clinic in Berkeley, is a licensed Acupuncturist and Clinical Herbalist with her Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shoshana has been a massage therapist for over 10 years. Her practice is inspired by the body’s ability to heal and by a strong belief in our interconnectedness with Earth and each other.
A 504 loan allowed Shoshana to purchase the building she was operating out of and gave the business more than two times the amount of space they previously had, thus doubling the amount of wellness practitioners that occupy the building. With the expansion of the wellness center, Manzanita Collective, the business was able to house more healers and offer more services, workshops, and classes. The additional space also added another component to the revenue source, as they gained the capacity to sell herbal supplements and other products.
Shoshana has pursued a post-graduate study in Women’s Health and Pediatrics and has dedicated countless hours to the Women’s Community Clinic in San Francisco, the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, and the ACTCM Ear Clinic.
Natanya A. Moore, Little Elephant Montessori
Little Elephant Montessori School is a small, safe, home-like school with locations in Rockridge and Berkeley. Natanya A. Moore, Owner and Director, has over 10 years of ownership experience and 25 years of industry experience. Natanya works daily to support Little Elephant’s core values of Kindness, Peace, Passion for Learning, Community Building and Creativity. She is dedicated to fostering child development physically, socially, cognitively and spiritually by preparing the environment in peace, self-awareness, independence and respect.
Natanya used a 504 loan with TMC to purchase a new building in Berkeley to open a new campus location named Little Elephant too!
Kara S. Holtz, Law Offices of Kara S. Holtz
Kara S. Holtz is a Certified Family Law Specialist that has been practicing for almost 10 years. Holtz leads her 
practice to facilitate constructive change and is dedicated exclusively to resolving family law matters. Kara is a practicing attorney for the Superior Courts of California in San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Solano Counties.
Kara financed an acquisition of an office building in San Rafael with TMC to accommodate her growing business and provide long term stability.
Dr. Eva Littman, Red Rock Fertility
D
r. Eva Littman is the Founder of Red Rock Fertility, a modern, boutique-style fertility practice with a team-oriented approach to healthcare. The practice was founded in 2008 and has grown to be one of the most successful fertility centers on the West Coast. The Red Rock team prides themselves on specializing in challenging cases and helping patients that have been told they have a slim chance on conceiving. Dr. Littman was recently named as Nevada’s Small Business Person of the Year, an award she truly deserves.
Red Rock Fertility purchased a building at 9120 W. Russell Road in Southwest Las Vegas in December 2014 for their practice. The two-story, 12,500-square-foot building was purchased with an SBA 504 loan. TMC Financing provided $1.7 million of the project’s $4.7 million total cost.
TMC Financing is proud to have supported these incredible women and the businesses they built. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support the cause, here is a list of organizations aimed to promote women in the workplace:
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): NAWBO is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries; and with chapters across the country. With far-reaching clout and impact, NAWBO is a one-stop resource to propelling women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.
Financial Women Association (FWA): Financial Women of San Francisco advances the success of women in finance in the Bay Area. Formerly known as “The Financial Women’s Association of San Francisco,” we are an essential source of insight and inspiration to more than 300 financial women throughout the Bay Area.
Women in Commercial Real Estate (CREW): Exists to influence the success of the commercial real estate industry by advancing the achievements of women.
ASTIA: A community of experts committed to propelling women’s full participation as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses, fueling innovation and driving economic growth.
Elevate: Help women advance in the workplace, both for themselves and the greater good. We strive to change the culture of business from the inside out – by investing in women
American Business Women’s Organization (ABWA): Bring together business women of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition.