My name is Erika Garcia, I am an only child to a beautiful mother named Rosa Keith. I am married to a US NAVY Officer for over 15 years and am super proud of his career. I was given the opportunity to call San Diego home, and I did! I have lived in San Diego County for over 30 years and I keep devouring all its opportunities. I have worked in Customer Service and sales, Sales Manager, Director of Sales and Marketing, Business Owner, and City Volunteer.
About Erika Garcia
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family and I were born in Lima, Peru; however, we call San Diego HOME! I come from humble beginnings, I discovered San Diego, CA at the age of 5, and I was encouraged and raised to conquer the world. I was raised in a single-parent household, with my mother and grandmother by my side I learned to be strong, tough, courageous, and compassionate. These two ladies knew that this new life would come with numerous challenges for me. I was a foreigner, didn’t speak English, and was a woman from humble beginnings. However they taught me that instead of using these as challenges, they were my gifts to the world.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I joined the workforce at a young age in customer service at a restaurant, which was my real exposure to customer demands. It helped me listen to what clients’ needs were, de-escalate situations, and overall provide a great customer experience. From there, I went on to work for various companies, a jewelry store, and office copier equipment, always working my way up through positions. I eventually landed my most significant opportunity with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. This position would allow me to be surrounded by a high-profile community of local business leaders, and entrepreneurs at various stages of success. This reignited my love and passion for customer service, listening to clients’ needs, and helping them thrive. This dream position was short-lived as I had recently married a US NAVY service member, and we were relocated to Virginia Beach, VA. After three years, we were on our way back HOME to San Diego! A place where I had established my career roots, knew the lay of the land, and had made business connections throughout my entire life. Now, back in San Diego, I had the opportunity to put my pedigree to the test; I bought a franchise. With the support of my family and community, I was on my way to make a difference. On a mission to create a footprint in my hometown, San Diego, and walk along with all my fellow entrepreneurs. I can honestly say San Diego’s business community is a tight one. We all step aside and want to truly see every industry succeed. Do not confuse this with being easy; it was not, but it was a challenge I enjoyed along the way. I did not start this business from the ground up; however, this doesn’t mean that many changes did not have to be made. It probably would have been less complicated to have a startup than something existing, but I was up for the test. Then, just as everything was landing into place, COVID-19 came along. Who would have known that this pandemic would devastate so many lives? We quickly shifted from an in-person business to an online platform for our clients. I closed our office down for one week and created materials that would still satisfy my client’s needs, that would provide the overall experience they were used to, and something I could be proud of. The goal was to survive until this was over, but something greater happened. We thrived! We created a solution to a problem that others were having a challenging time facing. We risked going against the norm to survive. I had worked too hard to get here; my staff had too much passion to give up now. My family believed in me to make this business thrive not only when it was easy but also when it was hard. Again, we were settling into our new normal, with a new platform to add to our offerings, when another opportunity came along. As the business had grown, it grabbed the attention of many, and selling for a profit was now an option. I had to rely on my community partners with their expertise to advise me, and I reached out for legal, and financial, counsel. Every connection I had ever made at this moment was important. We all ended up with the same conclusion: this was an offer I could not refuse. As I settled into my success, I volunteered with numerous organizations in my new free time another door opened. This would be my full circle moment, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. As a business owner, I was an active member of the Chamber. I also volunteered to lead two of their Business Alliance groups. This is where I kept my relationships with power partners in San Diego fresh, current, and alive. I never thought this would be a possibility. I had so much more to give this time around. I had learned to start from nothing when relocating to a new city. I had been in business and had to navigate through getting a business licensing, hiring staff, creating a handbook, accruing customers in a pandemic, and selling. Now, I get to teach, guide, and advocate for those in similar situations to what I was in. I know when you buy your first business, you can’t sleep at night. I know the emotional rollercoaster of your first sale and then having it returned, or the client changing their mind. I know the feeling. I know how important it is to build your own community of power partners within your city. For me, San Diego was and continues to be a captivating city, full of opportunities and determined individuals. Could I have done this in any other city? Maybe, but I would not want to! On the path to my current success. I have learned many skills that have allowed me to seize opportunities and capitalize on them with my community partners in San Diego.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The advice my grandmother gave me, work out the problem. There will always be obstacles and problems along the way; “work out the problem”.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Following my own advice, continued growth to be ready for more opportunities to come. I am working on creating a platform that allows me to use my skills to help others in business.
Erika Garcia & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Eli’s Peruvian Kitchen, Nicolosi’s Santee and Pietros Pizza Cucina Italiana.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in San Diego for a total of 30 years!
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Our military servicemen, active, veterans, and retired. To volunteer your life for our country without any questions is very interesting to me. To understand the value of our home and freedom, to provide protection on a daily basis makes them interesting people to me.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Old Spaghetti Factory in Downtown: I remember going there for family dinners, then going on special occasions for school dances, proms, and dates, and I had several holiday parties for my staff.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The diversity in culture and businesses. Being originally from South America, it is so nice and heartwarming to be able to attend a restaurant with familiar food or go to a festival that reminds you of your roots. I volunteer as a mentor for new entrepreneurs, and hearing about the diversity in business starting up, and creating solutions to problems within our community is amazing.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, and Neil Armstrong. I would love to learn about challenges in their lives, how they felt, and what motivated them. I would ask, now that they made it or become famous, what continues to motivate them.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Martian, Armageddon, TOP GUN
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I am more analytical than people think based on how I carry myself.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Even with it’s ups and downs, my life! I rate my life a 10 out of 10; every bump has made my life even more beautiful!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mother, My grandmother, and my husband!
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
Fleet Week of San Diego,
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
My mother, My grandmother, and my husband! All three have shown levels of determination, grit, and passion for what they believe in.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
La Mesa, Ca
What I love about my Neighborhood:
Accessibility and friendliness
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Going to my local bakery for coffee and pastry, thanking the owner for waking up early to service us. Meeting up with family and friends at Balboa Park or Zoo to see the history that we at times forget being so busy. Then ending our evening with a local winery while enjoying their house wine. Speaking with the owner on their story and falling in love with San Diego all over again.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Peaceful, Hospitable and Enjoyable
