Thanks to Janet Mock for sharing my story.

Thanks to Janet Mock for sharing my story.

 I'm a local small biz owner

who brings the joy of cycling to the world!

San Francisco and More! Best Cities for Female Entrepreneurs

 

A Tran's Bay Bike Shop Is In the Right Place!

 Best Cities for Female Entrepreneurs

"Intuit published an infographic presenting the best cities for female entrepreneurs, as well as some interesting statistics about the state of women-owned businesses in the US. The report looked at median education levels, unemployment rates, income, population and percentage of business owned by women in each city to provide an overall score for female entrepreneurship.
San Francisco ranks number one, followed by Seattle, Washington DC, Minneapolis, and Portland...."

Read the rest here.

Great Writeup In the Small Business Bulletin!

Thanks so much--much appreciation for the OSB!

Full interview:

• Client Spotlight: A Tran's Bay Bike Shop
 
Tammy Powers owns the first and only bike shop on Treasure Island, A Tran's Bay Bike Shop. Tammy received assistance from OSB counselor, Christian Murdock and sits down with us for our September "Client Spotlight"...

Q: What type of business do you own and what makes you unique?
 
A: When people ask me what type of business I own, I jokingly tell them, with a bit of seriousness, that I sell time machines. "Use the product that I sell to you and you'll feel like a kid again." Although said more precisely... I own a bicycle shop. My shop is unique for 2 reasons, first: I'm the only bike shop on Treasure Island, and second; mine is the only bicycle shop in ALL of California owned by a male-to-female transsexual.  Our slogan is "We Love BIcyclists!"

Q: How was the Office of Small Business involved in assisting you?
 
A: The Office of Small Business has been involved in helping me in just about everything! I never owned a business in SF before and I never went to business school... so I had tons of questions about what to do and where to go simply in order for me to get started. I'm an excellent mechanic who loves bicycles; and because I'm transforming my gender found it difficult to get hired. So I created my own job and am very thankful to the OSB that they helped me accomplish that.

Q: Top 3 reasons for being a small business owner in SF?
 
A: The top 3 reasons for being a business owner in SF are: 1. It's one of the greatest cities in the world and the never-ending supply of tourists who visit us are a continuous cash flow. 2. The restaurants and entertainment here are second to none. 3. San Francisco warmly welcomes ALL business owners, even those of us who are transforming our gender.
 
A Tran's Bay Bike Shop
1 Avenue of the Palms #021
SF, CA 94130
415-678-5323
http://www.transbaybikes.com/
M-F 11:00 to 6:00, weekends 12:00 to 4:00

Click here for the original link

Dot429.com - A Tran's Bay Bike Shop Article

Here's the original link to the article about me: A Tran's Bay Bike Shop at Dot429.com

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A Tran's Bay Bike Shop on Treasure Island

Finding employment can be a rat race for anyone, but throwing transsexual on the top of your resume can sometimes guarantee job rejection. 

A Tran's Bay Bike Shop owner, Tammy Powers, is a transsexual woman with a mind made for mechanics. However, no one would hire her.  

Powers' resume was not the issue. She consistently received calls from companies requesting an interview, so being recognized as a promising candidate wasn't the problem.

“My resume is second to none,” Powers said in an interview with 429Magazine. "[But] I would show up for interviews and people's jaws would drop. People would say 'I didn't know a transsexual was applying for this position.'” Then they would dismiss her, shoeing her away by explaining that the position had been filled. 

This routine set the precedent for her continued job search, and Powers eventually became jobless and homeless. “I was living on the streets before I got my own money to start my own shop,” Powers admitted. 

Powers is breaking ground on many fronts. A transsexual woman and a Fuji authorized dealer, Powers owns her own bike shop, not to mention the only bike shop, on Treasure Island.

The shop, located on the Treasure Island waterfront, provides a perfect venue for bikers to buy, tune-up, or rent a bike. As a former automotive mechanic, Powers is more than capable of providing a tune-up, a complete bicycle service, or a simple pair of smooth wheels for those who want to rent for a day of island exploration. 

Located on 1 Avenue of the Palms, A Tran's Bay Bike Shop opened in February and is still in its soft opening stage. 

Power's explained that her gender identity has set the tone for the aesthetic appeal of the shop. 

“My business is prettier now, I have more of a woman's touch, I am more aware of what people are seeing aesthetically." She continued, “I painted my work bench pink!"

A grand opening is scheduled for May. 

429Magazine

TGForum Feature

Thanks to TGForum.com for sharing info about my shop!

Such an honor to be mentioned. It's a great site, great publication, great place for community.

Here is the original link to the writeup.

 http://www.tgforum.com/wordpress/index.php/the-week-in-transgenderism-95/

I Am Speaking At the SF LGBT Center On October 2, 2013

I Am Speaking At the SF LGBT Center On October 2, 2013.

I am sharing a link to the event, information about my speaking engagement and then the entire event below.

See you there!

Is Entrepreneurship Right for You?

 

Wednesday, Oct 2, 2:00p

The Sf Lgbt Community Center San Francisco, CA 

http://www.zvents.com/san_francisco_ca/events/show/349291183-is-entrepreneurship-right-for-yo

'Starting a business is a lot like becoming a parent. Not only do you have to prepare for your start-up emotionally and financially, but you have to be committed to its constant needs until it’s mature enough to hum along on its own. And even then (much like a child) it will always need you in some capacity, no matter how old it gets.' (Adapted from the Wall Street Journal Complete Small Business Guidebook)
There are many advantages to starting a business such as being your own boss, setting your own schedule and making a living doing what you enjoy. Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires thoughtful planning, creativity and hard work. Discover what it takes to achieve success in starting a business by learning first-hand about the entrepreneurs lifestyle from a panel of LGBT and allied business owners. You'll hear some of the challenges and successes they’ve encountered starting their businesses and get some tips from the trenches.

Panelists :
Anna Tvelova, Owner, Anda Piroski
Tammy Powers, Owner, Trans Bay Bike Shop (That's Me!)
Gavin Escolar, Owner, Gavin Escolar

Moderator: Nick Wolff, Small Business Services Manager
 


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Bicoastal LGBT Economic Empowerment Week & Career Fair Launches in San Francisco and New York

The San Francisco and New York Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Centers are jumpstarting prosperity for LGBT communities with a week events from Sept. 30 through Oct. 5.

(Originally posted on San Francisco Business Times here)

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/--Whether you're on the hunt for a job, looking to start a small business or just trying to get your finances in order, it's a tough economic climate nationwide-and it's especially challenging for members of the LGBT community, who face even steeper barriers in employment and overall financial well-being.

The San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center's Economic Development Department (SF Center), in partnership with New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (NY Center), aims to change that, and to jumpstart prosperity for the LGBT community with its annual, bicoastal Economic Empowerment Week & LGBT Career Fair, launching this year on Sept. 30 and running through Oct. 5.

This series of bicoastal events will showcase the breadth of opportunities available to the LGBT community and its supporters to increase their financial security and become empowered economically. The events will include industry insider panels and workshops that offer financial education and credit-building tips and strategies, job-search support, job placement-and much more. Last year's bicoastal event brought in more than 1,600 attendees, with 60 employers and 35 community partners participating.

Established in 2004, SF Center's Economic Development Department is the first initiative in the nation to comprehensively address the economic barriers faced by low- and moderate-income LGBT individuals and families.  The Center also created the first program for transgender job seekers and the first and only program offering free income-tax preparation for same-sex married couples. The results have been impressive. Every year, the SF Center:

• Helps more than 1,000 people get connected to jobs and employment services
• Partners with more than 50 employers for recruiting and empowerment events
• Provides technical assistance to 100 entrepreneurs and small businesses
• Educates and assists 150 families to obtain resources to purchase their first home
• Increases the credit scores of 50 people through our lending-circle program (which has an average credit score increase of 168 points)

"The myth that all gay people are affluent needs to be debunked," said Eugénie FitzGerald, director of economic development at the SF LGBT Center.  "Our LGBT community is diverse in every way, but reputable studies consistently demonstrate that LGBT people are more likely to be poor than our straight counterparts. LGBT people have long faced discrimination in employment, education, health care and economic supports, and those who face additional barriers, such as racism or ableism, are the most economically vulnerable. We are the first group in the country to design and implement solutions to LGBT poverty, and we are thrilled to showcase this innovation throughout Economic Empowerment Week and beyond."

In 2005, the New York LGBT Community Center also began helping the community connect with employers and companies through their LGBT Career Fair.  The Fair, supported by corporations, neighborhood businesses, community groups, LGBTQ student associations and business chambers, pointed a spotlight on the employability of the NYC LGBT community. The Fair has grown substantially every year, with the 2013 event showcasing more than 30 companies, welcoming more than 800 job seekers and offering professional workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities. 

"The LGBT Community Center in New York City is proud to partner with the San Francisco Center on this critical employment effort," said Kristen Kentner, corporate relations officer at the NY Center. "There is no topic more important to the nation than the employability and financial security of every American. It is our privilege to contribute, in every way possible, in getting LGBT people jobs where they can start out and be out."

In San Francisco, events will begin on Oct. 1 with Jumpstart Prosperity - a kickoff mixer at the SF LGBT Center. The 30th LGBT Career Fair, supported by many local partners, will be on Oct. 2 in San Francisco. In New York, events will begin Sept. 30 with their LGBT Career Fair and multiple workshops on everything from career support to financial health.

"We are thrilled to celebrate our 30^th LGBT Career Fair at the SF Center! There will be over 45 companies at the event including Apple, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Starbucks, Macy's, Kimpton, Prudential,  Nielsen and many more-all committed to hiring qualified LGBT candidates," said Clair Farley, manager of employment services at the SF Center.

About the SF LGBT Center:  The Center is a welcoming place for our diverse LGBT community and its supporters to find innovative services and fabulous cultural programs that lead to a stronger, healthier community and a more welcoming and equitable world. Its safety net programs serve the most vulnerable members of our community and provide a welcoming home for all LGBT and allied people. Each month, the Center serves over 9,000 visitors and hosts more than 200 events. The Center is located at 1800 Market Street in San Francisco. Learn more about the Center at www.sfcenter.org.

About the NYC LGBT Center:   Established in 1983, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is at the heart of the LGBT community in New York City, providing quality health and wellness programs in a welcoming space that fosters connections and celebrates our cultural contributions. We strive to serve the LGBT community with a full-service, multi-faceted approach to programming, from hosting arts and entertainment events, advocacy groups and family gatherings to offering youth, recovery and overall wellness programs. Each year, the Center welcomes more than 300,000 visits to our building in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan from people who engage in our life-changing and life-saving activities. We are proud to be yourcommunity Center. To learn more about our work, please visit www.gaycenter.org.

Contact:

Eugénie FitzGerald                                                                                      
Director of Economic Development                     
San Francisco LGBT Center                                  
t: 415-865-5515 | e: eugenief@sfcenter.org                     

Clair Farley
Manager of Employment Services                    
San Francisco LGBT Center                                                
t: 415-965-5632 | e: clairf@sfcenter.org    

Kristen Kentner                                    
Director of Institutional Giving               
New York LGBT Community Center                  
t: 646-358-1721 | e: kkentner@gaycenter.org   

Mary Steyer
Communications Manager
New York LGBT Community Center 
t: 646.358.1714  | msteyer@gaycenter.org  

SOURCE San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center

RELATED LINKS  http://www.sfcenter.org  http://www.gaycenter.org

Loraine Kanervisto, Thanks for the Tweet! :)

Much appreciation @LoraineKv!

https://twitter.com/lorainekv/status/384052233341390848

Thanks to The Bay Area Reporter

Thanks to The Bay Area Reporter for Writing About A Tran's Bay Bike Shop!

Here is the original link.

They wrote:

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Transforming bicycling

With bicycles or relationships, there are three types of people in the marketplace. There are people looking to find their perfect bike, ready for the lifestyle changes that will come with the purchase. There are people who already have a long-favorite bike, but who are looking for a tune-up or maintenance to keep things rolling smoothly. And then there are people who are just looking for a little fun for an hour or two.

Regardless of which category best describes you, the new business A Tran's Bay Bike Shop ( 1 Avenue of the Palms, Building One, Suite 021, Treasure Island) may have the answers you need. (About bicycles, not about relationships.)

Owner Tammy Powers  is ready to help you pick out a new bike, but as a former automotive mechanic Powers is also ready to service your current ride. And within the next few weeks, the shop, located on the beautiful Treasure Island waterfront, will begin renting a fleet of bicycles for visitors to the island.

"Treasure Island is so much fun, and once people finally see it and its beautiful views of the city, they see it's a great way to spend the day," said Powers.

The cheeky name of the shop refers to Powers being a transgender woman.

According to Powers, it was important that her trans identity be a strong element of the business' identity as well. "I wanted to be out there representing transsexuals, and showing that we can be capable, that we can be successful in business too," she said.

A Tran's Bay Bike Shop is currently in soft opening, with a full grand opening celebration featuring a vegetarian feast coming in May. During February, Powers is offering a complete tune-up for $35, with mention of this column.

For more information on sales, service, and rentals, call A Tran's Bay Bike Shop at (415) 678-5323.