Back to Business

Ceola embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in 1991 with no prior business experience. Her first venture, "Simply You Designs from the Heart," centered around graphic design, creating t-shirts, business cards, logos, and even her magazine, "Fruits of the Spirit."

Ceola graduated from graphic design school in 1996 and launched "Graphix by Ceola," where she offered logo and brochure design, personalized greeting cards, aprons, and more. Through trial and error, she honed her skills, and her determination led her to register with the Small Business Development Center, acquire a business mentor, and take courses on business essentials, including crafting business plans, budgeting, and marketing.

Continuing her quest for knowledge, Ceola attended the University of Phoenix, where her focus was business administration, and City College San Francisco, where she achieved certifications in business finance, marketing, and starting and operating a nonprofit.

While her entrepreneurial journey had its challenges, Ceola humbly cherishes each experience as valuable lessons that shaped her growth. Grateful for the knowledge acquired along the way, she found her true calling in assisting other small business owners in navigating the start-up process, steering them clear of potential pitfalls.

Today, Ceola offers her expertise in her "Business Basics 101" course, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs from conception to a fully operational business. The course covers various topics, including business formation and structure, local, state, and federal requirements, business planning, goal setting, logo and website development, marketing strategies (including social media), and much more.

Ceola's passion for helping others shines through. She dedicates herself to empowering small businesses to take flight and thrive in today's competitive landscape.