San Diego Cafecito Business Networking celebrated its sixth year of creating networking opportunities for local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and business professionals throughout San Diego County.
About 50 people gathered at Sammy's Restaurant inside the Seven Mile Casino on April 26 to celebrate the networking group, which has attracted local and state government leaders and business leaders to guide and support local businesses within its six years of operation. U.S Assemblyman Juan Vargas recognized the group for its success.
The event was sponsored by the Princess Project, a nonprofit organization that provides free prom dresses and accessories to high school teens who cannot otherwise afford them.
David Zumaya, Director of Community Services and Career Development at John Paul Catholic University, Visual Marketing advocate, and business professional, created Cafecito Networking in North County six years ago after reaching out to the community and discovering many businesses needed help. Cafecitos are casual networking events with no attendance requirements with the goal of promoting conversations and relationship building. The group selects small coffee shops, and small businesses to support them.
“There wasn't a platform, and some businesses did not come out to the traditional Chamber of Commerce or reach out to the government because they just didn't know, or they were embarrassed, or shy,” Zumaya said. “Instead of putting an event together, why don't we just take it to them?”.
San Diego Cafecito Business Networking, originally known as Cafecito Pan Dulce, began in Oceanside in April 2016 at San Luis Rey Bakery & Restaurant with the first Cafecito Networking. Despite the Latino name, Zumaya stressed that the group is not exclusive to Latinos.
“There were only so many panaderias that are available,” Zumaya said. “The funny is people would think they can't join because it's a ‘Spanish group’. Well, it's not a Spanish group. It's a business group that supports local small businesses, business professionals, and nonprofits. ”
The organization expanded to the South Bay after Zumaya moved to Chula Vista to take care of his mother, who later passed of Alzheimer's. With this expansion, the networking group has touched down in Chula Vista National City, Lemon Grove, and North Park.
“If we can bring a small business 20 customers for an hour. Why not? If it's a $5 cup of coffee. That is $100 they made in addition to what they normally did. But more importantly, it gets them known and brings customers to repeat customers outwards,” Zumaya said.
Like many aspects of daily life, Cafecito Business networking shifted online during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized awareness of resources and grants available to small businesses. This was made possible with the help of Juan Carlos Hernandez and Juan Velazco, according to Zumaya.
“Two years of cafecito online were phenomenal. COVID-19 was a challenge but it was a mixed blessing because now everyone knows zoom,” Zumaya said. “There is money out there. People need to know what's happening and how we can support them.
As pandemic restrictions ease, the group meets at local businesses every week throughout the county. Those who are interested in attending may register for free on Eventbright for North County and South County locations. Cafecito Networking continues to operate through Zoom on a monthly basis.
“The whole idea is basically building business relationships. We don't promise you're going to sell,” Zumaya said “I'm not getting paid for this. This is all community service to me. The goal of this is to support everybody in making something happen. What I like about this is whoever shows up and if it's just me by myself having coffee with one person I'm okay with it as quality over quantity.”
In March, the group had 10 events, over 200 attendees, and 10,0000 social media engagements, with no payroll or staff, according to Zumaya, a digital marketer by trade with over 20-years of experience as a photographer.
“This is like the no rules network. There's no charge to show up on the day, but something will change down the road right now because we have to find a way to get some revenue to cover some expenses. Technically I’m paying for everything, and I'm not rich,” Zumaya said.
For the next year, Cafecito Business Networking aims to keep engaging, launch a new website that includes marketable information about its members, and further support nonprofit organizations and students.
“We started this originally organically. It is not about egos or about winning. Cafecito is out there contributing to the community. With those numbers, I'm really proud of not having any payroll. We are a small organic group of volunteers to help support people,” Zumaya said.
San Diego Cafecito Business Networking has brought together San Diego county-wide Latino leaders from the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Gas & Electric, Goodwill Industries International, MANA de North County San Diego, NAHREP The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, and many more.
