Belinda Guadarrama of GC Micro wins Latino Business Leadership Award

Belinda Guadarrama

President & CEO

GC Micro Corporation

3910 Cypress Dr., Petaluma 94954

707-789-0600

www.gcmicro.com

Belinda Guadarrama, president and CEO of Petaluma-based GC Micro, wins one of North Bay Business Journal's Latino Business Leadership Awards.

Tell us your story and that of your organization:

I would love to tell a story of the long and careful planning that went into starting GC Micro. However, that's not how it happened.

I was working as the general manager for a software mail order company in Novato. One day, I went to work and there was a sign on the front door stating that the business was closed. I stood in the parking lot completely overwhelmed. I had left my family and career in Texas to work with this company.

After a number of days of consideration, I realized that there were many directions I could take. But, I really enjoyed working with a small business in the software field. I decided I had learned enough about the software industry to continue working in it. I also had extensive management experience from my previous jobs in Texas. Within 2 weeks of that company closing, GC Micro was created.

I used the funds from the sale of my house in Texas as the starting capital for GC Micro. With a staff of 2, we sent out a direct mail campaign that targeted large companies in Northern California. My first major customer was UC Davis. We began by selling software only and then added to the product line. We are now authorized for 97% of the hardware and software products on the market. We offer complete IT solutions for our customers. With GC Micro's exceptional staff, we have won over 80 awards for outstanding service to our customers.

Is there a major accomplishment in the past year or so that you would like to share?

That's an easy question to answer. I can't think of a greater accomplishment than GC Micro being voted “best places to work” by our staff in 2015 and 2016!

What is the achievement you are most proud of?

There have been many accomplishments throughout my career. But I am really proud of the fact that GC Micro will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

What is your biggest challenge today?

Every business faces its own set of challenges. One of my biggest challenges is finding sales-focused people to increase our team. I'm looking for more people that have the same customer centric values and commitment to which we at GC Micro are dedicated.

Words that best describe you: Strong, persistent, goal oriented, self-motivated, team-focused

As a successful professional, what were the biggest obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them?

There have been a number of hurdles to overcome. Obtaining credit was very difficult, but I was able to solve

that by applying for a Small Business Administration backed loan and working with smaller, regional banks such as the Bank of Marin.

Discrimination is an ugly word. Yet, as a woman and a minority working with the Defense and Aerospace industry, there is no denying that it was present. I realized that rather than taking male staff with me to client meetings for technical support, I could be much more effective when the client had to deal directly with me alone. As with so many areas of life, persistence played a large part. Reaching out to other Latino business people through the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce was also of great benefit.

How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?

In today's world, everyone is aware that technology is in constant flux. GC Micro's business model is based on constant change in our knowledge base and in the products and solutions we offer our customers.

Who was your most important mentor?

Sad to say, I had no mentor to guide and advise me. When I started out in 1986, there were few minority women working with federal contracting. That meant I had to figure a lot of things out for myself. I went through some rough patches but, in retrospect, it provided a great opportunity for growth.

Tell us about your community involvement:

I strongly believe in the importance of being involved in the community. Toward that end, I am very active in St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Petaluma. GC Micro is a strong supporter of a number of community organizations including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin, the Petaluma Valley Hospital, Christmas Cheer of Petaluma, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties and, one of our favorites, Petaluma Police K-9 Dog Bowl fundraiser.

What advice would you give to a young person today?

Young people today are faced with an increasingly complex assortment of choices, both personally and professionally. Although it may be tempting to choose instant gratification, my advice would be to take a longterm view before acting on any critical decision since it may well affect the course of your life. And surround yourself with positive people.

Most admired businessperson outside your organization: Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard, is an amazingly accomplished woman. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is incredibly forward thinking.

Current reading: Largely due to my mother's influence, I am an avid reader. At the moment, I tend to alternate between mysteries and spy thrillers.

Most want to meet: Pope Francis

Stress relievers: For me, it's enjoying a good dinner among friends with lots of laughter. And exercising until the tension is gone.

Favorite hobbies: Traveling, whether to Monterey, Vancouver or Europe. And visiting art galleries and museums along the way.

Belinda Guadarrama

President & CEO

GC Micro Corporation

3910 Cypress Dr., Petaluma 94954

707-789-0600

www.gcmicro.com

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