Women in Business

The women featured below have quite a bit in common. Each of these San Joaquin women is a pillar of the community: intelligent, business savvy, and successful. These women are exemplary of the type of people that fill our community, people that are looking to make a change, to better themselves, or to better our surroundings. Read on to meet these admirable women.

Nicole Thomson

Wallbeds “n” More
526 W. Benjamin Holt Drive, Suite E
Stockton
(209) 405-1076
www.wallbedsnmore.com

Nicole Thomson set out with close friend Liz Roller to revolutionize what is known to many as the Murphy bed, with their first Wallbeds “n” More showroom opening in 2004. Now, five years and five showrooms later, Wallbeds “n” More has been helping people reduce clutter and simplify their lives with its modern, space-saving designs, including the Wallbed, Hidden Bed, and Chest Bed. In addition to specialized beds, each store carries a full line of matching cabinets and mattresses. After taking Northern California by storm—locations include Stockton, San Ramon, San Jose, Roseville, and Burlingame—Wallbeds will soon expand southward, with three stores to open in Southern California. Nicole lives in the Bay Area and credits her family, who live in Stockton, for the success of that location, from the operations of the showroom to the advertising and communication that keep the business running. “I’ve always wanted to own a business,” says Nicole. “Being able to do this with the support of family and a good friend of 20 years just makes it better!”

Gunnevi Westerlund

A Perfect Finnish Medical Spa
819 Central Ave., Tracy, (209) 836-9700
www.aperfectfinnish.com

A Perfect Finnish Medical Spa, located in historic downtown Tracy, began as an idea in early 2005. This luxurious, welcoming spa is owned and operated by medical director N. Abudayeh M.D., and the mother-daughter team of Greta and Gunnevi.

With its fifth year coming up this summer, A Perfect Finnish excels in its customer service. Each client is special and made to feel so. The staff will do everything in its power to make you feel pampered and relaxed. When you enter you will love the elegance this spa offers.

Specializing in all laser services, Botox, and dermal fillers, Gunnevi will make you feel right at home. Her vast experience in the medical field as an R.N. clearly comes across with each client.

A Perfect Finnish’s highly trained staff also offers many other amenities such as massages, facials, chemical peels, permanent makeup, and so much more. In this day and age, well-being is of maximum importance, and lending oneself to a regular routine of body and skin care is self-nurturing. Their goal is to make you feel great today as well as days to follow. Their motto has always been, and still is, “Stop in for a visit and leave with a perfect finnish.”

Lani Holdener

Macchia Winery
7099 East Peltier Rd., Acampo
(209) 333-2600
www.macchiawines.com

Lani Holdener, owner at Macchia, is passionate about life, her family, the winery, and her customers. She enjoys giving everything her personal touch. She makes people feel like friends and family. Her goal is for everyone’s visit to Macchia to be a pleasurable experience. Customers agree, with compliments such as “We like wine tasting here… they make us feel right at home,” and, why not? The tasting room and offices at Macchia were once the Holdeners’ home.

Her daughter Tanya is an absolute asset as the Tasting Room and Wine Club Manager and website coordinator. With Macchia for more than three years, her attention to detail and customer care helps the business to continue to run smoothly.

Newest at Macchia, as the office manager and Lani’s personal assistant, is Lani’s sister, Kimmberlyn. “I think the secret to Macchia’s success is the excellent wines and my sister’s creativity,” says Kimmberlyn. “It’s her adventuresome and friendly spirit.” As Lani likes to say, with wine, friends, and family, “IT’S ALL GOOD!”

Dr. AnuReet Sohi-Thadwal

All About Smiles
5904 North El Dorado Street, Suite C
Stockton, (209) 957-8907
aboutsmiles@ymail.com

Creating a community of healthy smiles is top priority for Dr. Sohi-Thadwal and her staff at All About Smiles. For over 20 years, Dr. Sohi and her family have called the Central Valley home. She attended UC Davis, receiving her degree in genetics, and received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery at UCSF Dental School. She is Invisalign Certified, providing patients with an alternative to conventional braces while achieving optimum cosmetic and functional results. Her passion for cosmetic dentistry has brought glowing smiles to many patients’ faces. She and her husband, Bal Thadwal M.D., have two young children and are an important part of the Stockton community. 

Dr. Sohi understands that a nurturing environment is important to all members of her family, at home and in her practice. Dr. Sohi is All About Smiles.

Rafat S. Razi, DMD, MPH

Pediatric Dentistry
2160 Grant Line Rd., Ste. 130,
Tracy, (209) 834-1307
www.tracypediatricdentist.com

Dr. Rafat Razi has many accomplishments as today’s woman in business. She is the owner of her practice, specializing in Pediatric Dentistry, in a beautiful, state-of-the-art office in Tracy.  She graduated from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. She completed her specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Dental Center in upstate New York. Furthermore, she served as Assistant Professor in Pediatric Dentistry at Columbia University in New York City. Throughout her education, training, and faculty position, Dr. Razi has researched many dental topics, and has publications in scientific journals. Her expertise in her specialty is over ten years.

Dr. Razi, a wife and mother of two children, balances her home life with her growing practice. “Our team is well-trained to treat the dental needs of infants, children, and adolescents in a caring, nurturing environment. Our office uses the latest dental materials, nitrous oxide, and digital radiography.” As a clinician, educator, researcher, wife, and mother, Dr. Razi has successfully become a well-rounded, accomplished woman in business.

Susan Meyer

Indulgence Salon
7610 Pacific Ave., Ste. B8, Stockton
(209) 478-5859
www.indulgence-hairsalon.com

I have lived in Stockton since 1972, and worked as a RN at Dameron and St. Joseph’s hospitals until 1993. After this rewarding but intense career, I wanted to work, but at something very different, and it had to be fun. Thus the concept for Indulgence Salon was born. This is my second salon, and I learned a lot from owning my first. Having been able to hand-pick the current stylist team, I encourage and support their continued education so they may better serve our clients with the latest salon techniques and styles.

I am excited that I was able to achieve my goal of an upscale, but fun and warm salon in October 2007, when Indulgence Salon opened for business in “Hammer Ranch Center.” Since then, the salon has continued to grow with the addition of two spa rooms and new services such as massage, facials, teeth whitening, and mineral makeup application and sales.

So stop by, meet our caring staff, check out our monthly product specials, and have some fun. Indulgence you really can afford!

Tiffany Gomes

Classic Design Floor to Ceiling
2303 South Stockton St., Lodi, (209) 334-4060,
www.classicdesignftc.com

Classic Design Floor to Ceiling is a beautiful interior design showroom providing professional design services and products for new and remodeled kitchens, baths, floors, and custom interiors. It is owned by a woman, staffed by women, and aimed toward women.

A spacious showroom displays products, and the design staff pulls samples together so you can see your entire project from floor to ceiling at one time, in one location. From there, you will receive project management, installation, and after-care service, all of which are guaranteed to take the stress away.

“Women tend to make the purchasing decisions for their homes, so I wanted to create an environment where they would feel comfortable and able to complete all their projects under one roof,” says owner Tiffany Gomes. “I know how valuable time is these days, and picking out your interiors while dodging fork-lifts shouldn’t be your only option for convenience.”

Johana Martz (left) , Kat Martz (front) and Sarah Kline (right)

Kat’s Cakes
2230 Pacific Avenue  Stockton
(209) 466-CAKE (2253)
www.katscakes.com

This mother-daughter venture began in the Bay Area in 2001, but has been calling Stockton home for two years. Now in a fresh, new location on the Miracle Mile, the trio is continuing to bring a modern touch to weddings and events throughout the region with their custom, made-from-scratch confections.

Also available are cake decorating supplies and classes for every skill level. So, whether you’re looking for leopard-print cupcake liners and hot pink fondant to make your own dainty delicacy, or you want a more practiced hand creating the wedding cake of your dreams, this is the place to come!

To view the entire Women In Business section click HERE.