Every March, Women’s History Month recognizes the impact women have on their communities. In San Ramon, local female entrepreneurs are building successful companies, despite the immense challenges of starting and scaling a business. The following women-owned businesses have each found a niche in the Tri-Valley area.
Diamond Bites
Six years ago, Sepideh Taheri and her husband moved to the United States with a dream of building something of their own. They began experimenting in their home kitchen, learning the ins and outs of running a business in a foreign country. Over time, they built their business with the support of their family and a network of local connections.
“We chose the name Diamond Bites together as a family,” Taheri said. “At first, we wanted a name that included the word ‘Bites’ because we began with finger foods. Later, we added ‘Diamond’ to represent quality and something special. The name reflects our goal of creating food that is carefully made and beautifully presented. Diamond Bites is truly a family business. My husband works alongside me, especially preparing grilled foods and main dishes, and together we have built the business step by step.”
Taheri’s passion for catering comes from her love of cooking and hosting. She views every event as an opportunity to bring people together and create lasting memories. Her approach focuses on the overall experience she creates for clients, not just the food.
“I have always loved cooking and hosting gatherings. Food has always been an important part of our culture and family life, and I enjoy bringing people together around a table. Catering felt like the perfect career for me because it combines creativity, cooking, and working with people. Building this business has also been a meaningful journey for me personally, because it allowed me to grow and create something of my own in a new country.”
Events require careful planning and attention to every detail, and Taheri stays involved in every step, from designing the menu to overseeing preparation and service. Each occasion reflects her commitment to quality.
“Planning a big event always starts with listening carefully to the client’s needs,” Taheri explained. “Attention to detail is very important to me, from the taste of the food to the presentation and service.”
Her dedication has paid off, bringing opportunities to cater for large corporate events that have challenged the team’s coordination and logistics. Each successful event shows how far the business has grown from its humble beginnings.
“One of my most memorable experiences was catering a large corporate event. It was a big project that required a lot of planning, preparation, and teamwork. Seeing everything come together successfully and watching the guests enjoy the food was very rewarding. Events like this remind me how much our business has grown from a small home kitchen to serving large gatherings.”
Starting a business in a new country came with its own set of challenges, from understanding local business practices to building trust with clients. At the same time, balancing work while raising a family has been especially demanding for Taheri.
“As an immigrant family, we had to learn many things from the beginning, including how businesses operate and how to build connections in a new community,” Taheri said.
Moving to a new country meant navigating unfamiliar systems while trying to establish credibility in a competitive market. With few community ties and limited business experience, earning clients’ trust took time.
“One of the biggest challenges was starting from zero and slowly building trust with customers,” she said. “It took patience and hard work, but over time, we built a loyal customer base. Balancing work and family life was also challenging, especially in the early days when we were working from home. These challenges made us stronger and helped us grow both personally and professionally.”
Personal relationships are central to Diamond Bites’ success. Taheri prioritizes connection and reliability, building the kind of trust that keeps clients returning.
“Many of our customers find us through word of mouth and recommendations from friends and family. Personal connections are very important in our business. We try to build strong relationships with our customers by listening carefully to their needs and always doing our best to provide quality food and reliable service. Many of our clients return because they trust us and know that we care about every detail of their events.”
For Taheri, Women’s History Month is a reminder of the strength it takes to pursue a dream. Her story shows how persistence and courage can transform an idea into a thriving business.
“As an immigrant woman and business owner, I am proud of the journey that brought me here. Building a business from the ground up required persistence, courage, and dedication. I hope my story can inspire other women to believe in themselves and follow their goals, even when the path is not easy.”
STUDIO BLANC™
At 19, Kloadjana Dervish moved from Albania to Milan to study computer engineering, but she soon discovered a passion for photography. What started as a hobby eventually became a career she decided to pursue professionally.
“I actually started photography completely by accident,” she said. “I was studying computer engineering in Milan and accidentally stumbled upon a camera. I started taking a few pictures just of my dog and my friends.”
She began by casually photographing friends and pets, but when a friend asked her to photograph her wedding, it opened her eyes to the possibilities of professional photography, and she ended up leaving engineering behind.
“I never did engineering as an occupation after that,” she said. “After that it grew, and I did more than twenty years of photography.”
Over the years, Dervishi focused primarily on portrait photography, working with models, individuals and families. A few years ago, she relocated to the Bay Area and opened Studio Blanc™ in San Ramon to create a dedicated space for personalized portrait sessions.
“It helps create a comfortable space where clients can relax during their session,” she said.
In the early days of her studio, Dervishi primarily relied on word of mouth, referrals and her website to attract clients. She treated every session with significance, especially in the early stages of building her client base.
“Even in the early days, I made sure to go above and beyond for every client,” she said. “If someone wasn’t happy with their photos, I would do everything I could to make it right. I want them to leave knowing it was worth their time and investment.”
Dervishi explained that running a photography studio comes with financial risks, especially in an industry that can be unpredictable. She notes that certain times of year, like fall and the holiday season, are particularly busy, while other months can be slow.
“Other than October, November, and December, the rest of the year is dry,” she said. “You kind of have to find the balance to compensate for that.”
Despite these challenges, she continues to run the studio and take on new clients. For Dervishi, the social aspect of photography is as rewarding as the art itself. Many clients arrive nervous or stiff, unsure how to pose or act and she takes pride in helping them relax and feel natural in front of the camera.
“Getting to know my clients and making them feel comfortable is just as important as taking the picture,” she said.
Her studio also reflects her philosophy of quality over quantity. She intentionally limits the number of sessions each week to ensure that every client receives full attention and the best possible experience.
“Every session is different,” she said. “Some are family portraits, some are professional headshots, but no matter the type, I want each client to feel seen and valued.”
Being a woman business owner has come with its own challenges. She acknowledges that the industry can be challenging for women, but also refuses to let those obstacles define her path.
“Women have it harder for sure,” she said. “There aren’t many opportunities or doors open. But I made sure that didn’t stop me and I walked into every room confident with my head up high.”
For students or young photographers hoping to start their own business, Dervishi emphasizes perseverance and dedication.
“Perseverance is a really strong quality that you should have,” she said. “You have to stick it out till the end. Running a business doesn’t stop at five o’clock. You have to be ready to work every hour if you want it to succeed.”
Reflecting on her career, Dervishi mentioned she is proud of the path she has built, from discovering photography by accident to owning her own studio and becoming an internationally recognized portrait photographer.
“I love being able to create something that people will remember for a lifetime,” she said. “Photography most importantly captures moments and memories. That’s what makes this work meaningful.”
Amore Sweets
Aleece Melthratter started her custom treat business, Amore Sweets, in February 2020. Just a few weeks later, COVID-19 began, forcing many businesses to shut down. Despite the uncertainty, Melthratter found a way to adapt by offering heat-sealed custom cookies with contactless pickup from her front porch.
“I always loved baking and enjoyed being creative,” Melthratter said. “I also owned my own business out of college and loved running my own business, so I always knew I would have another one, but had no idea it would be a custom treat company.”
Melthratter’s entrepreneurial journey began years earlier. In 2009, shortly after graduating from college, she launched a marketing and events company called Amore. When she later started her custom treat business, she decided to bring the name back.
“Amore was my first company I had in 2009…” I also think we all need more love, and it was suiting: Amore Treats… A – more treats and also love treats, so a double meaning.”
Starting a business right before a global pandemic was one of the biggest challenges Melthratter faced. At first, she worried that the sudden shutdowns would force her new business to close. Instead, the situation created an unexpected opportunity.
“After I started the company in February 2020, the pandemic began, and I thought that was going to take me out, “ Melthratter stated. “In reality, it helped my business due to the brick-and-mortars shutting down.”
By offering individually packaged treats and porch pickup, she was able to safely provide desserts for customers while many traditional bakeries were closed. Her venture expanded as more people discovered her business.
“When I started in 2020, I had an order or two a week,” Melthratter explained. “I now can have up to six orders a week. I have expanded into more corporate clients as well as personalized treats for events.”
As her business grew, Melthratter also achieved multiple milestones. One of the biggest moments for her company was when she became a preferred vendor for Sephora’s corporate events, which helped introduce her treats to a much larger audience.
“One huge milestone for me was becoming a preferred vendor with Sephora corporate,” she said. “It has allowed me to do multiple events for them that have taken my company to the next level and exposed me to a large audience.”
Melthratter believes her business stands out because of the balance between creativity and quality.
“My unique difference is that most custom cookies look beautiful, but they typically don’t taste very good,” she said. “I offer both of these things. My cookie recipe is tried and true and so yummy.”
Surviving the unpredictability of the pandemic while scaling her business as a single mom taught Melthratter the importance of staying focused. By moving at her own pace, she successfully avoids burnout and advises others to follow her approach.
“Believe in yourself even in the slow times,” Melthratter emphasized. “Trying to go too big too quickly will not allow your business to grow because you are dividing yourself in too many directions. Find your niche and stick with it.”
Looking ahead, Melthratter hopes to expand her business even further by reaching more corporate clients and hosting cookie-decorating classes for events such as team-building activities and birthday parties.
“I see my business growing to more corporate clientele,” she said. “I have visions of having a storefront boutique-like baker that I could also run my classes from.”
For Melthratter, being a business owner is also about the example she wants to set for her children.
“I am extremely proud and honored to be able to celebrate Women’s History Month not only as a business owner but also raising my children as a single mom, showing them the equality of what a woman and a man can do in this life,” she said. “It reminds me of all the woman that have set the path for women like me to be doing what I’m doing.”
After more than 15 years as an entrepreneur, Melthratter explained that the journey has been about celebrating small victories and building a supportive community.
“It is the small wins and successes that help us grow,” Melthratter stated. “I plan to continue this journey and raise up other woman entrepreneurs along the way.”
TheyMade
Dani Croghan, founder of TheyMade, turned a lifelong passion for creativity and fashion into a studio where children can design and create their own clothing. The idea grew from her early experiences experimenting with clothing and ultimately evolved into a space designed to inspire confidence and creativity in young people.
“While I was in High School (and before), I was always cutting up my clothes and putting them together in different ways,” Croghan said.
These early experiments helped guide the direction of her career. A personal hobby eventually led her to study fashion and inspired the vision for her business. The lessons she learned along the way continue to influence how she designed TheyMade.
“This led to Fashion School (FIDM), a business idea, and an adaptation after having kids to meet our community’s needs.”
After becoming a parent, Croghan noticed how much children enjoyed making things that felt personal and uniquely theirs. She saw the pride in children’s faces when they completed something on their own, and that sense of accomplishment became central to the concept of TheyMade.
“TheyMade started from watching how much kids love creating something that feels like theirs,” she said.
Croghan wanted to create a space where children could express themselves and design clothing they could be proud of. The goal was not only to teach skills but also to foster confidence and creativity.
“I wanted a place where kids could design and make their own clothes and actually leave proud of what they made.”
Despite her extensive experience in retail and fashion, starting her own business was a new challenge. Without a franchise or proven model to follow, she had to rely on experimentation and learning from trial and error.
“I had worked in the retail and fashion industry for over 15 years, but had never owned anything of my own,” Croghan says. “TheyMade didn’t have a format to copy and it wasn’t a franchise—it really started as a scrappy idea of what I believed could work in a new kind of experiential retail store.”
Over time, Croghan refined the studio’s offerings, focusing on the activities and experiences that resonated most with children and families. By concentrating on what worked best, the business steadily grew.
“In the beginning, we probably tried to do too much, but over time we learned what we were truly good at and what our customers loved making,” she said. “From there, we focused in on those things and kept expanding and improving them.”
The San Ramon community has played a vital role in the studio’s success. Families come for birthday parties, camps or casual creative playdates, turning the space into more than just a store. The local support has been meaningful to Croghan, who raised her children in the area.
“This community has really embraced TheyMade,” she said. “Families come for parties, summer camps, or even just a playdate, and it’s become more of a creative gathering place than just a store.”
Croghan has witnessed firsthand how the studio helps children build pride and express themselves. Encouraging kids to explore creativity is a cornerstone of her approach.
“I hope kids leave proud,” Croghan said. “We’re all about self-expression and creating a space where kids feel comfortable being themselves. The best part of TheyMade is when a child makes something on their own and can’t wait to wear it or show it off—that’s the best feeling.”
Running a studio has also taught Croghan valuable lessons in leadership and resilience. Managing a team and a business requires problem solving, adaptability and creating a supportive environment.
“You learn quickly that things rarely go exactly as planned,” she said. “Leadership involves staying calm, solving problems, and building a team that believes in what you’re creating.”
Croghan emphasizes that her staff is essential to the TheyMade experience. By creating a culture of empowerment and care, her team helps ensure that every child who visits feels valued and encouraged.
“My staff comes first—they bring the TheyMade experience to life,” Croghan said.
“I try to create a culture where our staff is stacked with empowered women uplifting the younger generation by showing care and acceptance.”
Croghan urges young women to take initiative and pursue their goals, even in the face of uncertainty. She encourages them to embrace learning and take action.
“Don’t wait until you feel completely ready,” she said. “Start, learn as you go, and trust that you’ll figure things out along the way.”
