Simonida Cvejic immigrated to New York from Macedonia in 1995, and struggled for a couple of years before landing a position as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. While the war raged in her former Yugoslav republic in 1999, she was selling Goldman Sachs research on wartime investment opportunities. Simonida says, “While everyone was investing, I was sending money home and worrying about my family.” Ultimately, the 70 hour work-weeks, fierce competitiveness, and Wall Street’s moneyed culture left her feeling deprived, and she jumped at the opportunity for a job transfer to California.
The move to California presented new challenges. By 2004, Simonida was divorced with two small children and no income. Realizing her kids needed her more than ever, she made the decision to start her own business. Using an idea a retired nurse friend gave her, Simonida started a vocational school for phlebotomists (blood drawing technicians). The timing was perfect, as the state had recently required all current phlebotomists to obtain licensure through a training program, and all current schools were shut down. Simonida borrowed $1,000 to obtain school licensure, and spent months of hard work putting together a curriculum. She held a day job and worked on the business at night while the kids slept. She discovered Renaissance in 2005, becoming a Business Assistance Center client which allowed her to rent a fully equipped classroom on weekends. Simonida didn’t make any money the first year, but intensified her work with Renaissance by entering the Small Business Incubator program. Within a year, by August 2006, the business turned profitable. Through Renaissance, Simonida received two Techquity awards to purchase a laptop and a server, a Women’s Boost grant to buy a video camera to record the lectures, and a San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Economic Development grant to develop the web site and student record management database.
Using the skills and assets she gained as a Renaissance client, Simonida was able to rapidly grow Bay Area Medical Academy into a thriving enterprise, expanding the course offerings to include EKG Training and Comprehensive Medical Assistant Training. She moved Bay Area Medical Academy into a new location in scenic downtown San Francisco and currently oversees 6 full-time and 9 contract employees.
Simonida continues to grow her business and provide students at Bay Area Medical Academy the training they need to thrive in an increasingly skilled workforce Using Bay Area Medical Academy’s designation as a approved C1alworks and WIA provider, Simonida has helped a number of down on their luck Bay Area residents to turn their lives around and begin enriching and satisfying careers in the medical industry. With plans to establish EMT Training and Laboratory Technician Training programs as well as open their first satellite classroom near Sacramento, Simonida and Bay Area Medical Academy have a bright future ahead.
Congratulations Simonida Cvejic and Bay Area Medical Academy!