Gimena Garces is the owner of Santa Barbara Contractors LLC. She has 28 employees and runs 7 crews. “I started my business, Santa Barbara, back in 2008 as a way of proving to myself that I could take on challenges outside of my comfort zone. As a woman in a competitive industry, I found my place by having the firm belief that once you find something that you are passionate about, success will be inevitable. Today, the construction industry is open to anyone who is focused on putting in the work. It is an open field built off of creative, social and knowledgeable people that I am grateful to call myself a part.”