|
Griselda Barajas-Keolanui Bio
Griselda Barajas-Keolanui is recognized in Sacramento as a prominent and dynamic business leader. As the successful owner and CEO of Griselda’s Ventures Inc. she has continued to expand her business while continuing to be a strong advocate for small business owners and minorities in the community.
Currently she and her husband, Chef and partner Michael Keolanui manage their multiple catering and consulting divisions which include Griselda’s Catering & Event Planning, Griselda’s Weddings, Food on the Fly Aviation Catering, Griselda’s Direct, Tex Mex at the Capitol, Griselda’s World Café, Texas Mexican Restaurant.
She is one of the only restaurant owners in Sacramento to be a Union House and proud member H.E.R.E. Local 49.
She began her successful career at the age of 21 by opening Texas Mexican Restaurant with $40,000 she borrowed from credit cards. With her mother’s recipes in hand the restaurant became a Sacramento institution and helped her expand in to the ever competitive catering market.
Texas Mexican was re-opened on December 3rd, 2007 after an extensive remodel and expansion to 6400 sq ft. She is opening a second location for Griselda's Catering adjacent to her new restaurant which will feature a full bar and banquet facilities for her growing list of clients..
Michael Keolanui brings over twenty years of culinary experience and expertise in both private and corporate restaurants. Together they live in Sacramento with their daughters Grace and Gabriela.
With all her success, she has never lost sight of giving back to the community that has embraced her and her family or her employees by organizing them to give them the benefits and opportunities they deserve. She has become a vocal and active advocate for small business owners and issues that affect the Sacramento community. She has donated her time and resources to innumerable local non-profit organizations, spanning everything from the arts to education. She currently is the Chair of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and has been awarded the Small Business Advocate of the Year by the California Chamber of Commerce and Business Woman of the Year by the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Griselda has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Sacramento Business Journal, Latina Style, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento News and Review, Comstock’s Business and Sacramento Magazine.
| 
