The Catalyst by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce

Build smart. Move fast. Get the edge that lasts. The Catalyst is a high-energy livecast and podcast for business owners and operators ready to scale influence, sharpen execution, and stay ahead in a noisy market. Real conversations. Real strategy. Real momentum.

The Catalyst by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 24 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Catalyst by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, a business show with 24 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #23

  Investing in Long Beach's Next Generation with Heaven's Angels Academy

  Aug 3, 202620 min

  Finding quality child care isn't always easy. In fact, Long Beach is considered a child care desert , meaning there simply aren't enough licensed child care providers to meet the needs of local families. In this episode of The Catalyst , Stuart sits down with Crystal Stringer , founder and owner of Heaven's Angels Academy , to discuss her journey from operating a successful family child care program in Carson to opening a brand-new early learning center in Long Beach. Crystal shares the challenges of opening a licensed child care facility, why she chose the Wrigley neighborhood, how the pandemic changed child care, and why creating a welcoming environment for children is about much more than colorful walls and toys. If you're a parent, entrepreneur, or simply interested in how businesses grow while serving their communities, this conversation offers an inside look at what it takes to build something that truly makes a difference. In This Episode 00:00 Welcome to The Catalyst 00:44 What is Heaven's Angels Academy? 01:33 From an in-home daycare in Carson to a second location in Long Beach 02:00 Why Crystal chose Long Beach and what it means to be a "child care desert" 02:52 Why the Wrigley neighborhood became the perfect location 03:57 The reality of opening a child care center: permits, licensing, and a three-and-a-half-year journey 06:15 How COVID permanently changed child care and today's flexible scheduling needs 08:22 Supporting parents with non-traditional work schedules 09:28 The inspiration behind designing a warm, welcoming learning environment 11:57 Why early childhood education is about much more than babysitting 14:32 Outdoor learning, movement, and helping children develop through play 16:00 Building community while investing in Long Beach's future 17:33 What families can expect from Heaven's Angels Academy 18:35 Final thoughts and how to schedule a tour Key Takeaways Long Beach has a significant shortage of licensed child care providers. Opening a child care center requires years of planning, permitting, licensing, and construction. Child care has evolved to meet today's flexible and hybrid work schedules. A thoughtfully designed learning environment can shape how children learn, explore, and grow. Play-based learning builds social, emotional, and academic skills long before kindergarten. Community partnerships are essential when launching a new business. Learn More To learn more about Heaven's Angels Academy , schedule a tour, or explore enrollment opportunities, visit their website or contact the academy directly. https://www.heavensangelsacademy.com/ The Catalyst is produced by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce , highlighting the businesses, leaders, and organizations making a difference throughout the Long Beach community Mentioned in this episode: Heavens Angels Academy Open House https://heavensangelsacademy.com/ Back to School Open House Saturday August 8 | 10am-2pm

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  Episode #22

  You Joined the Chamber… Now What?

  Jul 13, 202615 min

  Joining the Chamber is the easy part. Getting involved is what turns your membership into something valuable. In this solo episode of The Catalyst, Stuart Takehara, Vice President of Membership at the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, talks about how members can get more from their Chamber membership by being intentional about why they joined, building the right relationships, and becoming strategically involved in the business community. Stuart shares practical advice for approaching Chamber events, including why collecting business cards is not the goal, why you should focus on having conversations worth continuing, and why trying to sell your product the first time you meet someone is usually the wrong approach. The episode also explores the Chamber’s business councils and how members can use smaller groups to build stronger connections, get involved in conversations that matter to them, and become known within the Long Beach business community. Most importantly, Stuart explains why simply joining the Chamber does not create value. Members have to show up, build relationships, follow up, and stay involved. In this episode: • Why joining the Chamber is just the beginning • How to decide where to spend your time and get involved • Why meeting the right people matters more than meeting everyone • How being useful helps you become known, liked, and trusted • Why you should build relationships before you need them • How the Chamber’s business councils can help you find the right rooms and conversations • Why showing up consistently matters • The importance of following up after events The key takeaway: Joining the Chamber gives you access. Getting involved turns that access into value. That value is built through connection, community, and conversation. Learn more about the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, explore upcoming events, and discover opportunities to get involved through the Chamber’s website. TimeStamp 00:07 Welcome and Introduction to Chamber Membership 02:39 Understanding the Value of Membership 05:13 Building Meaningful Relationships 08:01 Engaging with Business Councils 10:53 Strategic Involvement vs. Busywork 13:42 The Importance of Follow-Up

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  Episode #21

  The State of Small Business in Long Beach: Lessons from Our Small Business Resiliency Series

  Jul 6, 202610 min

  For the past several weeks, we’ve sat down with restaurant owners, retailers, fitness entrepreneurs, service providers, and business leaders from across Long Beach as part of our Small Business Resiliency Series . Although every business has a different story, one thing became clear. Many are facing the same challenges and discovering many of the same solutions. In this special recap episode, Stuart Takahara shares the biggest themes that emerged from the series, along with powerful soundbites from local business owners themselves. In this episode you’ll hear: • Why consumers are still spending, but spending differently • Why customer frequency has become more important than average ticket size • How successful businesses are creating reasons for customers to come back • Why community has become a competitive advantage • The importance of adapting instead of standing still • The challenges businesses continue to face with staffing • How AI and technology are changing the way small businesses operate • Why visibility and marketing matter now more than ever • Why entrepreneurs continue to invest in Long Beach despite economic uncertainty • The message of optimism every business owner needs to hear Featured guests include: • Robb Smith, Alley Cat Deliveries • Jax Diener, Watch Me Sports Bar • Caprice Kindgren, Urbane Cafe • Joseph Michael Gray, HOTWORX Long Beach • BC Hoffman, BC’s ICY’S • Thea, Wicked Wolf • Leonard Chan, Midnight Oil • Dave Garden, Kiwi This episode is more than a recap. It’s a snapshot of where small business stands today and where it’s headed tomorrow. Support local. Support small business. Because behind every storefront is someone working hard to build something that matters.

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  Episode #20

  How Do You Launch a Business in a Competitive Market?

  Jun 30, 202628 min

  How do you know if your business is truly the right fit for a community? In this final episode of the Small Business Resiliency Series, Stuart Takehara talks with Joseph Michael Gray from HOTWORX Long Beach about what it takes to open a new fitness studio in a competitive market. Joseph shares how the HOTWORX team evaluated Long Beach as a location, what factors mattered most in choosing the Spring Street and Los Coyotes area, and why community fit, visibility, demographics, and accessibility all played a role in the decision. The conversation also explores the real challenges of buildouts, brand awareness, pre-opening marketing, pricing, customer objections, and how businesses can show value when consumers are paying closer attention to every dollar. For small business owners, this episode is a reminder that success is not just about having a good product. It is about doing your homework, knowing your customer, choosing the right market, and making sure the value is clear. In This Episode: • What HOTWORX is and how the concept works • Why Long Beach was chosen for the next studio location • How demographics, density, rent, and community fit shape site selection • The importance of accessibility and neighborhood reach • Lessons from the buildout process • How to build awareness before opening • Using grassroots marketing and community partnerships • Marketing to college students the right way • Handling price sensitivity in today’s economy • How to make the value of your product clear • Advice for entrepreneurs choosing a business location Episode Timeline 00:23 Introduction to the final episode of the Small Business Resiliency Series 00:53 Meet Joseph Michael Gray from HOTWORX 01:04 What HOTWORX is and how infrared fitness works 01:43 Stuart’s experience trying HOTWORX workouts 03:07 Opening San Pedro and preparing for Long Beach 03:23 Why HOTWORX chose Long Beach 03:41 Evaluating demographics, density, rent, and community fit 05:19 Building brand awareness in a new market 06:08 Choosing the Spring Street and Los Coyotes location 07:55 Why access and community reach mattered 08:36 The Long Beach buildout process 10:20 Operating a 24-hour fitness studio in Long Beach 11:28 Building the first 300 members 12:00 Grassroots marketing and open houses 13:45 Reaching the college student market 16:18 Why business owners need to put in the marketing work 16:47 Comparing the San Pedro and Long Beach markets 17:38 Price sensitivity and membership objections 19:41 The challenge of fixed pricing in different markets 21:45 Helping customers understand value 24:36 Advice for future business owners 25:41 Selling through connection, not pressure 26:13 How to connect with HOTWORX Long Beach 27:03 Final thoughts and closing Key Takeaway Before opening a business, do your homework. The right location is not just about traffic or rent. It is about whether the product, price, customer base, and community all fit together.

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  Episode #19

  How Do You Adapt When Consumer Habits Permanently Change?

  Jun 29, 202625 min

  Customer behavior has changed, and restaurants that want to survive need to change with it. In this episode of the Small Business Resiliency Series, Stuart Takehara talks with Caprice Kindgren, Director of Marketing for Urbane Cafe, about how the fast casual brand grew from one location in Ventura to 44 locations across California and Las Vegas, including two in Long Beach. Caprice shares how Urbane Cafe adapted during COVID, why online ordering permanently changed the restaurant business, and how the company uses loyalty programs, community partnerships, catering, customer data, and AI to keep growing in a tough economy. This conversation is packed with practical lessons for restaurant owners, marketers, and small business leaders who are trying to bring customers back, increase repeat visits, and stay relevant as spending habits change. In This Episode: • How Urbane Cafe grew from one location to 44 • Why COVID permanently changed restaurant customer behavior • How online ordering reshaped store design and operations • Why loyalty programs matter more than ever • How to turn first-time customers into repeat customers • Why community partnerships drive local growth • How catering can become a major growth opportunity • How AI can help small teams work smarter • Why employee development improves retention • Advice for entrepreneurs and marketers Episode Timeline 00:23 Introduction to the Small Business Resiliency Series 00:44 Meet Caprice Kindgren from Urbane Cafe 00:55 Opening Urbane Cafe’s 44th location and second Long Beach location 01:20 The origin story of Urbane Cafe 02:56 Urbane Cafe’s two Long Beach locations 03:58 How COVID changed the restaurant business 05:56 The shift from in-store dining to online ordering 06:41 How loyalty programs help drive repeat visits 07:12 Why newer restaurant footprints are smaller 07:48 Will dining habits ever go back? 09:00 The challenge of opening restaurants today 09:33 Why catering is a major growth opportunity 10:45 Advice for aspiring restaurant entrepreneurs 11:20 Why community relationships matter 13:18 Current economic challenges in 2026 14:30 How price sensitivity is changing customer behavior 15:36 Using loyalty programs to increase customer frequency 16:12 Turning first-time guests into repeat customers 17:00 How Urbane Cafe uses community givebacks to build trial 18:04 The power of cookies and first impressions 19:06 What makes Urbane Cafe unique 19:48 Career and marketing advice 20:56 How AI is changing marketing and operations 23:02 Employee retention and developing people 23:51 How to find Urbane Cafe Key Takeaway Customers may be spending less often, but they still reward businesses that deliver value, convenience, consistency, and community connection. For small businesses, the lesson is clear: get people to try you, capture the relationship, give them a reason to return, and keep adapting as customer habits change.

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