March 7, 2008

Beacon

Carla Evans: Building business in Evergreen

By Bill Highlander
Editor

Carla Evans is the current president of the Evergreen Business and Professional Association (EBPA). There are thousands of businesses in Evergreen, most of them small businesses and the association provides a forum for them to share information.

Carla Evans

The EBPA wants to grow its membership to include many more of the businesses to increase their value and to add to the cachet of the community. Presently, its approximately 40 members gather monthly at various business venues to network, discuss business practices, and gain exposure.

The officers and members are volunteers who want to help each other. A recent meeting at the new Silver Creek Sportsplex included a tour of the facilities available to the community.

Evans assumed the presidency in November 2006 and has set goals to determine the needs of Evergreen businesses and give the organization more purpose and influence on business issues. She is an accomplished businesswoman with a successful management company.

California is a lot different in weather and culture from the North Dakota farm where she was born and raised. Moving to Watsonville at 14, she stayed engaged with rural activities, becoming a 4-H All Star. But computers, executive administration and management became her forte.

She is president of Dental Management Concepts, Inc. and Practice Manager of Plaza Dental Group on Capitol Expressway. Evans manages the company that holds the space lease for the dental offices and leases the equipment to the group. She also oversees the partnership with the dentists, an arrangement that seems to work well for both parties. The business prides itself on quality and customer service.

Evans and her husband started the business in 1986 and have seen tremendous growth in the Evergreen area. In 1982, Evans recalls there being only three dentists in Evergreen. Plaza Dental Group has two dentists, one part-time dentist, three dental hygienists, and an administrative staff.

“I take pride in working in a profession that aids in the quality of life for people,” Evans says. “ I believe a good manager gives clear guidelines, clear expectations, and then allows the employees to do their job with minimal supervision. We have an outstanding team of employees.”

Evans has lived in Evergreen for about 15 years and moved to the Villages a year ago. She and her husband Bill enjoy living there with its array of activities.

The business takes a lot of her time, but Evans gladly gives back to the community with her commitment to EBPA and the Silicon Valley Lions Clubs. With the service organization, she works on club projects such as providing eyeglasses to those in need and food drives. She says, “It’s important to me to give back to the community and encourage others to do so as well.”

“Evergreen is a wonderful,” Evans says, “And I want it to be a great place for everyone to live and work.” She likes the diversity and thinks the multiple cultures add to the interest of the area.

Evans finds time to engage in her favorite pastimes of reading, sewing, knitting, playing the piano and cooking. Family is also very important. She has two daughters and three grandchildren. Her blended family also includes the 23 grand- and great-grandchildren of her husband. “Family gatherings are always fun,” she says.

Carla Evans contributes to the business and community spirit and is certainly a BEACON for the Evergreen community.

BEACON

A country song says “you can’t be a beacon if your light don’t shine.”

The Evergreen Times would like for the lights of interesting Evergreen residents to shine through a profile on such persons. Our community has educators, activists, business people, inventors, sportsmen, hobbyists, public safety persons – a plethora of fascinating people who should be recognized by their neighbors as a beacon for community involvement. If you know a person who should be recognized as a BEACON, contact highlander@timesmediainc.com and they will be considered for future issues.