About Gwen
President & Co-Founder
In 2010, I set out to help in reducing instances of social isolation and to improve the lives of aging adults in general—and in LGBTQ communities in particular, where experiences of isolation and loneliness are even greater. With that goal in mind, A&B Senior Connections, LLC was formed.
Gwendolyn M. Boozé – My Story
My career began at several small to mid-sized computer hardware and software companies in the late 60s and early 70s. But by 1975, I’d purchased my own restaurant and was overseeing its operations during an era when bankers and investors did not take female entrepreneurs seriously. In fact, early on, one lender asked why I was trying to operate a restaurant business as opposed to staying at home baking, instead.
So, I decided to run my business without bank financing. In its place, I negotiated and built trusted relationships with vendors, who agreed to provide the supplies I needed on a credit basis. By 1999, I had earned a degree in Economics with honors from Mills College. And after a quarter century in the restaurant business, I divested to launch an automotive repair complex in Pinole, California with my younger son. Today, still working in retirement, I’m a mother of two and a grandmother of eight.
But it was in 2010 when I set out on a new quest. This was the year my grandmother passed away. And though a strong woman throughout her life, a hip injury resulting from a fall landed her in the hospital and subsequently in a skilled nursing facility. And it was here where she passed away. We lost her not because it was her time but due to severe isolation. Thus began my mission to lessen instances of social isolation in aging adults.
I began working with organizations like Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, Congress of California Seniors, and United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County (USOAC). And by 2020, I’d launched A&B Senior Connections, LLC.
When COVID-19 surfaced and throughout the next year, it became even more crucial to communicate with our elders. So, I created a workaround that would overcome limitations on personal visits and restrictions under sheltering-in-place orders by promoting pre-programmed smart devices, Wi-Fi, and training. Going forward, we’ll continue to provide solutions that offer much-needed visual and emotional reassurances to our most vulnerable aging populations.
Qualifications
I am a forward-thinking senior executive and financial manager with a proven track record spanning five decades of successful business ownership and management. I’m recognized for my focus on continuous business improvement, revenue enhancement, streamlined operations, and profit maximization.
Education
- Bachelor of Arts: Political Legal and Economic Analysis, Mills College – Oakland, CA
- Member of Omicron Delta Upsilon, the Economics Honor Society
- Coursework in Law and Society, Justice in England and America, Worcester College, Oxford, England, Summer 1997
- Associate of Arts: General Studies, Laney College – Oakland, CA
- Member of Phi Theta Kappa Society
- Graduated with Highest Honors
- Dean’s List Fall 1996
Experience
- President & Co-Founder, A & B Senior Connections LLC – Oakland, CA, 09/2020 to Present
- Provide innovative technologies to reduce social isolation and boost the quality of life for aging adults.
- Create video conferencing opportunities that meet aging adults where they are to foster community and connectivity.
- Build a stronger community through collaboration and networking with related organizations, centers, and foundations interested in the state of aging adults in America.
- Manage oration, engagement, and revenue stream.
- Vice President, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay – Oakland, CA, 06/2017 to 12/2020
- Supported older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) East Bay residents in achieving and maintaining a high quality of life through community building, education, and advocacy.
- Hosted and co-hosted five programs including a second Saturday lunch program at the All Saints Episcopal Church in San Leandro, a third Friday lunch program at the North Oakland Senior Center, a third Wednesday LGBTQ Film Series at the San Leandro Library, the support group Caring for Our Partners, and the senior support project Communication Relieves Isolation.
- Accounted for and reported on grants and general contributions.
- Chief Financial Officer, Accutech Auto Care, Inc. – Pinole, CA, 06/1999 to 12/2017
- Increased operational efficiency along with state and local compliance by standardizing internal control systems and procedures.
- Developed strategic business plans for accounting, compliance, and revenue targets.
- Built and strengthened productive and valuable industry partnerships to drive collaboration, engagement, and revenue growth.
Get In Touch
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Contact
Phone
Address
4300 Bermuda Avenue, Oakland, CA 94619