Founder and CEO of BriteWorks, Anita Ron, stacks up yet another prestigious award onto the company’s impressive list of achievements. The SBA award represents a business that has used at least one SBA program or service and demonstrates growth in staff size and revenue, resiliency, “staying power” and contributions to the community. 

Anita Ron’s aspiration in college was journalism. But after a college program trip to Cheltenham, a small town in Gloucestershire, England, she took a completely different career path. Upon graduation, Anita followed her heart to find something that would allow her to connect with people. She went into food service. In 1996, after being laid off from a corporate downsizing, the Lincoln Heights gal started her cleaning micro-enterprise based out of a garage with three vacuum cleaners, $700 and 3 staff, composed of extended family members. Twenty-eight years later, BriteWorks has close to 200 employees, provides commercial and janitorial services throughout California.

 

During the company’s humble beginning, Ron won her first big contract with the West Covina Chamber of Commerce, then with Hallmark. After the W. Covina Chamber closed its door, she joined the Irwindale Chamber, and eventually became vice chair of the board. Through the Irwindale chamber board’s high recommendation, BriteWorks won three consecutive Super Bowl contracts from 2021 to 2023, and a Rose Bowl contract in 2024.

Though still based out of Covina, Ron maintains close ties with Irwindale. Annually, BriteWorks donates scholarship funds to the Irwindale Education Fund that supports youths of Irwindale Chamber members and Irwindale families. When inquired about her loyalty and commitment towards the chamber, the successful businesswoman states, “The Board really believes in the city’s small-town community,” and that “the city itself cares about their residents.” She adds, “The chamber is a comfortable platform to help businesses grow. It always engages and embraces the growth of the business community.”

With a heart to enhance the community at large, Ron challenges BriteWorks employees to take on their own service projects. The company’s past projects include food kitchens, fundraising for medical equipment for the needy, and volunteering at local churches. Ron provided her janitorial services at no cost to the West Covina Chamber prior to its closing. When asked her proudest accomplishments to date, she humbly says, “providing well needed jobs to the community.” Upon my recent visit to the company, I would add that the BriteWorks office space is creatively laid out and offers a clean and healthy environment for all who enters.

I asked her motto towards success for start-ups, and her response was no surprise: “Don’t give yourself the ability to fail, to close your door. This could mean long hours… Small business and corporate business are completely different. Tenacity and grits are key to survival and success.” Take it from one who knows.

In April 2024, Anita Ron also received the Diversity Professionals Magazine Women of Excellence award, adding to the long list of recognitions from elected officials, regional and state Hispanic chambers of commerce, the Latin Business Association, and several publications including the Los Angeles Business Journal and Latina Style Magazine.

By Lily Phan

Irwindale Chamber of Commerce President/CEO