Queer Women We Love, Red Hot Entrepreneurs, Wonder Women

Workin’ It 2010

November 8, 2010 Cheryle Burke, Kat Long

Some chefs spend years in pricey culinary institutes trying to master natural foods. Deborah Gavito, proprietor of the snazzy NYC vegetarian restaurant Counter, learned the art of cooking with seasonal produce and edible weeds from her grandmothers. Gavito’s early fascination with natural cooking has grown into a long-time dedication to local and sustainable foods: her first venture, an all-natural baked goods business called Body & Soul, debuted in 1993. She sold her scrumptious treats at the Union Square Greenmarket, where she developed an appreciation for family farmers, and earned enough dough (pun intended) to open Counter in 2003. As Counter’s proprietor, Gavito designs fresh vegetarian fare, biodynamic wines and cleverly named organic vodka martinis (one is called “The Angry Lesbian”). “I waited on tables years and years ago, but other than that, I’ve only worked for myself,” Gavito says. “I don’t think I could take orders from any one else.”

45 of 2010’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs

Christen Greene is as immersed in the music business as you can be without getting on stage. The founder of Seattle-based Faux Pas Productions, an artist management firm and boutique booking agency where artists receive priority attention with individualized marketing and branding plans, Greene guides the careers of numerous indie acts. In 2002 she launched the award-winning lesbian singer-songwriter Chris Pureka, and has gone on to manage additional up-and-coming musicians–even going on tour with them as a manager, “merch urchin” and amateur therapist. In 2009, Greene and Seattle entrepreneur David Meinert founded indie label Onto Entertainment, where she’s now the General Manager and head of A&R. For Greene, hard work is the key
to success. “I spent two and a half years bartending before I was comfortable enough financially to devote all my time to the company. Now I’ve been doing it five and a half years full time,” she says. “I truly enjoy the freedom that comes with being a CEO. While there are a lot of responsibilities, I surround myself with really good people from diverse backgrounds that give me invaluable input and advice on all aspects of our business.”