The association had gone through several years of turmoil; some members weren't even sure the association would survive. But new board members stepped up to the plate to rescue the association and came to the decision that hiring a manager was critical to the association's survival.

Ruiz was hired for the 32-hour-a-week job, with a mission to bring leadership, experience and support to the association's future.

In the more than a year since Ruiz was hired, it appears her guiding hand has already made a significant imprint on the association.

At the association's September board meeting, the board approved a five-year strategic plan, which Ruiz said needed to be done to clarify the association's long-term objectives. Ruiz says she feel good about its finalization. And she plans to help members of the board carry out these goals within the business community. Ruiz says by breaking the plan down into smaller pieces, the association can achieve success through "small victories."

She hopes that every time a portion of the strategic plan is met, the board members will recognize that the plan's contents are doable and that that will inspire confidence to do more.

"We want to put Willow Glen on the map," she says. "The association was in a slump before I was here, but now we have a new board, and they have already done a phenomenal job of turning things around."

Through her executive director position, she wants to help promote the community and bring events into the business district that will draw greater customer traffic and commerce to the area.

"Despite the prevailing business conditions, retail space continues to get rented," she says. "Two or three businesses have already called, looking for business space in Willow Glen."

Ruiz says she looks at other business organizations—even out-of-state—that have successful business models and researches what will work for the Willow Glen community. Some examples include business beautification and safety projects

"I look for benchmarks and who has the best practices," Ruiz says. "It's great to see another organization that already has a successful model. Then we don't have to reinvent the wheel but we can build on what they've done."

Ruiz says that the business association is still in a transition phase and insists that every day provides new challenges. She says one of the most important aspects of her job is to listen to the interests of a diverse group of Willow Glen business owners, from those with retail businesses to those with financial institutions.

"I get to use a lot of creativity with this job," she says. "I have to decide how to create a change with all the diversity and make it positive for the business community."

She admits the work, which for many communities this size is normally performed by two full-time employees, can be daunting on her part-time schedule.

Yet despite the varied range of interests among business owners, she says that in the end, they all want the same thing—to make Willow Glen a wonderful, successful place.

Willow Glen Business and Professional Association President Cara Finn says Ruiz is a tremendous asset to the association.

Willow Glen Books owner Cathy Adkins, who is also a board member, says Ruiz has already got a lot done and says her advice to the association has been well received.

Ruiz' own hope for the association is that one day it will no longer need her. She recognizes the strengths she brings to the association, like collaboration and organization. But she also says that there may come a day when her skills are not enough and the association needs someone with more of a marketing and promotional background.

"I hope the organization outgrows me," she says. "I hope they get to that point. That is what success means to me."