Two high school students walked into Skillet'z Cafe this summer with a flyer, a pitch, and an idea worth hearing out.
The Pitch
Callan Pang and Joyce Li, student leaders from Mission San Jose High School's DECA chapter, had been visiting businesses in Niles to introduce a new program and find local partners. DECA is a nonprofit that prepares high school students for careers in business fields like marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, and Mission San Jose's chapter has built a strong local presence around that mission.
The program they pitched, the Diamond Marketing Team, gives DECA students the chance to work directly with local businesses on real projects.
They asked our server if a manager was available. Jonathan Tsai, Managing Partner of Skillet'z Cafe, sat down with them at one of our tables to hear the idea — and didn't need much convincing.
Diamond Marketing Team's flyer introduces its student-run consulting work for local businesses.
Meet Callan
Callan is a rising senior at Mission San Jose High School. He plans to study business and environmental engineering in college, with UC Berkeley as his goal school, and hopes to eventually pursue entrepreneurial ventures focused on expanding renewable energy sources.
"This is a great opportunity for all MSJ DECA students interested in business careers to get actual experience working with actual businesses," Callan said. "They can build their resumes and form new connections."
Where the Partnership Stands
Jonathan has been looking for ways to get more involved with Fremont's youth, and the timing felt right. He's since talked about hosting an AI educational session at Skillet'z for students interested in the field — one of several ideas the partnership may grow into.
Since that first conversation, the Diamond Marketing Team has stayed in close contact with Jonathan and started building out a marketing campaign for Skillet'z. Two social media posts are already live, with more content and potential community events in the works.
A sample Skillet'z creative from the campaign, highlighting dinner hours and a 14-ounce rib-eye steak plate.
A sample Tea-Rek'z creative from the campaign, highlighting the Lit Matcha Series next door to Skillet'z.
What's Next
For Callan and Joyce, the goal goes beyond a single campaign. They're working to build the Diamond Marketing Team into a lasting program — one that gives students hands-on professional experience while supporting local businesses.
We're glad to be part of that.
Follow along as the campaign takes shape: