Chef Felicia Guimont approaches her catering events with the same meticulous preparation each time.
“You know we always need our tools to ensure our temperatures are accurate,” Guimont remarked.
For 28 years, the North Texas chef, affectionately dubbed “Chef Fee,” has navigated various commercial kitchens. She has cooked and baked for numerous clients, supported unsheltered communities in Fort Worth, and provided mentorship for aspiring young entrepreneurs.
Her business, OMG Cakes, keeps her engaged throughout the region, particularly in south Dallas. It’s a venture she initiated independently in 1997.
“I had no one to guide me, to say, ‘This is how you do it,’” Guimont expressed. “Understanding financial literacy is crucial, and had I learned it earlier, I might have been able to run several franchises by now.”
Guimont noted that some of this essential education occurs just a short distance away in a local bank branch.
“What I missed out on then, the kids have the opportunity to access now,” Guimont mentioned.
Vista Bank, which operates branches across North Texas, inaugurated its location on MLK Boulevard in 2024.
Housed in the former Social Security office, the branch is equipped with all the usual features of a banking institution, but Lubbock Smith III emphasized that the design also prioritizes community space.
“We aim to teach our community how to fish while providing a sustainable pond for them to fish from,” Smith stated.
This location offers facilities for the South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, and what Smith refers to as a financial literacy center.
“We require more individuals who possess not only the income but also the commitment and passion to genuinely uplift the community,” Smith said. “This reflects the vast potential that areas like South Dallas hold within the southern sector.”
Guimont shared that the workshops she has participated in at the financial literacy center, which is accessible to the community, are guiding her toward the goal of establishing a physical storefront.
“You can’t effectively run a business while hiding the finances under your pillow,” Guimont acknowledged. “Invest the time, attend the classes, and I am learning how to progress toward success.”
