45 Years of Powering Dreams: How a Family Business Grew into a Community Pillar
In 1986, Diana O’Valle opened a small childcare center in her family’s two-bedroom Oakland home. Today, her daughter Sandi Zorinich leads Rockridge Montessori, the business Diana started nearly forty years ago. In that time, this family-run business has grown into a thriving Montessori school system that serves over 130 children each year and employs 40 staff members across two campuses. “Everything we’ve accomplished started with the small business loans,” reflects Sandi. “They turned my mother’s dream into a reality.”
Diana’s entrepreneurial journey began when she immigrated from the Middle East in the 1960s, finally settling in the Rockridge district of Oakland. She worked at her family’s neighborhood grocery store while pursuing her degree at Mills College. Diana’s passion for childhood education led her to discover the Montessori philosophy, inspiring her to start a home-based program caring for six children.
As Diana’s expertise in Montessori methods grew, so did her vision for impact. In 1994, she connected with Main Street Launch (then known as OBDC Small Business Finance) to secure her first small business loan. Her daughter Sandi joined the business at that time and helped with the loan application. “They didn’t just provide funding; they guided us through every step,” she recalls. The investment allowed the family to transform their home into a proper Montessori school, expanding their capacity to 38 children. A second loan five years later funded the renovation of an adjacent building, further growing their educational footprint.
These loans weren’t just investments in the business—they were investments in the community. Diana and her family were able to provide quality education while creating meaningful employment opportunities for diverse community members, some of whom have been with Rockridge Montessori for over 20 years. “The loans didn’t just help our family,” Sandi shares, “but helped our teachers and staff buy cars, homes, and build their lives.”
Through the years, Rockridge Montessori has created a safe, nurturing community where everyone—children, parents, and staff—can grow. The business continues to expand, allowing them to serve more families. The school also offers college-level training for teachers, fostering career advancement in early childhood education. “People really create roots here,” Sandi says. “The connections formed in our classrooms last through generations.”
Now, as Main Street Launch celebrates 45 years of supporting small businesses, Rockridge Montessori’s story serves as a powerful example of how the organization’s mission creates ripples of impact. What began as an immigrant mother’s dream has blossomed into a community cornerstone that shapes young minds, supports working families, and develops career pathways.
By providing crucial resources to their business, Main Street Launch empowered Diana and her family to grow Rockridge Montessori into an educational institution that has effects well beyond its classroom walls. This 45th anniversary is a celebration of transformative stories like theirs—a testament to the power of small business support in building strong, vibrant communities.
