A young couple evolves from CSUMB grads to entrepreneurs to donors

By Amanda E. Snyder

At just 30 years old, CSUMB alumni Zach and Isabel Brooksher have already accomplished a lot. They are business owners, volunteers and, now, university donors. 

After meeting at CSUMB in 2012 as business administration majors, Isabel and Zach graduated in 2014 and 2015, respectively, got married, and started two businesses together. In addition to selling real estate on the Monterey Peninsula and greater Carmel areas, the ambitious pair also operates a rental real estate business in the Midwest consisting of Airbnbs and multifamily properties. 

The entrepreneurial couple makes a clear connection between their time at CSUMB and their career success.

“In addition to watching our families run businesses, CSUMB and our business professors gave us the foundation and confidence we needed to pursue entrepreneurship,” Isabel said. 

That spirit began before college. 

“Entrepreneurship has been a part of our lives for a long time,” Zach said. Growing up, he had a lawn-mowing gig and helped with his family’s landscaping business. Isabel worked for her family’s catering business when she was young. 

During his senior year at CSUMB, Zach joined Ben and Carole Heinrich’s real estate team in Carmel. Isabel, who had been managing restaurants and dental offices, joined the team in 2018. What started for Zach as a part-time assistant position, developed into a wonderful partnership between the two couples for the last eight years. 

The Brookshers are giving back as well. 

Recently, the couple gave $5,000 in support of the College of Business’s Startup Challenge Main Street prize, a program of the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED). The Startup Challenge is an annual competition that supports entrepreneurs and start-ups in the region by connecting them to funders and support programs. The Main Street prize helps small businesses with start-up costs and other burdens. 

The opportunity to donate to the startup challenge intrigued the couple because Zach competed in it during his senior year, and they wanted to help the next generation of entrepreneurs.

 “Small business on the Monterey Peninsula is in a really good place right now,” Zach said. “We have incredible new restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops and new artists making a name in the community. But we appreciate the risk associated with taking the leap to go into business.” 

The pair has also given of their time in other ways. Zach formerly served as a board director of the Carmel Public Library Foundation, and Isabel volunteered at Hidden Hills Ranch in Prunedale. 

“When we thought about what we wanted to do next,” Isabel said, “I [reflected that] I had received private scholarships that really helped me in college. Those funds came from a person or business, and we knew we wanted to do something with CSUMB.” 

The Brookshers also hope to be an inspiration for aspiring business owners. 

“We hope to be a resource for other entrepreneurs,” Zach said. “We are a young couple who started without local connections, and who cultivated new relationships and ultimately found our path.”