Category Archives: Business

Women’s Economic Ventures welcomes entrepreneurs to the WEV Family

WEV’s Ventura County Self-Employment Training graduates proudly display their certificates during ceremony.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) recently celebrated the accomplishments of 86 women and men who have successfully completed WEV’s Self-Employment Training program during a ceremony held at Montecito County Club.  Twenty-seven of the graduates are from Ventura County and three from Los Angeles County.

After 14 months of training on topics including finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan, these graduates emerged with the necessary tools and support needed to expand or start their own business.

Graduates range from first-time business owners to those who have turned to WEV to help expand their existing businesses. Some businesses and business concepts include a natural skin care line, a craft store and a vintage pinball arcade.

During the ceremony, each graduate shared their new business venture through an “elevator pitch” that they have crafted and perfected through the course. The ceremony concluded with a reception and “business expo” where graduates showcased their businesses and shared their products with family and friends.

“After 14 weeks of commitment and hard work, these graduates emerge with the tools needed to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality, from brand new ventures to strategic growth of an established business, “said Marsha Bailey, CEO/Founder of WEV.  “We are honored to welcome them to the WEV family and look forwarding to seeing where their accomplishments take them.”

WEV’s 14-week Self-Employment Training course provides guidance on how to start, operate or expand a business. The program provides week-by-week training on topics including finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan.

The next Self-Employment Training (SET) course begins in February in Ventura County.  Orientation required to enroll. The next orientations will take place:

  • Wednesday, January 7 from 6-7 p.m. in Oxnard
  • Thursday, January 14 from 6-7 p.m. in Ventura
  • Thursday, January 21 from 12 -1 p.m. in Oxnard

Location will be given at time of RSVP and is subject to change. For more information or to register for the free orientation, call 456-2355 or visit the website at http://wevonline.org/orientations.

WEV has a new Development Coordinator

Adrienne has a background in marketing and public relations.
Adrienne has a background in marketing and public relations.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is pleased to announce Adrienne (Addy) Cleverly as new Development Coordinator.

Cleverly brings to WEV a background in marketing and public relations for an array of organizations, including small businesses and international nonprofits. As Development Coordinator, Cleverly will focus on donor relations and community engagement in Ventura County.

Cleverly earned her Bachelor’s in Communication magna cum laude, and a minor in Business Management from Cal State University, Channel Islands.  With a desire to address chronic poverty closer to its roots, Cleverly completed a Certificate in Social Business and Microfinance at the California Institute for Social Business at CSU Channel Islands. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running and doing yoga.

WEV is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. Since 1991, WEV has been providing a continuum of comprehensive services – training, consulting and loans – to help entrepreneurs start grow and thrive in business. For more information, visit http://www.wevonline.org.

NOW Ventura offers new dining experience

business now ventura
Patrons enjoying the cool, upscale and sophisticated NOW Ventura restaurant.

By Gail Field

This brand new venue, NOW Ventura, opened Dec 2, is the brainchild of a trio of entrepreneurs.  The trio consists of Executive Chef Dean Angelo, who hails from New Jersey and has long experience as a restaurateur at multiple venues in the east coast including restaurants Milan, Bizarros, Chaps, and Michaelangelo’s.

Michael Anthony is the master mixologist from Los Angeles and more recently managing Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant “Pump” in West Hollywood where he worked together with partner Rani John to launch the celebrities’ newest and highly anticipated hot spot.  Anthony’s goal with NOW is to create a lounge environment where customers can relax and enjoy a variety of wines and specialty drinks.  Anthony and Angelo worked together for nearly twenty years on a variety of dining projects.

Rani John manages the marketing and operations of NOW and brings to the team his experience in Las Vegas promotions along with the opening of Pump in West Hollywood.  “I’ve always wanted to open a project like this,” says John.  “It’s great to do this with Mike and Dean who really know how to create great cuisine.”

Why Ventura? “This city was listed as the number one place to live in the U.S. and the three of us liked what we saw here—ocean, beautiful weather and friendly people,” says John.  “We’re all settling here with our families. We love this place and want to provide something special for the city.”

The goal of the new managers in designing the setting is to create a place that is cool, upscale and sophisticated, punctuated with music of many genres.  The trio completely refurbished the interior and exterior of the building, bringing a sense of modern sophistication in the design.  Angelo wants “to live in the now because the past is history, the future is a mystery, today is a gift and that’s why they call it present…. NOW.”

NOW Ventura offers great dining, featuring seafood and northern Italian dishes along with a hip atmosphere and a variety of musical selections.  The restaurant currently opens at 4 p.m. with Happy Hour and continues through until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (closed Mondays), and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.  NOW Ventura is available for catering at the customer’s site as well, with the same great dishes.

Plans for the future include lunch during the week as well as a weekend brunch and live music.  John says, “If you want a cool, classy place to spend your evening, this is it!”

The restaurant is located at 185 E. Santa Clara St., Phone  667-2200, http://www.nowventura.com.

 

 

 

 

Crowell Weedon honors Anita Jeffrey In Ventura

Anita Jeffrey honored with “big Picture” award.
Anita Jeffrey honored with “big Picture” award.

Crowell, Weedon & Co., a division of D.A. Davidson & Co.,  has honored Anita Jeffrey with the Branch Operations Manager “Big Picture” award. Anita Jeffrey serves as Supervisory Branch Operations Manager for the firm’s Ventura branch.

Anita Jeffrey, who joined the firm in May 2014, is honored with the “Big Picture” title which is awarded annually to a Branch Operations Manager in recognition of exceptional performance in coordinating and supervising the activities of branch operational and support staff, while also maintaining a forward-looking and inspiring approach to operations.

Crowell, Weedon & Co. (www.crowellweedon.com) is a division of D.A. Davidson & Co., and has 12 offices across Southern California.

Shop Local This Holiday Season to Discover Unique Gifts for All

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) encourages community to support local businesses

As the holidays are approaching, many people are joining the crowds at malls and big chain stores seeking the right gift for friends and family – or camping out in front of their screens, avoiding the crowds, shopping the biggest online retailers and buying as many of the Best replica handbags they can get away with for all of their loved ones! This season, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) encourages holiday gift givers to do a little something different and shop local at the many locally owned shops and other local businesses.

“Purchasing gifts from local businesses not only provides loved ones with a unique gift, but also stimulates the local economy,” said Marsha Bailey, WEV founder and CEO. “When you purchase a gift from a small business, you can feel great about your money staying in the community and helping to create more local jobs.”

A study in San Francisco found that for every $1 million in revenue local businesses created 2.14 jobs while chains created only 1.27 jobs.

This year, consider purchasing gifts from these local shops, owned and operating by participants in WEV’s continuum of business training, support and small business loan programs. Gift giving will be made more meaningful with the help of these small business in Ventura County:

Paradise Pantry is a gourmet artisan cheese and wine market featuring shareable bites such as hummus, meats and cheeses as well as hearty salads and sandwiches. The market also features a popular weekly Mac’ n’ cheese special created by Chef Kelly. Past dishes have included a Thanksgiving mac ’n cheese featuring turkey, stuffing and cranberry; a loaded baked potato mac ’n’ cheese; and a chicken enchilada mac’ n’ cheese. During the holidays, Paradise Pantry will also feature sparkling wine flights to find the best bubbly for your Holiday and New Year celebrations. This eatery is a perfect place to find gifts for the foodies in your life – or to treat a friend to a tasty break during holiday shopping on downtown Main Street. Located at: 222 E. Main Street.

Sauna Studio: Help your loved ones relax this holiday season with a gift from Sauna Studio. Sauna Studio offers infrared sauna treatment, hot yoga and massage therapy designed to help you destress and give you a healthy glow. The infrared therapy will also help with weight loss, pain relief, and improve the strength of one’s immune system and cardiovascular health. Located at: 3459 Telegraph Road. A Sauna could be a nice healthy addition to your home, especially if you are looking for that extra place to de-stress. If you don’t feel know a lot about Saunas or feel a little apprehensive about getting one, doing some research and this Vital Health Sauna review might just change your mind.

Scrubs on the Run: is an affordable place for medical professionals to buy scrubs, with styles and sizes to accommodate all body types and personalities. Scrubs are also available for purchase online. Located at: 2542 E. Main Street.

Skincare by Adriana: Give the gift of healthy and radiant skin this season with a facial or waxing from esthetician, Adriana. Skincare by Adriana offers a variety of spa and express facials to help skins glow. Adriana is skilled in treating acne, rosacea and uneven skin tones and can help anyone achieve the results they want to see in their skin. Located at: 35 Oak St. in Ventura.

Spice-Topia: Gifts from Spice-Topia are sure to spice up any occasion or dish. This specialty spice and tea store sells products from over 25 local artisan food chef creations, including specialty ketchups, hot sauces, jams, coffees and much more. Perfect for those on your list who love to cook. Custom gift baskets and pre-made gift baskets are also available. Located at: 576 E. Main St. in Ventura.

Very Ventura Gift Shop and Gallery: offers an array of Ventura-branded merchandise for visitors and natives alike – and serves as a key source of recommendations for out-of-town visitors or residents looking for new ways to entertain their holiday guests. The gift store and website give an insider’s take on local dining, shopping, landmarks and unique excursions within Ventura County, aiming to please a wide range of interests and abilities. Located at: 540 E. Main St.

About Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV)

WEV is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. Since 1991, WEV has been providing a continuum of comprehensive services – training, consulting and loans – to help entrepreneurs start grow and thrive in business. WEV’s service area includes Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, with offices in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Santa Maria. WEV provides start-up and expansion loans of up to $50,000 to pre-bankable microenterprises. For more information, visit WEV’s Web site at http://www.wevonline.org.

WEV gave Katie her confidence and knowledge to start her own business

Katie Adams didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life. She struggled in school and did not know which path to take. When she became pregnant with her daughter, she realized she needed to find a way for support her. She started to make her own essential oils and baby lotions and discovered a passion for skin care.

They started out by selling their products at booths during events and through local vendors. Recently, they opened their own store at the Ventura Harbor. Adams makes all the products herself, while her mom helps run the store.

Adams attributes her success to local nonprofit Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) and her mom, who also went through the WEV program eight years ago. WEV offers a continuum of programs aimed to help women and men start, stabilize and grow small businesses.  Adams will graduate from WEV’s Self-Employment Training (SET) course on Dec. 16th at The Montecito County Club.

According to WEV’s recent 2015 Report on Program Outcomes, WEV is showing some dramatic results in comparison with national outcomes:

  • WEV clients are showing nearly double the national average for survival of women-owned businesses. An average of 80% of women-owned business who participated in WEV programs are still in business after five years – compared to a national average of 45%.
  • 85% of clients in poverty at intake have moved out of poverty
  • In the past five years, WEV-assisted businesses have:

– Created an estimated 1,145 new jobs and supported a total of 2,552 jobs

– Generated an estimated $6.6 million in local and state tax revenues

WEV serves over 800 women and men annually in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Since inception (1991), WEV has made almost $4 million in microloans and helped start or expand an estimated 3,000 businesses which support more than 9,000 local jobs.

 

City Council to vote on proceeding with hillside 55-unit development

On Nov. 30, with a 5PM start time, the City Council will be voting on the following line items for the proposed 55-unit Regent project:

To process a Prescreen for a proposed General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan.

Review and approval of General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan Prescreen to file an application.

Authorization of consultant services related to CEQA, CIP Study, as well as contract staff for permit processing and technical review for Community Development and Public Works Departments.

General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan, Tentative Map, anticipated Development Agreement, and any other associated application filings and staff analysis, including environmental review.

Determination to Modify the Existing General Plan Land Use Designation from Neighborhood Low to Specific Plan and Hillside Management Plan.

Policy Consideration Related to the Timing of Infrastructure Analysis as Part of a Residential Development on Approximately 40 Acres and Open Space with Public Access Trails on Approximately 175 Acres on an Overall Site of 215.94 Acres Located North of Hillcrest Drive, West of Hall Canyon Road, East of Lincoln Drive.

 

Have you wanted to run your own business?

If you don’t know where to start to own your own business of  already own a business and want to expand attend a WEV session to learn how? Learn how to make those dreams a reality with Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV). WEV is holding free, 1-hour informational sessions facilitated by Spanish Program Coordinator Leticia Sandoval in Ventura County to help determine your readiness for one of WEV’s business courses. Orientation is required to enroll in the Spanish Self-Employment Training (SSET) program.

Wednesday, December 2
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Oxnard Public Library Conference Room B, 251 South A Street Oxnard, CA 93003
Free, but RSVP required

Thursday, December 3
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Ventura County WEV Office, 290 Maple Ct. Suite #256 Ventura, CA 93003
Free, but RSVP required

Wednesday, December 9
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Ventura County WEV Office, 290 Maple Ct. Suite #256 Ventura, CA 93003
Free, but RSVP required

Spanish Self-Employment Training (SSET)
WEV offers a 4-week Basic Self-Employment Training course in Spanish, designed as an introduction to help men and women determine if they are ready to start a business.

WEV’s 12- week advanced Self-Employment Training course provides guidance on how to start, operate or expand a business. The program provides week-by-week training on topics including finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan.

WEV has provided entrepreneurial training to nearly 4,000 women, loaned more than $2 million to local businesses, and has created an average of 300 jobs in the community each year.

Location is subject to change. To find out more information or to register for the orientation, call  456-2341 or visit the website at http://wevonline.org/orientaciones

 

 

BBM&D chosen to represent Camarillo association   

Camarillo Hotel & Tourism Association has selected Ventura’s BBM&D Strategic Branding, a Southern California-based marketing and design firm, to spearhead its branding and communications. BBM&D will use marketing, public relations and social media campaigns to welcome visitors to Camarillo.

“With premier shopping, beautiful venues, scenic golf courses and unique cultural experiences, Camarillo is truly a hidden gem,” said Barbara Brown, BBM&D president. “We can’t wait to work with the Camarillo Hotel & Tourism Association on showing travelers what they can experience in the city.”

“We interviewed a number of very qualified agencies,” Camarillo Visitors & Convention Bureau Executive Director Adriana Huizar said, “BBM&D impressed us with their ability to demonstrate what makes Camarillo such a fun and unique experience for visitors. We look forward to working with their talented, creative team to make Camarillo a hub for Southern California tourism and events.”

BBM&D’s services can be viewed at bbmd-inc.com.