On September 26 the Very Ventura Gift Shop & Gallery held a grand opening party at their beautiful new location at 540 E. Main in Downtown Ventura. The greatly enlarged location features clothes, jewelry and gifts, music, books, much more and art in their GalleryV. All by local artists, artisans and manufacturers. They open at 11am and the closing hours depend on the day of the week. Call 628-3540 for more information. 
The perfect place to start buying you holiday gifts.
Category Archives: Business
Ventura Women in Business
By Sheila Lowe, MS, CG
In 1982 women in business were still fighting for recognition. Despite owning 25% of all US businesses, women were required to get their husband’s signature when applying for any type of loan. There were no women’s networking organizations to support them and they were not allowed to join service clubs such as Rotary or Chambers of Commerce. For Ventura women, a change was in the offing.
Seeing the need for convenient networking in Ventura County, a group of businesswomen got together and hosted a dinner at an Oxnard restaurant for more than one-hundred interested women. That was where the seed for VCPWN—Ventura County Professional Women’s Network—was planted. Now, more than thirty years later, VCPWN still meets monthly (except December) for dinner and a speaker. Twice a year they hold a silent auction and an annual tabletop expo. Their mission remains the same: Promote the personal and professional growth of Ventura County women through education, mutual support, and sharing of resources.
Most VCPWN members are women (men are not excluded) who occupy a wide spectrum of business and industry. They meet at the Wedgewood Banquet Center in Ventura on the second Thursday of each month for an informative program and networking. Nonmember guests are welcomed by a greeter at the door and introduced to members.
Speaker topics range from self-help to business to social issues and more. As October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, the October 8th meeting topic is Taking the Punch Out of Domestic Violence. The organization will donate $100 to a charity of the speaker’s choosing.
Local businesswoman Merle DiVita, one of VCPWN’s founding mothers, was honored at a recent meeting with the prestigious Wind Beneath My Wings Award.
Other members include, among many others, attorneys, insurance agents, accountants, and yours truly, a handwriting examiner and mystery writer. Wherever you go in Ventura, if you mention VCPWN, you’re sure to hear these words: “I used to be a member. That’s a wonderful organization!” I have served two terms as VCPWN president.
This November, along with our wonderful pre-holiday silent auction, VCPWN is planning a membership drive and on December 10th a Champagne and Chocolate meet and greet at the office of our “Guy at Large,” Jim Nicoll. For anyone who’s been thinking about joining, there couldn’t be a better time. The normal joining fee will be waived and membership will start January 1st, which gives a free month and member rates for dinner.
We’ve all come a long way since 1982, and we still have a long way to go. Knowing there is a supportive organization to provide support and resources makes the trip a lot more pleasant. Please visit www.vcpwn.org
Shannon started her love of food by joining her father
Taking a break from her busy schedule Pam Baumgardner enjoys relaxing at Marie Shannon’s
Shannon Wright, owner of Marie Shannon Confections; started her love of food by going to fancy restaurants with her father. She loved trying to figure out the ingredients in these dishes and enjoyed taking in the atmosphere of each restaurant. Shannon soon became a home cook, which was followed by making cheesecakes at a café.
At 19 years of age she started culinary school where she learned how to create specialty pastries and so much more! Her learning continued through working at bakeries, hotels and country clubs such as Sherwood Country Club.
Using her expertise, Shannon helped her family open Jimmy’s Slice, which is also located downtown. This was followed by the opening of her own bakery – Marie Shannon Confections- on February 14, 2012. This is where she continues to thrive and use her masterful skills to make the best desserts, cakes, coffees and breakfast!
Marie Shannon’s is located at 27 S. Chestnut Street in Ventura.
WEV celebrates 14 graduates
Some businesses include an art gallery, a hair salon and a housing cleaning service.
On Wednesday, August 12th, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) celebrated the accomplishments of fourteen men and women graduating from the WEV en Español’s Basic Self-Employment Training (SET) program.
Students in the four week course explored the risks and benefits of starting different businesses, characteristics important to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and they evaluated their own strengths and abilities. Graduates left the course with an understanding of whether they are ready to take the next steps in launching their own business.
“These graduates took a small but important step in determining their readiness for starting their own business,” said Leticia Sandoval, WEV Spanish Program Coordinator. “We are excited to see what the next few months brings for each graduate.”
WEV is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. Since 1991, WEV has been providing self-employment training, technical assistance and microloans to primarily low-income women. WEV offers a continuum of programs to help both women and men start, stabilize and grow small businesses. WEV’s service area includes Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, with offices in Santa Barbara and Ventura. As a non-profit community lender, the WEV Loan Program provides start-up and expansion loans of up to $50,000. For more information, visit WEV’s website at www.wevonline.org.
Ohana Pet Hospital welcomes Dr. Jennifer Kelly
Dr. Jan Shinkawa, Medical Director of Ohana Pet Hospital, announced the expansion of their professional family as they welcome local veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Kelly, to the growing Ventura practice. Dr. Kelly will be overseeing urgent care services for existing clients.
Dr. Kelly is a native Southern Californian from Westlake Village. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of California-Davis and obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008. Following veterinary school, Dr. Kelly returned to Ventura County, completing a rotating small animal internship at Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group (VMSG). Dr. Kelly went on to join small animal veterinary clinics in 2009 in both Ventura and Thousand Oaks before joining Ohana Pet Hospital in May 2015.
“Dr. Kelly brings specific knowledge and experience working with patients in need of urgent care services,” said Dr. Janis Shinkawa, Medical Director of Ohana Pet Hospital. “As a growing veterinary practice, we must be able to accommodate our clients with scheduled appointments while also seeing our patients with urgent needs. Dr. Kelly is a perfect fit.”
“I’ve been building a career that emphasizes critical care and emergency medicine and I look forward to helping Ohana Pet Hospital’s growing list of clients with their urgent care needs,” stated Dr. Kelly, the seventh veterinarian to join Ohana Pet Hospital since its opening in December 2012.
At home Dr. Kelly spends her leisure time with her significant other, Rocky and her three year old daughter, Emma. Her family also includes a Great Dane named Bella, Chester the Bullmastiff and her beloved cat, Isis.
Barber RV has a new location
Also in attendance at the celebration were manufacture representatives.
Barber RV has relocated from Main Street where it had been since it opened in 1978, to the Ventura Auto Center at 6660 Auto Center Drive. Kirby Subaru remains in its current location, 6404 Auto Center drive.
August 1 and 2 were celebration days at the location. Live music was provided by Nathan McEuen and Friends and fresh tacos and condiments were provided by Juan Mendoza.
On Sunday attendees were treated to the Ventura K 9 Search and Rescue Unit and Carol and her PR Dog.
Also in attendance were manufacture representatives from 7 different companies who answered detailed questions for those interested in purchasing their vehicles.
Jeff Sukay, President of The Kirby Auto Group invited customers, city officials and Ventura Chamber members to attend the 2 day celebration. Motor homes, trailers, towables, and campers were put on display which amounted to over a one-quarter mile of traveling toys for all their visitors to enjoy, tour and purchase.
For nearly 50 years, The Kirby Auto Group has been treating customers like family.
www.barberrv.com www.kirbyautogroup.com
Ventura Community Bank to be moving downtown
Ventura Community Bank, a division of Ojai Community Bank, announced today that it will be moving its offices to a new location in downtown Ventura during the first quarter of 2016. The Bank has entered into a lease at 89 S. California St. subject to regulatory approval.
“The downtown location is a perfect location in the heart of Ventura with easy freeway access and access to our business community,” Dave Brubaker, President/CEO commented. “We love downtown and are looking forward to becoming a larger part of its success as we continue to serve our community.”
At a time when larger banks are removing lenders from branch locations, Ventura is beefing up its lending services by providing lenders in the actual branch location. “
“People need to talk to people, not computers or call centers. We pride ourselves in always answering the phone, knowing your name and willing to assist you however we can.” continues Brubaker. “We’re old school with hands-on customer service, but have the technology that banking customers need.”
“We’re a hometown bank, most of the staff has grown up here, and we look forward to our friends and family visiting,” added Brubaker. “We want to make a difference in the lives of our customers and look forward to spreading our good works to others.”
Ventura Water Announces VenturaWaterPure Demonstration Facility
Gina Dorrington, Wastewater Utility Manager explaining the demonstration facility to interested attendees.
Recently Ventura Water unveiled the VenturaWaterPure Potable Reuse Demonstration Facility to distinguished guests including Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann before it officially opened to the public for tours on July 18.
VenturaWaterPure is a pilot program for the City of Ventura. Ventura along with other water providers throughout California, is investigating sustainable ways to meet long term water supply demands. The City currently provides recycled water from the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (located on Ventura Ave.) to two golf courses and landscape irrigation in the Harbor and Olivas Drive areas. Adding “potable reuse” purification technologies at the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility will extend Ventura’s use of “local” sources of water including sewer water.
This water purification process has already been successfully used by San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange counties. Ventura Water has been studying additional water reuse for many years as well. Ventura Water has chosen to be involve in a nationwide study that evaluates blending options with other water resources prior to the delivery of drinking water to customers.
This “test” installation now produces 20 gallons of water per minute. This water is being sent to many testing labs throughout the country to analyze its use as drinking water and domestic use. If a large reuse facility is ever built it will take one acre of land which is available at this site located on Spinnaker Dr. across from the Harbor.
Tours of the VenturaWaterPure demonstration facility will be held every Saturday from 9 to 11 am for the
general public. Tours are limited to 20 people. Please sign up for the public tours before noon on the Friday before the tour by emailing Gina Dorrington ([email protected]) or calling 677-4131. Private groups interested in week day tours can also be accommodated with advanced notice.
The tours are led by Gina Dorrington, Wastewater Utility Manager who very carefully explains the process and the many steps that are necessary to turn sewer water into potable water and what it would mean for Ventura. Her presentation includes a slide show and video prior to touring the small actual demonstration facility.
This might also give you the opportunity to walk around the beautiful holding ponds located there (A Ventura secret gem) and see the many birds that call it home. Gina would be happy to explain how you can do this.
Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann has stated “The City of Ventura relies entirely on local water supplies which have become limited during this unprecedented drought. The VenturaWaterPure demonstration facility brings attention to the value of potable reuse as a renewable resource that can provide a cost effective and sustainable supply of high quality water. It will help Ventura to expand our water supply portfolio and improve supply reliability.”
There are many benefits of potable reuse in Ventura:
- Locally controlled, reliable water supply
- A sufficient supply to support the economy
- A high-quality water supply
- Reducing wastewater discharge
- Seawater intrusion protection
- A more diversified water supply portfolio
- Increased water supply at a lower cost than imported water
- Reduced impact on groundwater and river sources
A concern that will need to be addressed when a working facility is constructed is convincing people that it is safe to be drinking water that was once sewer water. Other cities have managed to do this.
Barber RV has a new location
Also in attendance were manufacture representatives.
Barber RV has relocated from Main Street where it had been since it opened in 1978, to the Ventura Auto Center at 6660 Auto Center Drive. Kirby Subaru remians in its current location, 6404 Auto Center drive.
August 1 and 2 were celebration days at the location. Live music was provided by Nathan McEuen and Friends and fresh tacos and condiments were provided by Juan Mendoza.
On Sunday attendees were treated to the Ventura K 9 Search and Rescue Unit and Carol and her PR Dog.
Also in attendance were manufacture representatives from 7 different companies who answered detailed questions for those interested in purchasing their vehicles.
Jeff Sukay, President of The Kirby Auto Group invited customers, city officials and Ventura Chamber members to attend the 2 day celebration. Motor homes, trailers, towables, and campers were put on display which amounted to over a one-quarter mile of traveling toys for all their visitors to enjoy, tour and purchase.
For nearly 50 years, The Kirby Auto Group has been treating customers like family.
Panelists shared the benefits and challenges of giving back the WEV evening
Panelists Maria Durant, owner of Dance 4 Wellness; Cory Pironti, owner of Dandyline Designs; and Emily Barany, owner of Emily Barany Consulting discuss their strategies on giving back to the community
Over 40 Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) clients, supporters and members of the community enjoyed an evening of inspiration and networking at WEV Connects at the Ventura City Hall Community Room.
“Many of our WEV clients care deeply about the community and desire to give back, but new business owners are often overwhelmed by the number and size of requests they receive for donations,” said Marsha Bailey, Founder and CEO of Women’s Economic Ventures.
Panelists shared the benefits and challenges of giving back, as well as best practices they’ve learned to ensure philanthropic efforts do not hurt cash flow or prevent business growth. Panelist Maria Durant, owner of Dance 4 Wellness, teaches ballroom dance lessons to promote physical, mental and emotional wellness. She gives back to the community by offering free dance lessons to community members affected by cancer, as well as local students at school sites. Panelist Cory Pironti, owner of Dandyline Designs, pushes the boundaries of small design to help local client businesses create big impressions through web design. Panelist Emily Barany, owner of Emily Barany Consulting, works with nonprofits and corporate businesses to help develop partnerships that are mutually beneficial, and works to help clients make the greatest difference with the resources available to them.
The WEV Women’s Business Center offers a comprehensive 14 week, 56-hour Self-Employment Training (SET) program, for women and men who want to start a business.
WEV is now holding free 1-hour orientations to determine readiness for SET course beginning in September. Orientation is required to enroll.
Upcoming Ventura County Orientations include:
Oxnard: Tuesday, August 11th from 6 -7 p.m.
Ventura: Wednesday, August 12th from 12-1 p.m.
Ventura: Tuesday, August 18th from 6 – 7 p.m.
To register or for more information, visit http://wevonline.org/orientations.