Maurice Moreno, 38, owns and runs MM Moreno & Son, Inc., a successful jewelry business headquartered in Santa Barbara. Besides using precious gems from Moreno’s native Brazil, this business is unique in that it grew from a Self-Employment Training program offered by Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), which is an organization designed to help women start and grow sustainable businesses. “I had no idea what it was,” said Moreno, who came across a WEV ad in the paper one day. “At orientation, everything I was hearing—it was like a puzzle coming together.” Moreno said he didn’t mind being the only man in a class of “30 girls.” View article.

September 1, 2010  Times may be tough, but it's not stopping some people from starting their own business. On Wednesday afternoon, a new business orientation drew a full conference room of interested residents in Santa Barbara. The room had people with original business ideas, or who had worked in a company for years and were ready to be their own boss.

Thinking about starting a business in Santa Barbara County? A training program starts on Thursday that may help you decide if it's right for you. Iltra Palomo is a legal document assistant. She started her business a year ago after taking a 14-week self-employment training course. It's offered through the Women's Economic Ventures. View article.

WEV’s Fall business training programs start in September; One-hour orientations are the first step to decide if entrepreneurship is right for you. With State unemployment rates still hovering high, gaining new business skills can provide a competitive edge, and starting a business may actually be a survival strategy. View article.

With state unemployment rates still hovering high, gaining new business skills can provide a competitive edge, and starting a business may actually be a survival strategy. From 2008 to 2009, women-owned businesses totaled 7.2 million firms, employing 7.3 million people and generating $1.1 trillion in sales. Today, Women’s Economic Ventures is looking to add to this number and provides programs and other resources to help one start or grow a business. Its core 14-week Self-Employment Training courses start in September in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Read more.

Women’s Economic Ventures offers advice for small-business owners in today’s economy. Marketing. 1. Your Product or Service: Describe features and benefits - from the customer perspective!  What is unique, why it is in demand, what are the emotional benefits? Read more.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is conducting 14-week, 56-hour Self-Employment Training (SET) programs to teach how to start, operate, or expand a business. Although targeted at women, the classes are available to men. Participants leave the course with a complete business plan including a marketing plan, a cash flow projection, an operations plan, and a core network to help sustain the business. View article.