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Emma is passionate about helping women entrepreneurs cultivate a positive impact in their communities, in their local economies, and in their own lives as well as those of their employees. She works to engage WEV’s community in innovative ways, improving…
Ventura County native Berenize Ayala recently joined WEV as the Thrive Program Coordinator supporting the small businesses she knows and loves. Berenize has previous experience working in the nonprofit sector and higher education, including networking and collaborating with local businesses…
Marsha Bailey launched WEV in 1991, after three years of planning and fundraising. “The idea that women’s economic status could be improved by helping them start their own businesses was both innovative and unproven,” said Bailey. “But twenty-eight years later,…
Berenice joined WEV as a Program Assistant in July of 2016. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Her experience working in various local non-profits…
Marni recently joined WEV as the Director of Lending, however she spent many years on the Board of Directors and is very passionate about WEV’s mission. Marni has over 24 years’ experience in community banking and lending in Santa Barbara…
Lisa began her affiliation with WEV in 2009 as an instructor for the SET course, and in September of 2011, her role expanded when she became Thrive Program Manager. Lisa’s 15 years of training, coaching and consulting experience include helping…
My name is Adela Leticia Contreras and as WEV’s Spanish Program Officer, I oversee the expansion and development of our Spanish-language training programs. I am fortunate to come from a family of entrepreneurial women who achieved economic independence and led…
Meredith joined WEV in June of 2016. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Barbara in English with an emphasis on gender studies. While a student and alumna, she spent many hours volunteering at the on-campus Women’s Center. After…
Haley joined WEV as the Program Coordinator for Santa Barbara County in summer 2019. Her interest in mission-driven work began during her time at UC Merced, where she earned a BA in Public Health. There, Haley responded to the gendered…
Amy helps WEV maximize its credibility and effectiveness by creating and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, evaluating and communicating program outcomes, and ensuring successful grant development and compliance. She oversees all grant writing and reporting activity, manages WEV’s client…
As WEV’s grant writer, Devon is responsible for securing new funding and maintaining existing funding through research and proposal development. Devon brings a unique perspective to grant writing with her financial and lending background and 10 years of experience with…
As Director of Development for WEV, Kate’s focus is on building financial support for the economic empowerment women. A former Santa Barbara-based business owner herself she is thrilled to invest her time and energy with an organization that supports female…
Hannah Joined WEV as the Santa Barbara Development Coordinator in October of 2019. She Received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Westmont College, in May of 2019. As part of her research, Hannah focused her efforts on studying the…
Stephanie was born and raised in Oxnard, CA. She has over 20 years of experience in the administrative field in various settings such as Non-Profit and Mortgage. She has a deep desire to fulfill and exceed her personal and professional…
Evelina Ochoa was born and raised in Ventura County. At a young age, her farm-working parents instilled the foundation of always helping her community. She is familiar with the local demographics and is an advocate for various populations. As a teenager,…
Kathy Odell will assume the CEO role on January 1, 2020 upon Marsha Bailey’s retirement. Kathy is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of leadership experience. She began her entrepreneurial career in 1985 as co-founder Medical Concepts, Inc., which…
Nicki joined WEV in April 2018 to set up the business recovery & resilience program in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire and the Montecito Debris Flow. In January 2020, she transitioned to a new role working closely with the…
Marta joined WEV in January of 2019. She has 20 years of banking experience serving both small community banks and larger financial institutions from Goleta to Oxnard. She grew up in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley with a deep connection to…
Nicole joined WEV as Program Coordinator in December 2014. She has been working in the non-profit sector for 12 years, specifically with organizations in programs designed to break the cycle of generational poverty. After a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,…
Deborah Rivas joined WEV in November 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Deborah has many years of experience and knowledge and a diverse working history. She has…
Alisa brings a diverse skill set of event management, public relations, and graphic design to WEV. She has a BA in Journalism from the University of Southern California and worked in sports and entertainment public relations, including several years as…
Lysa has been a WEV volunteer and supporter for several years and is excited to be WEV’s Marketing Manager. She brings extensive experience developing successful communication strategies for the private, public and non-profit sectors including community engagement, public relations, media…
Vanessa joined WEV as Spanish Program Coordinator in August of 2019. She received her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara in June of 2018. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico Vanessa immigrated to the United States…
Photography courtesy of: Pure Light Photography: www.purelightfoto.com Madeleine’s Photography: www.madphoto.com Theresa Gingras-Barns Photography, SYV Imaging Ashly Othic, Livin’ the Dream Photography Linda Blue Photography: www.labluephotography.com