February 2015, Issue 1

WEV Clients “Think-ing Big!” in 2015 with a Sales Plan
On January 22nd, Thrive in Five® clients gathered 
for our quarterly Think Big! Event. The evening focused on creating an effective sales plan for 2015, with an inspiring presentation by WEV Business Development Specialist Harriet Cohen. Each client walked away from the evening with their own personalized action plan for how to increase sales in their business.

Interested in joining Thrive in Five®? Contact Nicole Raden at nraden@wevonline.org.

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WEV Gotta Blog: Meet WEV’s Fabulous Instructors
WEV’s instructors are the cogs in our well-oiled machine of educational programs. They can even teach you what “COG’S” means in business! Don’t miss our instructor introduction on the blog by WEV’s Program Manager, Leah Gonzales. Take a look here.

In case you missed last week’s blog, click here to read guest blogger Lauren Rosson, CPA’s part two of the 5 Common Costly Mistakes Business Owners Make. 

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Client Photographers Needed!
WEV needs your help to professionally photograph clients for our marketing materials. 1-2 WEV client photographers will be selected to photograph up to five clients each, and will be paid a small stipend. The photographer must provide their own transportation, be available for up to five shoots before February 13th, and retouch up to 10 selected photographs per client by February 27th.

If interested, please apply and send examples of your work to Leah Gonzales at lgonzales@wevonline.org.

The American Small Business Championship 
Do you love telling everyone how your business got its start? Share your story and enter the American Small Business Championship organized by SCORE. Two small businesses per state will win training from SCORE, a $1,000 Sam’s Club Gift Card, publicity and more. 

Don’t procrastinate! You only have until February 6th to enter. Click here for more information

This month’s speaker is a familiar face, WEV board member Brenda Allison! 

When: Thursday, February 5th, 11:15am-1:30pm
Where: The Pierpont Inn & Spa, Ventura
Cost: $27
Click here for information!

Santa Barbara Design Thinking Workshop
The Santa Barbara Public Library’s Makerspace Open Lab has partnered with a local design research expert to offer six weekly one-hour sessions focusing on design thinking in startups, small businesses, and the corporate environment.
The next workshop covers how to build a startup using design thinking, field testing and product iteration. 

When: Monday, February 9th, 6pm-7pm
Where: Santa Barbara Public Library
Cost: Free
For more information click here.

Ventura Federal/State Payroll Seminar 

Intimidated by your payroll taxes? Join EDD for a free seminar.

When: Tuesday, February 10th, 9am-3:30pm
Where: Ventura EDD Tax Office 
Cost: Free
For more information and to register click here.

AIGA Presents Zag! A Branding Workshop
Looking to improve your brand strategy in 2015? Join AIGA and bestselling author Marty Neumeier in a workshop in Santa Barbara covering the essential principles of brand strategy.  

When: The weekend of February 20th-22nd
Where: Casa Las Palmas, Santa Barbara
Cost: $1,200
To register, click here. 

Mega Breakfast Mixer 
Start your day off right with this special networking mixer hosted by Adam Casillas and Richard Ramos, founders of the Latino Business Expo! Includes breakfast buffet provided by Tomas Cafe.For tickets or more information, call Adam Casillas at 805-216-1927. 

When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 8-11am
Where: Tomas Cafe, 622 South A Street, Oxnard
Cost: $13 

Save the Date: NAWBO 2015 Bravo Awards
Join Santa Barbara’s chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners  in celebrating women of influence!

Register for the luncheon here.

When: Thursday, March 12th, 11:30am-2pm
Where: University Club, Santa Barbara
Cost: $55 for members, $65 for non-members

February 4th, 2015

In This Issue

• Spring 2015 Business Training with a Sales Plan
• WEV Gotta Blog: Meet WEV’s Fabulous Instructors
• Client Photographers Needed!

Resources

• The American Small Business Championship
• February Ladies Lunch
• Santa Barbara Design Thinking Workshop
• Ventura Federal/State Payroll Seminar
• Mega Breakfast Mixer
• AIGA Presents Zag!: A Branding Workshop
• Save the Date:NAWBO-SB Bravo Awards

 

Isabella Gourmet Foods featured in Fortune article!

Amy Isabella Chalker, WEV Client and owner of Isabella Gourmet Foods, was quoted in an article on the Fortune 500 website. You can read the full article here!

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Sharing Their Story 

 WEV clients Emily Barany and Ashley Pope were featured as panelists at the 2015 Young Entrepreneur Seminar in Ventura last week. For more pictures from the event, click here.

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Publicize Your Business Achievements

We’re always on the lookout for a new Client of the Month, Success Story or additions to the Client Achievements section of the newsletter. But don’t wait for us to find you… let us know how you’re doing now! Email news@wevonline.org.