In this issue: Client of the Month, Save the Date for SET Graduation, Thrive in Five® Clients “Think Big”, SET Clients Fine Tune Business Plans
Dear Friend of WEV,
We’re just days away from National Small Business Week, May 12-16. It’s a time to recognize the superpowers of WEV’s small business owners and countless others like them across the country. Your hard work is beyond description. Your goods and services strengthen our local economies. And your needs are great. Let us continue to help with dozens of resources listed in this issue of WEV Got News.
-The WEV Staff
Client of the Month: Cory Pironti
SET graduate and Thrive in Five® client, Cory Pironti, found success and fulfillment in opening Dandyline Designs. She loves using her passion and creativity to help businesses develop their own unique brand. Read more here!
Save the Date for SET Graduation!
Please join WEV in celebrating the accomplishments of the women and men graduating from this Spring’s Self-Employment Training (SET) courses. You’ll be inspired by the dynamic class speakers and elevator speeches during the ceremony, followed by our client expo!
When: Wednesday, May 21st, 6-8pm Where: Montecito Country Club; 920 Summit Road, Santa Barbara, 93108. Click here for more details.
Cake and coffee will be served following the ceremony. This event is free and open to the public!
Thrive in Five® Clients “Think Big” in April!
On April 24th, Thrive in Five® clients gathered for an evening of Marketing, Marketing, Marketing! Topics included the future of social media, how to understand your market and how to be #1 on Google!
For more information on how Thrive in Five® can advance your business, click here. Or to sponsor one of these special events, scroll down to ‘Support WEV.’
SET Clients Fine Tune Their Business Plans
With three weeks until graduation, Self-Employment Training clients gathered for their second Saturday session of the 14-week course. They worked with consultants to fine-tune their business plans and learned about the long-term support WEV offers.
Summer Business Plan Intensive in Santa Barbara
We are very excited to offer our 6-week Business Plan Intensive (BPI) course this June in Santa Barbara! Sign up for an orientation to learn more.
WEV Hiring Program Coordinator
WEV is seeking an organized and innovative individual to assist with strategy and implementation of our Thrive in Five® and SET to Launch programs.
To apply, send an email with “Thrive in Five® Program Coordinator-Your Name” in the subject line, along with resume and cover letter to WEV’s Thrive in Five® Program Manager at lminyard@wevonline.org
WEV is seeking a full-time Research Assistant for a 10-week assignment between May and August interviewing our past clients about the impacts of our programs. If you are interested in women’s empowerment, enjoy talking to people and want to work in a terrific environment, this could be the opportunity for you. Previous interviewing and/or research experience is preferred. Read more about the position on our website.
To apply, send your resume and a cover letter explaining why you are the ideal candidate to afletcher@wevonline.org. Please write “WEV Research Internship” in the subject line.
WEV is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Citi Foundation Commits $50,000 to ‘WEV en Español’ Program
Thank you to the Citibank Foundation for supporting WEV en Español with a $50,000 grant! The funding will be used to support WEV’s Spanish language entrepreneurial development program that provides business training and microloans to primarily low-income, Spanish-speaking residents in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Read more about WEV en Español.
LA Mayor’s Award Honors WEV Client
Congratulations to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s 2014 “Outstanding Small Business” Award Winners as part of National Small Business Week, including WEV client Maria Durant of Dance 4 Wellness!
Resources
7 Ways to Improve the Next Web Page You Write
Web marketing is critical for your success. But what will make your visitors say: “This site has EXACTLY what I’m looking for?”
Listen to this free teleclass by long-time WEV consultant and Marketing Coach and Writer, Maggie Dennison. You’ll learn simple steps to make your site attractive to your prospects. By the end, you’ll know how to go about writing your next web page – or fixing your current one.
When: Thursday May 15th, 9am Click here to register.
Getting Things Done (GTD) – Worldwide Launch of Spark Event in Camarillo
This GTD Spark event is a fun and captivating introduction to the practice of Getting Things Done. (The GTD methodology was created by David Allen, author of the New York Times bestselling book, Getting Things Done.) In this half-day event you’ll learn the Five Steps of mastering your workflow. You’ll also receive specific coaching on how to implement the Five Steps in your everyday life. When: Friday, May 9th, 8:30am-12:30pm Where: Camarillo Library, 4101 E Las Posas Rd, Camarillo Click here for more information.
2014 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards™ Dinner
Join us for a special celebration supporting entrepreneurship at all levels in Santa Barbara County.
When: Friday, May 9th, 6-9 pm Where: Fess Parker Resort, 633 E Cabrillo Blvd. Cost: $130 (special discount for WEV clients)
Email lgonzales@wevonline.org for instructions on how to get the WEV client rate.
For more information about the awards, click here.
Public Screening of Divorce Corp. – The Divorce Industry Exposed
WEV volunteer, Neil Palache, of the Divorce Transition Professionals, will be showing the film, Divorce Corp.
Where: Regency Westlake Village Twin Theater When: May 8, 7pm
FREE SCORE Expo
Plan to attend SCORE Ventura’s “Targeting Your Business Success” Expo for a full day of learning and networking. WEV staff will also be taking part in an SBA resource panel.
When: Monday, May 19th, 8 am -5 pm Where: VCOE Conference Center, Camarillo Cost: FREE with pre-registration
A workshop for business professionals and public speakers.
In this three-week workshop you’ll learn three lessons to help define your message, find your source and project with impact.
When: June 14th, 21st and 28th, 10-11am Where: Guitar Bar in Santa Barbara Contact: WEV volunteer Sloane Reali at Sloane@VocalCoachingBySloane.com or (805) 563-0069 Limited to 8 participants.
IRS Offers Free Tax Webinars Just For You
The IRS Small Business/Self-Employed Division is announcing two specially designed webinars for small business owners. IRS representatives will be available for a question and answer session directly after each presentation.
Payments to Independent Contractors When: Tuesday, May 13th, 11am Register here.
Avoiding the Biggest Tax Mistakes When: Thursday, May 15th, 11am Register here.
Interested but can’t attend? These webinars will be placed online for later viewing on the IRS Video Portal approximately three weeks after the date of the event.
Crowd Funding: Gold Rush or Irreversible Trend
Marketing Consultant, Robin Eschler will be speaking about crowd funding, what it is, how small business can benefit from it and what the core elements for crowd funding success are.
The California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO) has teamed up with the Specialty Food Association and El Pajaro CDC to offer a full day of learning about the food industry: what are the business and marketing opportunities, how to stay viable and competitive and where to secure financing.
Etsy is now giving small business owners the opportunity to sell to retailers through a wholesale website. Click here to read a full article in the New York Times.
ABC’s Shark Tank Seeks Military Veterans
Shark Tank, the critically acclaimed business-themed reality show, is taking applications from military vets with a product or business in need of investment for a possible special Veteran’s Day episode in November. Email SharkTankCasting@yahoo.com with “VETS CASTING” in the subject line to apply.
Emotional Intelligence for Women in Leadership Offered through UCSB Extension, this workshop for women leaders will cover the key components of Emotional Intelligence and its personal and professional relevance. When: Saturday, May 17th from 9:00 am-4:00 pm Where: UCSB Campus Cost: $175 More information and to register, click here.
Connecting Women to Power – Business Conference
This free conference hosted by the Board of Equalization will provide information on how women business owners can better compete in today’s global and ever-changing business climate. Build key alliances, coalitions and affiliations, while acquiring the latest information on industry trends and methods to propel your business to the next level of success. In addition, women aspiring to own their own business will learn the steps necessary to launch a business and the resources available to help them grow.
When: Friday, June 20th, 8:30am-5:30pm Where: CSU Dominguez Hills Click here for more info.
Support WEV
Sponsor Think Big Event, Fuel Our Entrepreneurs!
We’re currently in search of individuals and organizations to sponsor Thrive in Five’s® July 2014 Think Big event. Think Big events bring clients together for an evening of educational presentations, collaborative activities and networking. As a sponsor you’ll receive top billing on the event agenda, recognition in WEV Got News, WEV’s Facebook page and the opportunity to briefly present to some of WEV’s most established and ambitious entrepreneurs.
Click here to learn more or contact Program Coordinator Llewellyn Somers at lsomers@wevonline.org or (805) 456-2352.
Do You Shop At Lazy Acres?
What if you didn’t have to change your habits or do anything extra for WEV to receive donations? Well, with the Escrip program at Lazy Acres Market in Santa Barbara that’s exactly what happens! Sign up for a Lazy Acres Market Community Card by filling out this form and bringing it in the next time you shop. For the form, the Group ID number is 500044536. Then a percentage of your purchase totals will be donated back to WEV. Questions? Call Danelle Mangone, WEV Development Coordinator at (805) 456-2347 or dmangone@wevonline.org.
SET client Rebecca McKinney has opened the Whistle Club, in Santa Barbara’s Paseo Nuevo shopping center. For the Santa Barbara woman who feels she must to drive to Los Angeles to find great shopping, Whistle Club will be a tremendous time-saver and blessing. The boutique opened its doors in March and showcases a tightly curated assortment of women’s apparel, accessories and gifts from a thoughtful selection of emerging designers and industry favorites.
Kim Maxwell Studio’s Recent Grads Include WEV’s Leticia Sandoval
Congratulations to Kim Maxwell Studio’s latest graduates, including WEV Spanish Program Coordinator, Leticia Sandoval!
Kim Maxwell Studio offers a fun writing and performance class for writers and non-writers, seasoned performers and those petrified at the very thought. Learn to launch your story loudly and unapologetically into the world; laugh more, risk more; and live a bigger life.
New adult and teen classes begin this month! For more info click here.
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
WEV Classifieds
Contribute To the Classifieds
If you’ve got something for sale or rent – or a special deal to share with the WEV community – email news@wevonline.org