Aspiring business owners from Santa Maria to Ventura descended on Fess Parker’s Double Tree Resort in Santa Barbara on Dec. 16 to pick up their Women’s Economic Ventures Self-Employment Training program certificates.
The 14-week program teaches women and men how to start their own business, from developing a business plan to getting a business license to developing in-demand products.
Out of the 78 graduates, 23 are from Santa Maria, 23 are from Santa Barbara, and 26 are from Ventura.
Santa Marian Grettel Cambronero said this was the third time she signed up for a WEV orientation, and this time she stuck with it until the very end.
“WEV gave me all the knowledge I need start a business,” said Cambronero, who plans on opening a Costa Rican restaurant, Ticoland Cuisine, in Santa Maria. “I was thinking about it the other night [at graduation]: Women’s Economic Ventures—now my adventure begins. It’s going to be a reality.”
For more information about WEV programs, visit WEVonline.org.
This article appears in Dec 24-31, 2009.