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development
2020 Annual Report
Congratulations! 2020 is in the review mirror!!! While the challenges of this past year have impacted us all differently, there is no question we have all been tested personally and professionally... but you did it! YOU PASSED! We are so very proud of YOU. It has been our honor to walk with clients as they navigated unprecedented changes, and we are so very grateful for the volunteers, coaches, mentors and investors who rolled up their sleeves as well, and gave so generously to help our community of women. Our Athena Leadership series ended with a session on celebration, noting the importance of looking back and reflecting on what was accomplished, how we have grown personally and professionally, and expressing commitment to transforming into what might be. "The Athena celebration isn’t chiefly about happiness or hoopla, though. It is simply about being together to mark something important to the group.” This year-end review aims to do just that. We've compiled highlights from our programming and clients, and included a preview of what we have planned for 2021. We hope you enjoy this look back at all we have accomplished together, and because we believe in the power of celebration, please send us your testimonials so we can continue to celebrate and support YOU in 2021 and beyond! Thank you for being a part of our weVENTURE WBC community. Kathryn, Jeannette, Kyle, Susan, Amber and Kathy
2020 Year in Review
654 UNIQUE Clients served TOTAL. Counseling, education and group trainings 8 NEW businesses launched and clients created 86 NEW jobs Assisted 119 businesses with accessing private funding or applying for federal loans and relief programs 308 clients attended our 21 COVID response webinars May-September, and we have formed 5 Peer Groups to help support businesses affected by the pandemic 280 unique clients received 1:1 counseling for a total of 895 hours of direct counseling. 27% COVID specific and 73% general business support of which 84% are female and 16% are male clients 30 IGNITE 360 clients graduated from the program in 2019-20, up from 21 in 2018-19. 18 sponsored by CARES funding at no cost to them 454 individuals registered for 2020 Virtual IMPACT Summit and a dozen watch parties were hosted 7 GEMS program graduates and 12 emerging leaders graduated from the ATHENA Leadership Program *our SBA program year runs Oct-Sep
2019-2020 Program Outcomes*
weVENTURE WBC Hosts Virtual IMPACT Summit Space Coast Daily, Aug. 10, 2020
weVENTURE Awarded Large Grant from CARES Funding Viera Voice, Jun. 15, 2020
weVENTURE WBC in The News
Shopping Local has Ripple Effects Florida Today op-ed by Kathryn Rudloff, Nov. 19, 2020
Virtual event provides inspiration for "mompreneurs", Florida Today op-ed by Kathryn Rudloff, Aug. 25, 2020
weVENTURE WBC Announces Winners of 2020 Women Who Rock Awards Florida Tech News, Jun. 30, 2020
Working From Home with Kids During COVID TC Palm op-ed by Kathryn Rudloff, May 7, 2020
Making it easy to Shop Local Article in Nov. Everything Brevard Nov. 24, 2020
Virtual IMPACT Summit 2020
Something truly incredible happened the last week in August. Hundreds of women - local entrepreneurs, business leaders and even national thought leaders - all came together through virtual meeting technology and socially distant watch parties to receive a healthy dose of inspiration and motivation - at a time when we all needed it most. The IMPACT Summit, hosted annually by weVENTURE WBC, historically attracts hundreds of women every year to a local venue to network and learn. Since that sort of in-person, elbow-rubbing event was impossible this year, weVENTURE WBC found a unique way to continue the legacy while pivoting to a virtual event. The new format turned out to be a blessing, allowing women to access the content long after the event premiere and recruiting five of the highest-level national speakers the event has ever experienced. Takeaways from the event were pertinent- not only to women - but to all people currently struggling with the challenges of everyday life during a pandemic. Liz Sara, chair of the National Women's Business Council, a resource to the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch on behalf of female business owners, discussed initiatives currently under way to help female entrepreneurs - access to capital, increasing patents for female investors and making national business resources more available to businesswomen in rural communities. Sandra Shpilberg, author of the bestselling book "New Startup Mindset", discussed the secrets to creating a profitable company, while dispelling some myths that hold female entrepreneurs back - like feeling the need to have a partner, and the "real" ways we can define success for ourselves and our business. Monique Picou, a 30-year corporate veteran - having held leadership positions in global companies such as Sam's, Walmart and Proctor & Gamble - talked about the roles that women can [and should] play at every stage in their careers. A summary of Picou's words of wisdom? "Find your seat, leverage your seat, and set the table for others. Be a she-ro". Gen. Ann Dunwoody, our nation's first female four-star general, took some time during the Summit to talk about the personal courage it takes to "do the right thing", even when it may not be popular. "When you walk by a mistake, you set a lower standard [with your inaction]," she reminded us all. The Summit concluded with actionable advice from keynote speaker Lisa Dinhofer, known as "The Crisis Tamer". A specialist in the area of navigating trauma, her words rang especially true during this time of chronic uncertainty and emotional fatigue. "Right now, we are experiencing a time of constant adaptation to change, making many of us feel helpless, powerless. We have crisis fatigue from being in constant survival mode. However, there is such a thing as post-traumatic growth", she said. "Creating meaningful connections, participating in gratitude, nature dosing and connecting to something larger than yourself are just some of the ways to go about creating meaning in your life and help your perspective in current times".
2020 Virtual IMPACT Summit Videos are now available on YouTube!
Watch the hilarious award delivery video HERE
Female Small Business Owner of the Year Award - Jeannetta Johnson, Little Folks Child Care AND Michelle Waldorf, Busy Bears Preschool Academy
Collins Aerospace has numerous women in leadership positions and about 45% of local manufacturing talent is female, much higher than the industry average of 29%. Collins has done a great job prioritizing diversity and providing opportunities in the workplace. Lisa Steffen is their Melbourne Site Manager.
Cindy has been program director for the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Shelter since 2004. She has mentored and helped hundreds of women over the years, and trains police officers to recognize physical signs of abuse that can be documented and presented as evidence.
Due to the continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and out of an abundance of caution, weVENTURE decided not to hold an in-person Women Who Rock awards ceremony this year. Instead, we decided to surprise the 2020 award winners, delivering their awards to their homes or place of business, while maintaining social distance protocols and having a little fun along the way!
Caeley is the spearhead of Reinvented Magazine, a magazine that encourages young women to explore their passions for STEM. As an engineer at L3Harris, she is both working in the high tech world, and thinking ahead to help pave the way for the next generation of women.
Dr. Mary Helen McCay STEM Award - Caeley Looney, Reinvented Magazine and L3Harris
This year we honored two childcare facilities, because these two women not only run successful businesses that employ people, but the service they provide empowers so many other women to pursue their careers - creating this economic ripple effect in our community. Both women are known for their quality care, expertise and support they provide.
Women in the Workplace Champion Award - Lisa Steffen, Collins Aerospace
Excellence in Mentorship Award - Erin Mitchell, Collins Aerospace
2020 Women Who Rock Awards
Erin has mentored hundreds of students grades k-12 as part of a robotics program called "FIRST Robotics" and "FIRST Lego Leagues". She also happens to be the Chief Financial Officer for Reinvented Magazine, so she and Caeley Looney are the dynamic duo focused on supporting the next generation of women in STEM.
Zonta Yellow Rose Award for Excellence in Community Service - Cindy Mitchell, Salvation Army Domestic Violence Shelter
This year, weVENTURE has made it easy for you to #ShopLocal and #ShopSmall this holiday season and all year long. We have compiled a free searchable directory of almost 300 women-owned businesses in Brevard, Indian River and St. Lucie Counties to help you easily find and support local female entrepreneurs. While this directory will live as a free resource on our website all year long, we have also produced a special Digital Magazine Edition where you are sure to find something for everyone on your list. We also created "Women Entrepreneurs We Mean Business" stickers for registrants to proudly display.
Directory of Women-Owned Businesses
Client Testimonials
Meghan Wolfgram - IGNITE 360® Graduate When Meghan first joined weVENTURE, she was navigating business growing pains, and was the only employee at SwiftPaws. By the end of 2020, SwiftPaws was a team of six employees, with a 300% growth rate in gross revenue, all whilst maintaining their mission of 100% assembly and fulfillment done locally, here in Brevard.
Christel Reaves- IGNITE 360® Graduate Christel joined the IGNITE 360® Program to build her business leadership capabilities. Since joining the program, she has not only grown as a business owner, but also in confidence. The IGNITE mentors were there to define and walk her through an effective hiring process, and Connected Class just hired their third employee and saw a 270% increase in sales.
Looking Ahead to 2021
weVENTURE WBC has lots of exciting programming planned for 2021, including new Peer Groups being formed to support c-suite professional women and CEOs, working moms, and start-ups. We are starting the year off with a Strong Coffee Strong Women 3-Part Series on how to become a certified woman-owned business. Then, March is Women's History Month and we are excited to again honor hard-working, deserving women in our community. The virtual event will take place March 23. weVENTURE WBC strives to be the leading voice and resource for professional women. Emerging female leaders will want to register for the Athena Leadership Development Program beginning in April. Stay tuned for details about the 2021 IMPACT Summit which will take place in August.
Karen Montas, Johnson & Montas, P.A. Todd Pokrywa, The Viera Company Wendy Romeu, Alluvionic Kathryn Rudloff, weVENTURE Betty Lou Steen-Clarke, weVENTURE Board of Advisors Peter Tesch, Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, Inc. Bobbi Whitmore, Bobbi's at Parkside Jenna Williams, Harmony Senior Living Advisors
A special thank you to our League of Extraordinary Investors who help make all of our programming possible!
Josh Adams, Rock Paper Simple Julie Braga, Marriott Residence Inn Bernadette Castro, Castro Properties Florida Insurance Hub Beth Gitlin Stacia Glavas Iris Graham, Millefiori Medical Skin Rejuvenation Dawn Mays, Call One, Inc. Sandy Michelson, ZONTA of Melbourne
weventure.fit.edu | 321-674-7007 Mailing: 150 W. University Blvd, Melbourne FL 32901 Physical: 2202 S. Babcock St, Melbourne FL 32901