Our Proud Tradition

In the beginning…
The Ventura County Professional Women’s Network (VCPWN) is a lively, diverse group of women dedicated to supporting and encouraging others to reach their fullest potential. Its beginnings date back to the fall of 1981 when the University of Southern California (USC) started planning a large South Coast Business Women’s conference to be held the following spring in 1982 at the Holiday Inn in Ventura.

Cindy Cook and Melanie Wead felt there should be a sponsoring group in Ventura. The Women’s Network in Los Angeles wondered if Ventura had progressed enough to support its own network. To test the waters, over 100 flyers were circulated inviting interested women to attend a dinner at the Lobster Trap Restaurant. Copies of copies of the flyer turned up all over the county and more than 100 women attended the dinner. What a successful start for VCPWN.

USC couldn’t afford to continue sponsoring dinners, so a steering committee was formed to keep the spirit going. Diane Koranda, Merle (Edgar) DiVita, Kay Faulconer, Lucille Cook, Ann Marie Spraul, Carol Lyons-Miller and others worked to develop the new organization’s purpose statement.

The process took some time since they did not want the network to be patterned after philanthropic, political or religious organizations, or to duplicate activities available elsewhere. They wanted each woman to say, “This group uniquely supports me.” They also wanted a group which was open to all – not just for business owners or those who earned a certain level of income.

After long hours, these women came up with the Network’s mission statement, which is still appropriate today: To promote the personal and professional growth of Ventura County women through education, mutual support and sharing of resources.

The Santa Barbara and Conejo Women in Business helped VCPWN get organized. Mary Scott Welsh’s book, Networking, was used then and is still quoted in the Network’s membership brochures. In the beginning, there was such hunger for this type of an organization, that women joined even though there were no pretty brochures, forms or clear, crisp guidelines. VCPWN attracted women growing or redefining their careers or having just launched them.

Growing the organization…
After the start, many needs and ideas surfaced. Rita Von Hoetzendorff, the first Executive Secretary, labored to write job descriptions for the Board of Directors and to develop the policies and bylaws – the necessary backbone of the organization.

Networking Dinner Meetings...
Network founders experimented with several different meeting formats before developing the current monthly meeting format, networking before dinner and a keynote speaker afterwards.

Focal Points...
The newsletter, Focal Points, has evolved into a truly outstanding newsletter under the guidance of many editors and their enthusiastic committee members. Today’s publication boasts 8-12 pages, including contributions from network members and advertising.

Membership Directory...
The first membership directory, developed to promote business referrals, appeared in 1983 and was printed in label form. Today’s directory is a handy reference book containing profiles and contact information for VCPWN members and easy-to-use indexes.

Member Meeting Sponsor...
In the second year, under the direction of Membership Coordinator Merle DiVita, membership grew to over 300 women. To maintain the warmth and personal atmosphere, always a part of VCPWN meetings, the Member Meeting Sponsor, then called the "Spotlight Speaker" feature was added. Before the keynote speaker’s presentation, a network member was allotted three to five minutes to tell the membership about herself.

Mentor Program...
Also in the second year, under Diane Koranda’s leadership, the Mentor Program was launched. Initially this program took the form of an exciting scholarship competition for high-school seniors sponsored by the Network. In this initial program, teams of high school senior women, coached and encouraged by VCPWN mentors, chose a fictitious business to create and develop.

In 1992 the program was changed to encourage 10 high school students to work under the mentorship of VCPWN members within their businesses to gain working experience in their area of interest. In 1993 this program was expanded to accept 40 students from both Buena and Ventura High Schools to work under both VCPWN members and non-VCPWN mentors.

In 1998, a new mentor program was established under the umbrella of the newly formed Ventura County Mentor Council. VCPWN women provided mentor services as job coaches for women entering the job market under the CalWORKS program. In addition, to encourage membership from the colleges and universities in the county, the 1998-1999 VCPWN Board of Directors voted to offer a reduced dues of $45 a year for women who are enrolled in one of the local colleges.

In 2003, the Mentoring Committee began sponsoring several workshops such as “How to Network Effectively” in conjunction with the dinner meetings. The committee also facilitates matching mentors with protégés for one-on-one mentoring by listing available mentors who have expertise on a variety of topics. The mentor list is posted on the VCPWN web site.

Job and Housing Connections...
Over the years, Job Boards and Housing Boards have been utilized to help employees and employers make business connections, and to help connect those who needed or had housing to offer.

Connection Opportunities...
Always looking for new ways to network, to get to know one another better and to provide support for new members, the Board created “Connection Opportunities”. During Network meetings, new members have the opportunity to draw the business card of another member or guest and to meet them one-on-one at a later date.

VCPWN hosts several “Let’s Network” meetings throughout the year. The meetings are held during a general meeting and are fantastic for creating new connections. Everyone in the room is given “air time” to promote their business, and a great time is had by all.

Special Interest Groups and Events...
To meet the social, personal and business support needs of Network members, special interest groups evolved. Some of the groups which have met periodically throughout the years have been: Art Appreciation, Social/Fun Group, Marketing Your Business or Service, Maintaining a Balance Between Work & Home, Self-Esteem Struggles, Creativity for Cowards, Gourmet Dinner Group, and Investing. In addition, VCPWN members have enjoyed special activities such as: theater and ballet parties, shopping in LA’s Garment District, nature hikes, museum trips and even a “wine tasting train".

Spirit of Networking Award...
The Spirit of Networking Award began in 1984-85 to honor the person who best exemplifies the standard of networking. It is the highest award given by VCPWN. Spirit of Networking Award winners include:

In 1994 the Wind Beneath My Wings Award was established as an annual award to honor a VCPWN member and the significant person in their life who had inspired, supported, or motivated them in their life or career. All VCPWN members were invited to submit an essay about the person who had helped them achieve one of their goals or who had been a motivating factor in their achievement.

Mixers, Workshops, Conferences, and Special Events...
Over the years, VCPWN has held mixers and special event workshops to help with networking and to educate members on a range of specialty topics including: starting your own business, self-improvement, marketing strategies and techniques, new technology, investing in real estate, cosmetic makeovers, and making a will, among others.

Members have also participated in day-long business fairs and numerous table-top trade shows. As an active member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, VCPWN has exhibited at the Chamber Business Showcase. VCPWN has also participated in the California Lutheran University’s “Creative Options for Women” Day in Thousand Oaks.

Beginning in 1999,VCPWN produced three regional Women’s Business Conference events, featuring a keynote speaker, workshops, and vendor exhibits.

In June 2003, VCPWN presented a Wearable Art Show in conjunction with the exhibit “Powerful Beauty: Images of Ventura County Women” at the Ventura County Museum of History & Art. Because of the success of the inaugural event, the 2nd Annual Wearable Art Show was held in May of 2004 at the Church of Religious Science in Ventura. The turnout was double that of 2003!

VCPWN is a unique organization whose goals and philosophy remain as the original founders established it – promoting growth, networking and support. Member success stories give others the courage to create their own successes or to continue their successful advancement up the corporate or small business ladder with skill and panache.

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