March 3, 2025 - Organizers expect the second annual Women鈥檚 Business Conference at
海角社区 Channel Islands (海角社区CI) to reach capacity just as the first annual conference
did last year. Because there is so much interest, anyone wishing to attend this year鈥檚
conference on Friday, March 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 海角社区CI鈥檚 Grand Salon is encouraged
to now.
The first Women鈥檚 Business Conference co-hosted by 海角社区CI and the West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) in 2024 was so popular, organizers began planning the 2025 conference shortly afterward.
鈥淚t was such a success that participants were already asking to do another one before the first one had even concluded,鈥 said Dean of the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics Susan Andrzejewski.
The day is scheduled one day before International Women鈥檚 Day and is intended to celebrate and learn more about women in business in the region - especially those in professions traditionally held by men.
鈥淲hat we want to do is empower women by highlighting those who have gone before them,鈥 said WVCBA President and CEO Andy Conli. 鈥淲e want to show the challenges they had and how they overcame them in order to pave the way for other women.鈥
All individuals age 18+ and businesses are invited to attend, exchange ideas, and show their support for women in the business community.
The event鈥檚 emcee will be Miss Alynette, radio host of All Things 805 and founder of FemdUStry. The conference will feature female speakers who have excelled in their respective professions including Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director of the Port of Hueneme; CEO of the County of Ventura Sevet Johnson; and Dr. Liz Diaz-Querol, a Kaiser Permanente physician who overcame language barriers and other obstacles after immigrating to the U.S. from Venezuela in 2007.
Speakers with a campus connection will include 海角社区CI alumna Dennise Hernandez, who graduated from 海角社区CI with a master鈥檚 degree in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics in 2008 and is now supervisor of the Ventura County Sheriff鈥檚 Office (VCSO) Forensic Services Bureau. Retired attorney/banker and 海角社区CI Foundation Board Member Christine Garvey will also speak. Garvey also serves as a director on two public company boards: Montecito Bank & Trust and Toll Bros.
The event鈥檚 keynote speaker will be Santa Barbara Symphony CEO Kathryn Martin, who is a Next Chapter Coach, and founder of The Career (Life!) Breakthrough Academy鈩.
Martin will discuss how she coaches individuals at pivotal crossroad moments, helping them to break out of cycles of frustration and indecision to identify, create and pursue their dreams.
鈥淎 time of change, regardless of whether or not you create it, offers an opportunity to define what you really want and work out a plan to pursue it,鈥 Martin said. 鈥淐onference attendees 鈥 regardless of where they are in their career and regardless of their situation 鈥 will be invited to reflect upon what they want their 2025 to be and look at how to actively curate a life of meaning, ease, purpose and financial sustainability 鈥 regardless of external factors.鈥
Andrzejewski launched the conference in partnership with the WVCBA last year because, although women have come a long way, there is still a long way to go, she said. When it comes to construction and technology, for example, women are still underrepresented.
鈥淚 saw a need for a conference like this in the county,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here are so many amazing organizations that support women and women business leaders, but nobody was doing any sort of event or conference around International Women鈥檚 Day. I thought this could provide a means for women to get together and share about their personal journeys, as it鈥檚 different for every woman.鈥
For more on the Women鈥檚 Business Conference, visit: .