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On March 21, Oxnard Leadership Program's 2025 cohort gathered for their third session, Transportation & Commerce Day, to better understand how each play a vital role in the city's economic growth. They met with leaders from the Ventura County Department of Airports, Gold Coast Transit District, Ventura County Transportation Commission, and The Collection at Riverpark. "It was fascinating seeing how each of the three institutions fit into the community, balancing relationships and constraints (government, financial, etc)," said one cohort member.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome ReadyWork Inc. as a member! ReadyWork is a staffing agency dedicated to bridging the gap between job seekers and companies in need of the right talent for their vacant positions. They have six locations in the U.S., including one in Oxnard. Business Development Manager Kathya Fuentes shares more about their mission.  On Thursday, March 20, Shake Shack officially opened its doors in Oxnard with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by WVCBA. The event was attended by Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur, representatives from the offices of California Assemblymember Steve Bennett and County Supervisor Kelly Long, WVCBA Board Chair Dave Wellik and CEO Andy Conli. To celebrate, the restaurant gave out free totes to the first 100 customers and donated $1 from every sandwich sold to Food Share of Ventura County. Located at The Landing next to The Collection, hungry customers can opt to dine in, take out, or use the drive thru. This is the second Shake Shack location in Ventura County.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome United Parents as a member! United Parents is on a mission to provide resources to empower, strengthen and support parents and other caregivers who have youth and/or children with mental health, behavioral, and/or emotional disorders. "We understand and empathize with our clients because we've been there!" says Executive Director Melissa Hannah. Learn more about this Camarillo-headquartered nonprofit organization.  Press Release: Palmera at Camarillo Village celebrates its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony3/12/2025 The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA), the chamber of commerce advocating for businesses in Camarillo and Oxnard, is celebrating the grand opening of Palmera at Camarillo Village by Williams Homes located at 530 S. Lewis Road in Camarillo.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome Guild Mortgage Company as a member! "Applying for a mortgage loan is a process and I enjoy walking every homebuyer through the process and journey," says Mortgage Loan Originator Kathy Gray (NMLS #238911). Unless she's traveling, Kathy lives and works in Ventura County, and is also licensed in Utah. She's also a 2017 graduate of the Oxnard Leadership Program.  Nearly 200 people convened for the 2025 Women's Business Conference last Friday, March 7, on the eve of International Women's Day. Hosted in partnership with CSU Channel Islands and held at the university's beautiful Camarillo campus, eight speakers were invited to inspire attendees to break through barriers to business, career, financial, and personal success. "We are proud that this conference is the only one of its kind in Ventura County, and that it unites people across generations and backgrounds to empower women in our business community," says WVCBA CEO Andy Conli.  For its second session, the 2025 Oxnard Leadership Program met with public safety officials to better understand the ongoing efforts to protect our communities. Public Safety Day also highlights the collaboration between agencies to keep residents and the community safe. The group visited Oxnard Police Department, Oxnard SWAT headquarters, a county jail, and the District Attorney's office. The entire day was coordinated by WVCBA Board Member Tom Cady, retired Oxnard Assistant Chief of Police and Owner of TKC Enterprises, a security services consulting firm.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome Shop For Fun-Dough as a member! Shop For Fun Dough is a community-driven program that unites local businesses and non-profits to create lasting, positive impact by encouraging individuals to turn everyday purchases into opportunities for philanthropy.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome Bernzott Capital Advisors as a member! Founded in 1994 in Ventura County, Bernzott Capital Advisors is a value-oriented, boutique investment advisory firm. CEO Mark Scott shares more about this local business.  Police chiefs discuss immigration enforcement during WVCBA Business Advocacy Committee meeting2/11/2025  At the February meeting of WVCBA's Business Advocacy Committee, Commander Eric Tennessen, Chief of Police for the City of Camarillo, and City of Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites addressed business community concerns about local activity of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
WVCBA is delighted to welcome Truly Force Free Animal Training as a member! Founded 15 years ago by Owner and Animal Trainer Shannon Riley, the Ventura-based business offers online, hybrid, and in-person positive reinforcement dog training. She shares more about her small business.  Business Alliance launches quarterly series focused on local issues Oxnard & Camarillo, Calif., FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) is pleased to launch a quarterly Statement Series luncheon, with the first event scheduled for Thursday, February 27, at 11:30 am at Sterling Hills Golf Club (901 Sterling Hills Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010). The luncheon will feature Camarillo City Manager Greg Ramirez and Oxnard City Manager Alexander Nguyen who will discuss key issues affecting businesses in their respective cities and answer audience questions. "Our goal with these luncheons is to bridge the communities with overarching topics that are relevant to both, so I'm thrilled to launch this series with updates from the city managers," says WVCBA President & CEO Andy Conli.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome Seasons Catering as a member! Seasons Catering is a full-service catering company providing custom menu creation, professional staff, food preparation, and seamless coordination for social, corporate and non-profit events, private home gatherings and other special occasions. Kim Ritchey, Catering & Event Sales Representative, shares more about the business.  With a focus on local government, the 2025 Oxnard Leadership Program held its first session on January 24. "Government Day" sets the stage for many of the topics the cohort will explore over the remaining nine months like transportation, public safety, the Channel Islands Harbor, agriculture, and more. This year's cohort has participants representing an array of businesses, agencies and nonprofits in the county, and is once again generously sponsored by the Gene Haas Foundation.  WVCBA is delighted to welcome Wagon Wheel Beverages as a member! The retail convenience store is part of the Wagon Wheel development in north Oxnard near Highway 101 and sells grocery items, alcohol, to-go items, lottery, and more. Owner Yousef Asaad shares more about his small business.  A big welcome to the ninth class of the Oxnard Leadership Program! The Class of 2025 connected for the first time at a welcome reception on January 15 held at Copper Blues Cantina at The Collection. With 17 participants representing an array of businesses, agencies and nonprofits in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, this is the largest cohort since the program started in 2016. Since 2022, the Oxnard Leadership Program has been generously supported by the Gene Haas Foundation.  WVCBA is thrilled to announce this year's honorees of the Chairperson's Awards of Excellence, our Ambassador of the Year, and the Ken Cunningham Award winner, all of whom were selected by 2024 Chair Andrew Kiefer. It has been a long-standing tradition that the departing Chair of the Board bestows discretionary honors on some of the organization’s most dedicated volunteers who have helped advance WVCBA in 2024.  The West Ventura County Business Alliance is excited to welcome Andy Conli as its new President and CEO. Conli was selected by the Board of Directors to succeed Nancy Lindholm, who led the WVCBA and the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce for a combined 21 years. She announced her plans to retire last year. Conli's first day in the new role was January 1. "It truly is an honor and privilege to be named the next President & CEO of the WVCBA," says Conli. "Camarillo and Oxnard are home to a vibrant business community that requires an active and dynamic chamber of commerce to support it." Conli was hired in May 2023 as WVCBA's Business Development Manager and promoted to Chief Operating Officer in September 2024.  Andy Conli at WVCBA's Annual Military Appreciation Mixer hosted by the Port of Hueneme at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. The WVCBA is pleased to announce its Executive Committee for 2025. The Board of Directors is responsible for setting WVCBA policy as well as direction for the organization. The Executive Committee is comprised of officers elected by the Board and monitors the Alliance's operations. The Board is made up of 14 Directors plus eight Lifetime Directors.  We are pleased to welcome City Impact as a WVCBA member! City Impact was founded in 1995 to meet the growing needs of at-promise children, youth and low-income families of Ventura County. The nonprofit provides outreach counseling and mentorship/case management services for over 580 at-promise youth and families of Ventura County. Development Manager Vickie Saipale shares more.   The West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) announces today that longtime President & CEO Nancy Lindholm will transition from her role on January 1, 2025.
Lindholm will continue working part-time as Chief Financial Officer before officially retiring from the organization in December 2025. WVCBA Chief Operating Officer Andy Conli has been selected by the Board of Directors as the new President & CEO. We are pleased to welcome Prospera Succession Partners as a WVCBA member! Prospera Succession Partners offers comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, company retirement benefits, and life/disability/long-term care insurance for business owners and families. Financial Planner Abiel Acosta shares more.  On November 21, the WVCBA celebrated the eighth graduating class of the Oxnard Leadership Program since it began in 2016. The ceremony took place at Channel Islands Maritime Museum, thanks to the museum's Executive Director Doug Riffenburgh, a member of of the graduating class. Friends, family, session coordinators, and Oxnard Leadership Steering Committee members were on-hand to cheer on the 12 members of the Class of 2024 who completed the 10-session, 10-month program.  The WVCBA makes it easy for businesses to purchase the required 2025 State/Federal employment posters that must be displayed at each location. Also available are the required employment pamphlets, HR Quick Guide, Labor Law Digest, and Remote Onboarding Kit for any business with employees working 100% remotely. Special pricing is available for WVCBA members.  |