14 episodes
Conejo Valley Visionaries Conejo Valley Visionaries
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- Business
A weekly podcast spotlighting the people and stories behind your favorite Conejo Valley small businesses. From restauranteur to coaches, sommeliers to retailers, you’ll hear honest conversations about how they got started, the trials and tribulations of running a business, and what their vision is for the future. They also share advice for those of you wanting to make the leap into entrepreneurship. Plus, there will be giveaways each week! Send us a DM @ConejoValleyVisionaries on Instagram if you want to share your visionary story on the podcast.
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Promoting Economic Success in the Conejo Valley with Danielle Borja, Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce CE0 & President
12: In today's episode, we’re talking to Danielle Borja, President and CEO of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce.
As President and CEO, Danielle leads one of the largest Chambers in the state of California with over 700 business members, serving the cities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and Agoura Hills.
I thought it was fitting to end season 1 with Danielle as she adds a different perspective to the Conejo Valley business community. Not only will you learn about Danielle’s career journey in this conversation, you’ll also get a deep dive into the workings of the Chamber, what it was like to take on the CEO role 2 months before the pandemic, and all of the opportunities for small and big businesses to get involved.
Listen to the end to see how to win 2 VIP tickets to The Taste of Conejo, the chamber’s signature event held in October.
Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here
Connect with Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce here
Visit EdelmanCounseling.com to take advantage of this limited-time offer for 20% off your first therapy session with an Edelman Counseling Associate. This deal is exclusive for our listeners, so visit EdelmanCounseling.com and enter Visionaries in your appointment note at checkout to redeem this offer.
If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!
This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and J.Sloan Productions. -
Nourish Within Wellness: Juliet Tabbara MS, FMCHC, NBCHWC
11: In today's episode, we’re talking to Juliet Tabbara, board certified holistic coach, owner of Nourish Within Wellness and founder of the Conejo Valley Wellness Community.
After studying psychology in college, Juliet’s first job was in recruiting. She quickly learned that life was not for her. It was a serendipitous move to Phoenix with her then boyfriend, and an entry level job at a health insurance company, that put her on the wellness career path.
Juliet gets candid about her own health journey, imposter syndrome, and how her desire for in-person connections led her to create a community of like-minded folks in the Conejo Valley.
Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here https://www.instagram.com/conejovalleyvisionaries/
Visit EdelmanCounseling.com to take advantage of this limited-time offer for 20% off your first therapy session with an Edelman Counseling Associate. This deal is exclusive for our listeners, so visit EdelmanCounseling.com and enter Visionaries in your appointment note at checkout to redeem this offer.
If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!
This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and J.Sloan Productions. -
"A family experience" with Mike Ashamalla and Shawn Orr of Tifa Chocolate and Gelato
10: In today's episode, we’re talking to Mike Ashamalla and Shawn Orr, two of the co-founders of Tifa Chocolate and Gelato.
In the early 2000s, Denise and Mike (mom & dad) and Shawn and Candace (brother & sister) knew they wanted to do something together that involved food. But they had no idea that a gelato experience during a family trip to Italy would inspire more than 17 years of a family-run chain of gelato and chocolate shops in the Conejo Valley and beyond.
The dynamic between this father & son duo is worth the listen alone. Together they recount the inception of Tifa as a food cart at the Topanga mall to how they've grown the business to include several corporate stores plus a growing franchise business.
And, importantly, how family is still at the core of everything they do.
Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here https://www.instagram.com/conejovalleyvisionaries/
If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!
This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and J.Sloan Productions. -
"Creating a wine community" with Amy Bates of West Tasting Room in Thousand Oaks, CA
9: In today's episode, we’re talking to Amy Bates, co-owner of West Tasting Room in Thousand Oaks.
Amy’s childhood passion and first career was in the film industry - where she project managed feature films. After over a decade of traveling around the world working on movies, she realized she was burnt out and knew it was time to pursue another of her passions: wine.
In our conversation, Amy talks about when the idea for West came to be - and how she put the business plan on hold for a whole 6 years before eventually opening West in 2021.
Amy is open about the challenges of running a small business and how the incredible community she and her co-founder Rachel have built at West keeps the vision pushing forward.
Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here https://www.instagram.com/conejovalleyvisionaries/
If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!
This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and J.Sloan Productions. -
Part 2: Saverio Posarelli of Basta restaurant in Agoura Hills
8: In today's episode, we’re continuing our conversation with Saverio Posarelli, the owner of Basta restaurant in Agoura Hills.
This week you'll hear about his move to the United States and how Basta came to be - with many ups & downs in between. Plus, Saverio shares his vision for the growing Basta empire including Basta Fatta a Mano opening later this year.
Listen to Part 1 with Saverio here.
Saverio is so open, descriptive, and honest - I know you’ll love this conversation.
Sound note: We recorded this episode at Basta in one of the restaurant's beautiful backrooms. We apologize if the sound isn't as crisp as it usually is, but the location was worth it!
Connect with Saverio Posarelli here: https://www.instagram.com/saverioposarelli/
Connect with Basta here:
https://www.instagram.com/eatatbasta
Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here https://www.instagram.com/conejovalleyvisionaries/
If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!
This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and J.Sloan Productions. -
Part 1: Saverio Posarelli of Basta restaurant in Agoura Hills
7: In today's episode, we’re talking to Saverio Posarelli, the owner of Basta restaurant in Agoura Hills.
This interview covers so much ground that we broke it into 2 parts. This week you’ll learn about Saverio’s picturesque childhood in the hills of Tuscany, his father and Nonna's influence on his career pursuits, and his early culinary training around Europe and Japan. Next week, we’ll hear about his move to the United States and how Basta came to be. Plus this vision for his growing Basta empire.
Saverio is so open, descriptive, and honest - I know you’ll love this conversation.
Sound note: We recorded this episode at Basta in one of the restaurant's beautiful backrooms. We apologize if the sound isn't as crisp as it usually is, but the location was worth it!
Connect with Saverio Posarelli here: https://www.instagram.com/saverioposarelli/
Connect with Basta here:
https://www.instagram.com/eatatbasta
Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here https://www.instagram.com/conejovalleyvisionaries/
If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!
This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and J.Sloan Productions.