Ladies of the Treasure and Space coast recently stepped out for an evening of Wine, Women & Shoes inside the Sun Aviation hangar to benefit the weVenture Women’s Business Center, which provides low and no-cost business education and training to female entrepreneurs in Brevard, Indian River and St. Lucie counties.
Attendees strutted about the hangar in bedazzled, tasseled and ribboned shoes of all sorts, as they perused items in the marketplace – all women-owned businesses – sipped wine, nibbled on hors d’oeuvres, bid on silent-auction items, and purchased chances to win the coveted key to a “closet” filled with extravagant goodies.
“A perfect pairing,” touted event emcee Anna Valencia Tillery, announcing that the judges had thrown their heart and ‘sole’ into selecting the Best in Shoe awards, as winners of the Sexiest Stiletto, Best Boss Boot and Fabulous Flat awards took a turn on the catwalk to show off their fetching footwear.
“Amazing things happen when we support our sisters. At weVenture, that’s what we’re in the business of doing. We support female entrepreneurs in their effort to launch and grow their business,” said Kathryn Rudloff, weVenture executive director, adding that their mission is to “ignite the power of female entrepreneurs.”
“When you give a girl the right shoes, she can conquer the world,” said Rudloff, quoting Marilyn Monroe. “Our goal is to give women the confidence to pursue their dreams.”
Rudloff said that since March 2020 weVenture has assisted more than 1,500 unique clients, held more than 100 training sessions, helped launch 15 new businesses, and created 150 local jobs, economically impacting the community.
While the vast majority of executives continue to be white men, and women still make only $0.84 on the dollar compared to their male counterparts, women have come a long way professionally. Until the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988, a woman could not even obtain a business loan without a male relative as a co-signer. Rudloff also noted that since 1972, there has been a 3,000 percent increase in the number of women-owned businesses in America.
“In America, there are 13.1 million women-owned businesses. They generate over $2 trillion in revenue, and we employ 9 million Americans. Ladies, we are just getting started,” said Rudloff.
Those startling statistics fresh in their minds, the ‘boss ladies’ in the house didn’t hold back, generously bidding on live-auction items before being treated to a fashion show from five local, women-owned boutiques.
All evening, a group of 18 ‘Shoe Guys’ from all three counties had circulated the room, pouring wine and assisting as needed, before gathering on the stage for the crowning of this year’s King of Sole. More than just pretty faces, these dashing dudes helped raise more than $60,000 to support weVenture programs.
Proceeds from the evening will enable the nonprofit educational organization to serve more women on the Space and Treasure coasts. The weVenture programs, available through the Bisk College of Business at Florida Tech, provides female entrepreneurs with customized coaching, business education, mentorship and networking programs.
For information, visit weventure.fit.edu.
Photos by Kaila Jones
