Sausalito/Viña Del Mar Chile Sister City Program
March 31-April 9 2017

Seven business women from Asociacion Gremial de Empresarias Y Profesionales (AGEP-V) – a professional business association in Vina Del Mar, Valparaiso Region of Chile visited Sausalito during the week of March 31 to April 9, 2017. Our Vina Del Mar Operations Council (VDM) has now hosted 4 business workshops in Sausalito, training 28 women.

Our goal is to provide these entrepreneurial women with key American business strategies and tools to build and grow their own business operations in Chile.

In addition, our Sausalito based sister city committee has completed two training visits to Vina Del Mar Chile and the Valparaiso region, providing workshops and educational outreach to their entire organization. Sausalito also participated in celebrating AGEP’s 15th anniversary celebration in the main plaza of Valparaiso, providing workshops, introduction to our sister city relationship and showcasing more than 60 small businesses and their products.

Seven Sausalito families graciously opened their home to the 2017 VDM AGEP delegation during the 7 day program. While everyone seemed to speak a smattering of Spanish, there was no problem in communicating with food, drink, singing, dancing and sharing of each other’s cultural nuances. Our committee expresses warm-hearted thanks to the tremendous hospitality of some of Sausalito’s best:

  • Mardi Burnham Brayton & Rich Brayton
  • Susan Roe & Tom Clark
  • Renee & Brenda DeBruyn
  • Mike Kelly & Monica Finnegan
  • Stanford Hughes & EV Gilbreath
  • Holger Mishal & Maria Paterno
  • Frank Lawler and Cathy Stierhoff

During the 7 days of training, the program was fortunate to include 30 presenters during the week, including 2 Stanford professors.   Business exposure centered on the theme: The Path to Growth. Topics included:

  • Brainstorming/Thinking Outside the Box
  • Established Companies Sharing Their Experiences Of Right/Wrong
  • Competitive Analysis
  • Projecting for Profit
  • Strategic Planning for your Business
  • Using Social Media
  • Tour of Space Sharing & Co-working Facilities, Retail and Design, Product Development
  • Intro And How To Build A Trade Association For The Maker Industry
  • Learning/Meeting/Hearing from Organic Businesses
  • Touring Retail Operations – Where The Action Is
  • Touring Collaborative Work Spaces/Shared Spaces/Complimentary Tenancy
30 Presenters and Educators
VDM Committee Members Sausalito/Marin Businesses Other
8 11 11
(including 2 Stanford Professors)

Educational emphasis was directed towards Spanish speaking presenters as much as possible, businesses that were in the same industry as the AGEP 2017 Class members to learn about like issues, innovative ideas that could be re-created back home in Chile, typical American business practices and techniques needed to establish or grow a business, and learning tools requested by AGEP business women.

The new Consul General, Enrique Barriga, Mayor Ray Withy and Flynn McDonald, and Sausalito City Council Members all provided venues for the AGEP women to experience more of our city, observe our government in action, enjoy our Sausalito life style, and visit the newly acquired Fetzer Winery in Hopland by Concha Y Toro, Chile’s largest wine purveyor.

As a parting gift of thanks from the AGEP-V business women, they commandeered the Edgewater Room in City Hall and prepared a delicious and indulgent Chilean lunch. City Council members, SSCI board, VDM committee members and home stay families enjoyed Pisco Sours, traditional Chilean appetizers, fish and meat dishes, desserts and candies favored by the Chilean community– many ingredients transported by the women from home!

The local Vina Del Mar Operations Council and Sausalito retailers should receive high praise and recognition for the hard work that goes into organizing such a week-long workshop.

Thanks to committee members: Karen Aiken, Lynn Churchill, Brenda deBruyn, Monica Finnegan, Lizzie Jeremi, Lorna Newlin, Lynn Spiller, Cathy Stierhoff, Jan Swanberg, Paula Tejada, Katya Wittenstein. And more thanks to Sausalito retailers who shared their knowledge: Jill Giordano-gr.dano Designs, Christopher Holbrook-Studio 333, Rowen Finegan-Pine Street Natural Interiors, Laurel Shaffer and Eric Pasch-Laurel Skin Care, Rebecca Bruce at Rebecca Bruce Designs, Katya Wittenstein-Katya Glass Jewelry, Lorna Newlin-Sausalito Pottery, Staff at Heath Ceramics and members of Working Solutions in San Rafael. Others who offered their skill set and knowledge: Kristin Colombano, Michael Henry, Barbara Holmes, Mike Kelly, Kathryn McCarron, Cheryl Popp, Susan Roe, and Laura Scher.

A video of AGEP 2017 trip and Sausalito program: https://youtu.be/rxiw2P-OvSE

Filmed and created by AGEP member: Ximena Silva Graphic Design: http://www.ximenasilva.cl/