Vina Del Mar was the first sister city in Sausalito, established in 1964 under the President Eisenhower people-to-people diplomacy program. We re-established our Sister City relationship in 2011 when Mayor Reginato introduced us to a group of women small business owners and their professional organization: Asociación Gremial de Empresarias y Profesionales de la Región de Valparaíso (AGEP-V).

Throughout the following eight years, we have impacted more than 45 small business women in the Valparaiso region. Our goal is to provide women empowerment, leadership and key American business strategies and tools to build and grow their own business operations in Chile.

We have provided workshops and training in strategic business planning, customer development and retention, marketing strategies, personal growth and empowerment concepts and support their economic path to growth and business development.

Every other year, we host seven AGEP members in Sausalito to participate in training programs and interaction with our business community. In 2019, we hosted an additional AGEP member who had been juried into the Sausalito Art Festival. All 8 VDM visitors volunteered for 3 days at the SAF during 2019 and learned the ins and outs of such a large festival. When they visit Sausalito, they are invited to home stay with our accomplished business women in the area and experience not only new business ideas and exposure, but a close view at our American way of life.

The odd year, a delegation travels to Vina Del Mar and the region to meet with the entire organization and further our training, mentorship and participation in AGEP events. Events include Hecho in Valparaiso in celebration of their 15th anniversary, the first annual Congress for women small business owners in Latin America in 2018, and the 2020 Celebration of International Women’s Day, where they are honoring 12 women for their outstanding work in the development of women entrepreneurs and for the support provided to the Trade Union Association, AGEPv.

We are proud to tell you that our VDM Chair, Monica Finnegan, has been recognized as one of these women and will be celebrated with the other women leaders at their conference on March 12 in VDM Chile.