Arvada Chamber of Commerce celebrates women in business

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Though women have come a long way, they still face unique challenges and experiences within the business world. This was the main topic of discussion at Arvada’s “Women to Watch” luncheon on July 19.

The luncheon was hosted by Arvada Chamber of Commerce and featured several speakers with a wide variety of backgrounds in business.

“We’re here to celebrate, inspire and really lift up women in our community,” Kami Welch, the Chamber’s president and CEO, said during the event.

Lunch started with a keynote speaker, Denise Caleb, the first vice president and director of the Human Capital Consulting Practice. Caleb spoke about the impact of positive representation of women in media, as well as the influence of positive role models in a woman’s life.

“Today’s focus is on women, but us showing up for each other and celebrating each other does not deplete the celebration of men,” Caleb said. “Let’s keep showing up for each other. We’re all on the same team.”

Lunch then moved into a panel discussion about the experience of women in business. The panel featured Caleb, as well as Aurora Elicerio, a senior manager at Comcast, Raven Faber, owner of EngErotics, Alison Wisneski, co-owner of Lady Justice Brewing and Ally Skiba, owner of Electric Cherry Shop + Studios.

Faber spoke about her experience getting into a higher-level position at her company, emphasizing that although there was room for her in said positions, they may not have been welcoming.

“They didn’t tell me that even though there was plenty of room at the table, they were going to give me the most uncomfortable chair if they gave me a chair at all,” Faber said. “So you get to the point where you’re like, ‘Well, I’m an engineer, I got two degrees in engineering, I’ll build my own mother effing table.’”

Wisneski added that once she was succeeding in business, she hoped to be good representations for people in the communities she belonged to.

“I want people who have been ostracized from the industry who might fit into one of those (identities) to hear it and say, ‘okay, maybe I see a little bit of myself in her.’” Wisneski said.

Skiba spoke about her experiences running a business, especially the ways she was able to create community.

“That is what will eventually drive business, opening doors and helping you to get to know other incredible women and all different types of people and know their stories,” Skiba said. “ This has been amazing so far. I love hearing your stories.”

A continuum of care

Homes courtesy of CASA and Foothills Regional Housing Authority for young adults exiting the foster care system

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Two local agencies are partnering to bring a ordable housing to young adults exiting the foster care system.

e Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, of Je erson and Gilpin Counties, recently won an award for an innovative housing program called YA at Avi alongside program partners Foothills Regional Housing.

e base of the program is the a ordable housing unit AVi at Olde Town, which both agencies describe as an a ordable housing complex for veterans and families. Among them are emancipated foster youth who also needed a ordable housing.

According to Leah Varnell, executive director of CASA of Je erson and Gilpin counties, the project started about 10 years ago. At that time, Varnell said the county’s juvenile justice focus shifted from younger foster children to the needs of foster teens.

“We started realizing that older youth involved in the system, the