Introducing the new weVENTURE WBC Executive Director!

After an extensive search, the Board of weVENTURE WBC, the search 

committee, and the Dean of the Bisk College of Business are excited to 

announce Elizabeth Llinas as the new weVENTURE WBC Executive Director. 

She possesses an Associate degree in Education from the University of 

Florida, a B.S. in General Studies with a minor in Business, and a Master’s 

in Strategic Leadership, both from Friends University. Elizabeth is also in 

Doctoral candidacy for the Doctor of Business Administration from 

Florida Tech.

Elizabeth has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and as VP / Private Client Branch manager at J.P. Morgan Chase and Enterprise Bank, leading teams 

to successful outcomes. She is a dynamic and results-driven sales 

professional with a proven background in customer account 

management, sales optimization, and strategic relationship-building; 

skilled at identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, preparing 

targeted action plans, and presenting tailored solutions to meet client 

needs.

Committed to exceeding sales goals through effective 

communication, data-driven decision-making, and proactive field 

engagement. Her expertise lies in maintaining strong client relationships, 

delivering impactful presentations, and coordinating cross-functional 

efforts to drive success and improve customer satisfaction.

Please join me in welcoming Elizabeth Llinas as the new weVENTURE WBC 

Executive Director.

Respectfully,

Theodore Richardson

Dean and Professor Nathan M. Bisk College of Business

You are also invited to an Open House Meet and Greet for both Liz, the new Executive Director, and Amanda, the new WBC Program Director, on Thursday, September 10th from 4-6pm at the weVENTURE WBC office 2202 S. Babcock St. Melbourne!

Meet the Finalists for the 2026 IMPACT Grant!

Mark your calendar for October 1, 2026, and join us at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10 in Melbourne for weVENTURE Women's Business Center's annual IMPACT Summit, our largest business development conference designed to help you invest in your personal and professional growth.

We are so excited to announce the three finalists for this years' grants:

Courtney Arndt - Florida Music Therapy

Melanie Eveland - Mel's Tiki Cafe

Michelle Franzen - Baked by Chelle

🎫 Tickets are on sale now! Learn more and reserve your seat. Don't miss this opportunity to chart your path toward new possibilities, meaningful connections, and cheer on these finalists! ✨

Wednesday, August 26th 11am - 12:30pm

Don't let uncertainty about financing stop your next move. Join TD Bank's free workshop to learn how business loans and credit can help fuel growth, what lenders expect from applicants, and how to position your business for funding success.

You'll also have the chance to ask questions directly to lending experts and get real-world guidance tailored to your goals.

Bring your lunch and leave with valuable knowledge that could help unlock your next opportunity.

Startup Peer Group - Jumpstart Your 2027 Sales!

If you’re building a business and struggling to get your first customers, you are not alone.

What if you had a team to help you figure out what’s working, what’s not, and what to try next?

That’s exactly what we’ll do together in the weVENTURE Startup Peer Group.

You may be a good candidate for this program if you feel like:

“...I am stepping out into so many things right now, and I need to build my confidence as a single person doing this work and doing something new. I need to solidify what this is going to look like.”

That’s what this group is for.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to test, learn, adjust, and keep moving. We’ll work together to figure out who buys, why they buy, what’s not working, and where to focus your time and marketing dollars.

You bring the business. I’ll bring the framework. We exchange lessons learned as a team week-after-week.

weVENTURE Startup Peer Group

September 3, 10, 17 & 24

Thursdays | 12–1 PM ET | Zoom

-WBC Business Coach, Jenna Colombo