Montecito Journal: That’s the Spirit

A record 300 guests descended on the Coral Casino for the fourth annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship Foundation Awards, emceed by Lynda Weinman, founder of Lynda.com

The sold-out event recognized the contributions of outstanding women entrepreneurs to the economy in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, working with the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship at City College, providing prizes in the form of sed money and scholarships, as well as an engraved Tiffany crystal award.

Eleven winners were chosen out of 33 finalists in an eclectic variety of categories.

Local hotelier Pamela Webber, 86, owner of the Santa Barbara Hotel Group which operates five hostelries, including the Pepper Tree Inn and The Lavender Inn, with a total of 367 room and 225 employees, won the organizations’s Rock Star Life Achievement Award.

She was also the first female member of the city’s chamber of commerce.

Supporters turning out for the boffo bash included Gene Sinser, Das Williams, Hanna-Beth Jackson, Bruce Heavin, Hiroko Benko, Mary Beth Larkin, Roger Durling, Brooks and Kate Firestone, Janet Garufis, Renee Grubb, Joyce Shaar, Barbara Ben-Horin, Theresa Borgatello, Barry and Norris Goss, Julie Samson, and Caroline MacDougall.