BBB’s Breakthrough Accelerator focuses on helping local small businesses scale their operations and strengthen their foundations. With a flexible format and access to real-world guidance, it gives participants something many early-stage entrepreneurs struggle to find: space to focus and support they can trust.
“The BBB Breakthrough Accelerator program offers an incredible platform for small business owners to grow both personally and professionally,” said Medeliza Roel of Sbay Print and Design. “What sets it apart is the emphasis on real-world application and community—you’re not just learning concepts, you’re building connections and implementing strategies that make an immediate impact.”
The accelerator blends group learning with personalized mentorship, offering more than 40 hours of guided sessions and over five unique mentorship and one-on-one coaching opportunities. Topics span operations, marketing, branding, financial planning, and leadership.
“This program felt like the greatest gift an entrepreneur could receive,” said Leslie Patino. “I remember there being points in the middle of class where I felt tears coming because I was just so grateful to be in a room with such genuine, successful, giving people.”
An Evening of Celebration and Connection
Graduation night served as both a ceremony and a community gathering. The event featured cocktails and delicious food by graduates of the program, such as Majestic Mix Bartending, Mielimón Bakery, Love & Bake, and charcuterie by Fabilous. Local musicians provided the soundtrack to a night filled with laughter, storytelling, and shared pride.
It was a celebration of growth, but also of accessibility. On-site childcare from Destination Baby Co. was available throughout the program, a thoughtful solution that allowed parent entrepreneurs to participate fully without sacrifice. That same spirit of inclusion shaped the entire accelerator experience.
Matthew Fehling, BBB President & CEO, addressed the graduates with a message that underscored the night’s importance. “This evening isn’t just about completing a program. It’s about recognizing the hard work, the sacrifice, and the determination that brought each of you here,” he said.
That sentiment was echoed by Samantha Scholl, BBB’s AVP of Innovation & Entrepreneur Programs, who described the graduation as a moment of “momentum in motion.” As she put it, the joy of seeing entrepreneurs pitch ideas, rebrand businesses, and open storefronts speaks volumes about what’s possible when the right resources meet real ambition.
What’s Next for the Breakthrough Program
Applications for the next cohort are now open, with hybrid learning sessions set to continue at ignite sparked by BBB and online.
Entrepreneurs pay only a $99 program and materials fee. With included benefits and in-kind donations, the program is valued at over $5,000.
Participants receive a $1,000 business development grant upon successful completion of the program, a meaningful boost for those navigating the realities of running a business in today’s economy.
As the first group of graduates heads back into the world with new tools and connections, one thing is clear: the BBB Breakthrough Accelerator is helping reshape what local business support looks like in San Diego.
Interested in joining a future cohort or supporting the program? Learn more at ignitesparkedbybbb.org
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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