The Lancer Lawyer Alumni Network sponsored the Business Startup Toolkit 101 event on April 27th. This free zoom event featured an alumni panel who shared legal, insurance and marketing tips for those considering starting their own business. The panel also featured an entrepreneur, who shared her own experience getting her business off the ground.

Panelists included:

Mitch Drasco '60 has represented the Small Business Development Center in Oceanside and coached 300+ individuals, couples, and small firms over startup legal and funding issues. He has also taught this topic to his business law classes since 2003 at MiraCosta College. and is a practicing attorney in San Diego.

Sam Lamb '00 is a third generation State Farm Agent. He is the Owner as well as an Agent, and operates the office along with his wife, Nicole Lamb. Sam focuses his insurance practice in Comprehensive Insurance Planning for individuals and business owners. He holds insurance licenses in Property & Casualty, Life & Health,
Disability, and is licensed with FINRA for securities in California, Arizona, and Oregon.

Kerry Miller '06 has 11 years of experience in public relations with expertise in Fashion, Lifestyle & Beauty. She started her own pr company in June 2020, Joyful PR. She incorporates joy and inclusivity into everything hense the name JOYFUL PR.

Mia (Mazadiego) Guenther '98 is a founder & co-owner of Neon Retro Arcade in Old Pasadena - an all ages venue featuring 40+ classic arcade games primarily from the 80s & 90s. Mia and her husband Mark opened the arcade in 2015 after 12 years of working in Washington, DC and abroad. Spending over a decade in a rigid, government environment far away from family inspired the couple to pave their own path close to home. Mia's self-taught marketing skills and focus on community building helped launch their small business and survive a 15-month closure due to the pandemic.