{"id":3334,"date":"2025-12-03T08:59:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T16:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/business.laverne.edu\/news\/?p=3334"},"modified":"2025-12-03T09:01:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T17:01:02","slug":"from-la-verne-to-the-big-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/business.laverne.edu\/news\/2025\/12\/03\/from-la-verne-to-the-big-game\/","title":{"rendered":"From La Verne to the Big Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

After being laid off from a job in food service, University of La Verne alumna Anita Ron refused to give up. With just $700 and three vacuum cleaners, she launched Briteworks, Inc., a janitorial company that today employs nearly 200 associates and serves clients like Disney, Coca-Cola, and affiliations with the Super Bowl. Her journey from uncertainty to success is a story every aspiring entrepreneur can learn from.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding Purpose Through Education<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ron\u2019s path to entrepreneurship began long before she opened her business\u2014it started at the University of La Verne, where she studied journalism. Though her degree wasn\u2019t in business, the lessons she learned on campus became the backbone of her success.<\/span><\/p>\n

My journalism training taught me how to research, communicate, and connect with people,\u201d she said. \u201cThose are the same skills every entrepreneur needs.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her curiosity and ability to network translated directly into building relationships and growing a client base\u2014skills she now urges students to develop early.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting From Scratch<\/span><\/h2>\n

The turning point came in 1996, when Ron was laid off from her job. Instead of looking for another paycheck, she built her own opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was scary,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI had a six-year-old, a six-month-old, and a mortgage. But I told myself I wasn\u2019t going to fail.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Drawing on family experience in janitorial work and the drive to support her family, Ron launched Briteworks from her home. She hustled day and night, relying on persistence, cold calls, and her network to land contracts. Within three years, she paid off an $80,000 line of credit and turned her passion into a sustainable company.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership That Empowers<\/span><\/h2>\n

As her company grew, so did her leadership philosophy. Ron believes true success is built on collaboration, integrity, and humility.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to be the smartest in the room,\u201d she said. \u201cI want everyone to have a voice.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her employees now lead training sessions, volunteer in their communities, and even win awards for their service\u2014proof that leadership multiplies when you lift others up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adapting and Leading Through Challenges<\/span><\/h2>\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Briteworks found itself at the center of the crisis\u2014responsible for keeping workplaces clean and safe. Ron guided her team with calm focus, emphasizing health standards, employee safety, and client care. Her experience underscored a core truth of entrepreneurship: every challenge is also a chance to prove your mission matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Message to Future Entrepreneurs<\/span><\/h2>\n

Today, Anita Ron mentors other business owners and serves on the University of La Verne College of Business Advisory Board. She often reminds students that success begins with confidence and community.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have an idea or a dream\u2014don\u2019t wait,\u201d she said. \u201cStart now. The resources are out there. You just need to take the first step.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Anita Ron\u2019s journey\u2014from a layoff with just $700 to leading a thriving company serving high-profile clients\u2014is a testament to resilience, resourcefulness, and the power of taking initiative. Her story shows that entrepreneurship is less about having everything perfectly in place and more about starting, learning, and growing along the way. For students and aspiring business owners, Ron\u2019s advice is clear: trust your skills, build your network, and take that first step.<\/span><\/p>\n

For women, knock on the doors, be confident, know who you are, know your worth, and just go out there and let people know what you\u2019re doing. The more you say it, the more you actually believe it. And soon, your network will start marketing you too.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To explore resources, programs, and guidance that can help turn your ideas into reality, visit the University of La Verne College of Business at business.laverne.edu<\/a>\u00a0and start your entrepreneurial journey today.<\/span><\/p>\n



<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After being laid off from a job in food service, University of La Verne alumna Anita Ron refused to give up. With just $700 and three vacuum cleaners, she launched Briteworks, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[283],"tags":[368,373,374],"class_list":["post-3334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-the-news","tag-anita-ron","tag-briteworks","tag-entrepreneurship"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom La Verne to the Big Game | University of La Verne<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get ready for an incredibly inspiring conversation! 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