"This helps build business connections and introduces businesses to other businesses… if you know people more intimately, you are more likely to support each other."
On a February evening in 2025, something new happened at the Brigantine restaurant in Imperial Beach. More than 20 women — business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from Imperial Beach and Chula Vista — gathered for the Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce's very first Female Founders meeting. The woman behind it all: Sandi Crosby, real estate agent, Chamber Vice President, and lifelong advocate for the Imperial Beach community.
As reported by the Imperial Beach Eagle & Times, Sandi was the mastermind of the gathering — organizing the event, curating personalized giveaway pouches for each attendee, and designing a speed-networking format that allowed every woman in the room to meet every other woman. The goal was simple but powerful: find out "who we are, who is living here, and what we do."
Why Female Founders?
Imperial Beach has long been a community defined by resilience. From the ongoing cross-border sewage crisis to the economic pressures facing small businesses, IB's entrepreneurs — especially women — often operate without the networks and resources available in larger San Diego neighborhoods. Sandi recognized this gap and decided to do something about it.
"This helps build business connections and introduces businesses to other businesses," Sandi explained. "If you know people more intimately, you are more likely to support each other." That philosophy — the same one that guides her approach to real estate — drove her to create a space where women could connect authentically, not just exchange business cards.
What Happened at the First Meeting
The event at the Brigantine brought together women from a wide range of industries — from retail and hospitality to health and wellness, creative services, and beyond. The speed-networking format ensured that every attendee had a chance to introduce herself, share her business, and make a genuine connection in a short amount of time.
Sandi prepared personalized giveaway pouches for each participant — a thoughtful touch that reflected her signature attention to detail and care for the people she serves. The energy in the room, by all accounts, was electric. Women who had lived in the same zip code for years were meeting each other for the first time, discovering shared values and potential collaborations.
Event Highlights
- ✓20+ women business owners from Imperial Beach and Chula Vista
- ✓Speed-networking format — every attendee met every other attendee
- ✓Personalized giveaway pouches curated by Sandi for each participant
- ✓Hosted at the Brigantine restaurant, Imperial Beach
- ✓Organized by the IB Chamber of Commerce — a first in the Chamber's history
A Monthly Commitment to Community
The February 2025 gathering was not a one-time event. Sandi plans to host the Female Founders meeting monthly, building a recurring space for women in business to support each other, share resources, and grow together. For a community like Imperial Beach — where small businesses are the backbone of the local economy — this kind of consistent, intentional networking can have a lasting impact.
It's the kind of initiative that reflects who Sandi Crosby is: someone who sees a need in her community and steps up to fill it. Whether she's helping a military family navigate a PCS move, advocating for Imperial Beach's growth as quoted in Voice of San Diego, or organizing the Chamber's first Female Founders series, Sandi brings the same energy: genuine care, meticulous preparation, and a belief that community is built one connection at a time.
Sandi Crosby: Real Estate Agent & Community Champion
Sandi is a founding member of the Crosby Home Team at eXp Realty Luxury, specializing in military relocation, VA loans, and coastal San Diego real estate. As an MRP-certified (Military Relocation Professional) agent and Navy SEAL family member, she brings a unique combination of market expertise and personal understanding to every transaction.
As President of the Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce, she is also one of the most visible advocates for the community's economic future. Her work — from the Female Founders series to her public statements on IB's resilience — reflects a deep commitment to the place she calls home.
To learn more about Sandi's story, her philosophy, and her work in the community, visit her full profile page or read her feature in CanvasRebel.
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