About Us

What is Vivanista?

• Vivanista is a private, member-driven community where busy, sophisticated women share insider information and connect with each other in the areas of fashion and shopping, entertaining, beauty and health, travel and philanthropy. It's like having your best friend be 'in-the-know' on every lifestyle question you ever had.
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Where did Vivanista come from?

• Our Founder, Layne Gray, developed the idea for Vivanista based on a convergence of factors. First, friends often asked her for input and advice on various lifestyle topics. Those questions she couldn't answer herself, or with a little help from other friends, she went searching for answers on the web. She landed at plenty of places where she could catch up on the latest celebrity gossip, review articles with built-in advertisements or even post walls of pretty much meaningless, self-indulgent information. But what she didn't find was a site for smart, busy and philanthropic woman - like her own friends. These are the women who are making a difference in their world - and the world of others. So, she decided to create such a place herself.
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What inspired the name Vivanista?

• Conceived through uniting Viva La Life (like Viva Italia! or Vive La France!) with the term 'fashionista'. Thus Vivanista is a celebration of living life to the fullest. It is a combination of the desire to both live well, and do good.
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How is Vivanista different?

• Vivanista is differentiated by its target audience and focus. Vivanista is the premier, go-to online site for the sophisticated woman aged 35 and older, providing a relevant and rewarding way to share & learn from others on any number of lifestyle subjects from fashion and travel, to health and philanthropy.
• We are also unique in that our content is member-driven (and written), and that we are a private community. Vivanista provides a way to tap friends and their friends for trusted insight and advice, without the 'exposure' of other social networking web sites. Existing Vivanista members invite their friends, and there is no cost to join Vivanista.
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Where do the articles come from in Vivanista?

• Editorial content in a newspaper or magazine is typically written by professional journalists who cover the hot and important topics, issues and events of the day, and bring them to the reader.
• At Vivanista we do the same but with a twist: our members do most of the reporting - bringing their stories & insights to our other members. We'll hear from someone about how she managed to entertain three kids on a trip to Egypt. We'll learn how to combat travel insomnia, make chocolate souffl� ahead of time and how to make your next school charity auction the most successful to date.
• We believe each of our members is a "Tiffany's of information" - full of exquisite gems of knowledge and experience, all of which, when shared, can be harnessed for the good of our entire community. In this way, not only are you, a single member, enriched by participating, learning and giving back, but everyone else is too. In addition to member content, we feature a myriad of guest writers, experts in their fields, who will share their wisdom and experience with our members.
• For more information about Vivanista's editorial and terms of use, please visit our Editorial Policy
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Who are Vivanista members?

• Women like You. Over the years we have been nurturing friendships while at ladies' lunches, dropping our kids' off at school, working together on charity events, or just meeting up over a glass of wine to talk about our lives, our loves (with a sprinkling of divorces!), and our work. Each of us have built up a wealth of experience and life's lessons that we want to share with each other - and with you. And, we are sure you and your friends have a wealth of insights you could share with us.
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What does the Vivanista site offer?

Vivanista's multi-layered site offers three distinct experiences


• EXPERTISE: Access to smart, savvy, and relevant insights you will not find anywhere else. If you are having a party, but drawing a blank on a flower arrangement, click on Vivanista's Entertaining page and view a webcast by a Vivanista member giving you the latest ideas for market-fresh blooms. Got your own idea for making a dinner party memorable? Easily share your expertise by posting an article or tip for other members.
• CLUBS: Connect and join together with other women who share similar interests. Want to talk with other new moms over 40? Start a 'New Mothers Over 40' club. Need a great frock for your next big event? Join the 'Size 8 Gown Sharing Club.' Whether the topic is Investments or Recipes, members can gather and share tips and tidbits both on-line and at off-line events.
• WEB NAVIGATION: Easily manage your web life through the Vivanista dashboard, accessing all your favorite sites from neatly organized virtual folders.

Whatever your interests or expertise, Vivanista provides a unique, interactive way to share ideas and connect with others in a private, fun and enriching manner.
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OUR TEAM

• Layne Gray, Founder and Chief Evangelist.
  As Vivanista's primary idea generator and vision seeker, Layne is a passionate entrepreneur with a strong technology background. As the founder of LKE Productions, a technology industry conference management company, she managed large-scale product launches, conferences and seminars series around the world. Prior to LKE Productions, Layne held senior management positions at several companies including Oracle and Altos Computer Systems.
  
  Layne has been actively involved in various philanthropic organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has raised millions of dollars for charities including the American Cancer Society, San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, Junior League of San Francisco, International Museum of Women and the San Francisco Zoological Society, of which she is currently a board member.
  
  She currently lives in San Francisco with her daughter and three, intermittently childish, dogs.
• Annie Vranizan, Product Guru.
  We call her one of the original founders. You can call her Annie. As the first person to join the team, Annie helped create the technology, business plan and marketing strategy for Vivanista. Today this sports lover is a professional multi-tasker and is responsible for developing and implementing programs to attract, support and enhance Vivanista membership.
  
  Annie attended the University of Nevada, Reno's School of Business, where she graduated with a BS in marketing. While there she received an award for being a graduate level finalist in the Donald W. Reynolds business plan competition. She also studied abroad in Torino, Italy, was a member of the NCAA Division I Ski Team, sat on the Student Athletic Advisory Council and was named one of the College of Business' top ten students.
  
  Page is a recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, earning dual honors degrees, Magna Cum Laude, in marketing and journalism. She has a strong background in advertising, public relations, and of course, writing. Her work experience includes interning at Rolling Stone magazine, a top northern Nevada hospital and a role as the public relations account assistant at a Nevada advertising agency. She too was named one of the College of Business' top ten students.
  
  Prior to joining Vivanista, Annie worked as a project manager for a Portland based design company and as a ski coach for several West Coast teams.
• Page Spicer, Content Queen
  Page likes words and that's a good thing for us here at Vivanista. She is responsible for Vivanista's content and making sure members are engaged and enjoying their Vivanista time.
  
  Page is a recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, earning dual honors degrees, Magna Cum Laude, in marketing and journalism. She has a strong background in advertising, public relations, and of course, writing. Her work experience includes interning at Rolling Stone magazine, a top northern Nevada hospital and a role as the public relations account assistant at a Nevada advertising agency. She too was named one of the College of Business’ top ten students.
  
  In her spare time Page enjoys running, magazines, attempting to cook, spending time with her family and searching for the perfect Yorkie.
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AMBASSADOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

• At Vivanista we have been cultivating invaluable input from a group of women who fit the Vivanista profile. As a Focus Group, these women have provided important input on how the Vivanista site looks and works. What is common amongst these fascinating women is a desire, perhaps a need, to both live life to the fullest as well as to give back to their communities. What is unique about each of them is how they've used their own life experiences to accomplish that goal.
  
  Alison Carlson
  Kelly Grimes
  Joanne Horning
  Jane Inch
  Marybeth LaMotte
  Anne Marie Massocca
  Sheree Shoch
  Susan Tamagni
  Jude Thornton-Clark
  Judy Jorgensen
  Jean Larette
  Andrea Moore
  
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Vivanista'S PROMISE

• Our promises to you:
  
  We will never preach at you. We will talk with you. And let you talk back!
  We will always be happy to hear from you. In fact we insist on it!
  We will bring you news that is useful, practical and helpful.
  We will bring you features that are fun, frivolous and diverting.
  We will always ask for feedback and make changes if we need to.
  We will connect you to women like you. We will foster and enhance friendship.
  We will always value you.
  We cannot do this without you. So, how about it?
  
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