Encinitas: Our History and People

The Guild today is a modern reflection of one
of the earliest types of organizations supporting
businesses and artisans. Medieval Guilds fostered
collaboration, craftsmanship, and a sense of
kinship—or belonging—for their members.
Now the oldest standing building in Cardiff,
The Guild has been owned since 1995 by
Robert Ford Mance of Ford Mance Capital
Advisors, a noted local real estate developer and
long-term Cardiff resident. It represents modern
day mercantilism, more fully described as
Conscious Capitalism, or Business for the Better.
This is a belief that every business can make a
contribution to the greater good by focusing on
sustainability and adopting an innovational
approach to meeting future challenges.
Looking forward to the next 100 years, the
Mance family of entrepreneurs is committed to the
idea that a GUILD of artisans and merchants will
help strengthen kinship within the community. By
working to foster business principles of creativity,
harmony and integrity, they’ll provide benefit to
both themselves and their collaborators. Leading
the charge on social entrepreneurship is daughter
Melina Mance Domingues, who will build out The
Guild’s community events and business programs.
Currently housing a number of forwardthinking
businesses and creatives, The Guild
welcomes entrepreneurs, innovators and art
enthusiasts to participate in a range of workshops,
enrichment seminars and community gatherings.
Combining old world architectural style and
panoramic ocean views, it the perfect atmosphere
for purpose driven and out-of-the-box thinking.
As Robert says, “Businesses are evolving with
hope for the future—with collaboration rather
than competition, and a focus on values. We think
it’s no mystery this spirit represents the character
of Cardiff; as a family owned company, we look
forward to continuing this legacy of ‘kinship’ and
social entrepreneurship for the common wealth far
into the future, to benefit the community and all
our neighbors.”
Through all phases of its evolution, The
Guild has embodied the entrepreneurial spirit of
its original builder, now carried forward by the
vision of the Mance family and their investment
in the future. Please stop by or visit
GUILDVenue100.com to see how you can
participate in ensuring that Cardiff’s essence of
kinship lives on.
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