Yes, we judge people! (but it’s all good)

NAWBO Announces 2011 Business Competition Winners

To run a successful business, you have to have a plan. This proved to be true for the participants of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)’s First Annual 2011 “Driving Your Business Plan” Competition. The contest was held by NAWBO to encourage up-and-coming women business owners to develop and submit their business plans to ultimately be judged. During the seven-month competition, participants had the opportunity to learn business strategies from proven industry leaders, a chance to network with other professionals, and gained supportive feedback from various workshops.

The competition came to a close this weekend,where the business plans were judged by a panel of established business owners who were tasked with gauging which plans would be the most successful. The panel of judges included Appleton Creative’s President and Creative Director Diana LaRue. Diana really enjoyed the experience of working with these promising candidates and was happy to have a hand in deciding the competition winners. Diana’s fellow judges included Judi Awsumb of Awsumb Enterprises, Cynthia Blackwell of Black Rain Partners, Stefanie Block of Fifth Third, Carol Ann Dykes of UCF’s Technology Incubator, William A. Grimm of Rollins College, Gordon H. Hogan of UCF’s Technology Incubator and Matt Thursam, a manager of Minority Business Development.

After the elaborate judging, two winners were named: Michelle Owens of Yoga East Studio and Jennifer Dickerson of ENREP, Inc. Each of the winners received $7,500 to be used toward the implementation oftheir business plans, free office space, marketing support, accounting services and other resources totaling a value of $40,000 for the next year. We wish the winners and other participants the best of luck in their business future!