WE Celebrate
Award Winners
2009
Women-owned Business of the Year
Winner: Robin Wood Flowers - Robin Wood, owner
Runner Up: Abstract Displays Inc. - Carla Eng, president and CEO, owner
Finalists: Powers Agency - Lori Powers Graf, Focus Solutions Inc. - Zola Stewart & Barbara Walker Johnson
Best New Product or Service of the Year
Winner: Kolar Design - Kelly Kolar, president
Runner Up: Kimbers LLC - Kimberly Taylor, president and CEO
Finalists: i-do Boutique - Brigid Horne-Nestor, Myca Multimedia & Training Solutions - Patty Massey
Social Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner: Patty Brisben - Pure Romance
Runner Up: Peg Stookey - Legacy Connection, LLC
Finalists: Anne Chambers - Red212, Mary Ivers - 4th Street Boutique
Business Mentor of the Year
Winner: Icy Williams - National Sustainability Coalition
Runner Up: Debbie Simpson - Multi-Craft
Finalists: Monica Donath Kohnen - Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP, Karen Forgus, Cincinnati Reds
Marketing to Women: Best Campaign of the Year
Winner: Pink Ribbon Empowerment Program - Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund
Runner Up: Amy Scalia - Cincy Chic
Finalists: Patti Marshall - Bonneville Radio (WKRQ-Q102), Donna Eby and Lisa Sanger - Sanger & EbySocial Media Innovator of the Year
Winner: Moira Weir - Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services
Runner Up: Alicia L. Stevens - United Way of Greater Cincinnati
Finalists: Kendra Ramirez - Sales Konnect, Jackie Reau - Game Day CommunicationsWoman of the Year - Corporate
Winner: Charlotte R. Otto - The Procter & Gamble Company
Runner Up: Karen Bowman - Convergys Corporation
Finalists: Delores Hargrove-Young - XLC Services, LLC, Karen F. Maier - Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.
Woman of the Year - Entrepreneur
Winner: Kelly Mahan - Mahan Advertising, Inc.
Runner Up: Erin Schreyer - Sagestone Partners, LLC
Finalists: Linda Horn, MCEP, RFC, CSA - Capital Concepts, Karen Tate - The Griffin Tate Group, Inc.
Woman of the Year - Nonprofit
Winner: Mary Carol Melton - Cincinnati Union Bethel
Runner Up: Dr. Robin White - Great Oaks Career Campuses
Finalists: Lisa J. FitzGibbon - Easter Seals Work Resource Center, D. Lynn Meyers - Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati
2008
Women-Owned Business of the Year (26 or more employees)
Winner: Mesa Industries (Terry Segerberg, CEO)
Runner Up: The BonBonerie (Sharon Butler & Mary Pat Pace, Co-owners)
Finalist: Innovative Mattress Solutions (Kim Brown Knopf, President)
Women-Owned Business of the Year (25 or fewer employees)
Winner: Willow Creative Group (Deborah Dent, President)
Runner Up: Strategic HR, Inc. (Robin Throckmorton, President)
Finalists: MAX Technical Training (Denise Bartick, President); MYCA Multimedia & Training Solutions (Patricia Massey, President)
Woman of the Year - Corporate
Winner: Kay Geiger, President for Ohio & Northern Kentucky, PNC Bank
Runner Up: Kelley Downing, CEO, Bartlett & Co.
Finalists: Laura Brunner, Executive Vice President of Business Development, Al. Neyer Inc.; Judi Craig, Vice President, Parsons Brinckerhoff Americas
Woman of the Year - Entrepreneur
Winner: Valerie Newell, Managing Director, RiverPoint Capital Management
Runner Up: Suzanne LaChapelle, President, Suzanne LaChapelle Design
Finalists: Kym Nelson, President & CEO, The KLEW Co.; Christine Schoonover, Director of Business Development, Huff Realty
Woman of the Year - Nonprofit
Winner: Sue Radabaugh, Executive Director, Stepping Stones Center
Runner Up: Victoria Morgan, Artistic Director & CEO, Cincinnati Ballet
Finalists: Barbara Perez, President & CEO, Arthritis Foundation, Ohio River Valley; Gwen Robinson, President & CEO, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency
Best New Product or Service of the Year
Winner: Herbs & Spice and Everything Nice (Susan D. Stewart, Owner)
Runner Up: Game Day Communications (Betsy Ross, President & CEO; Jackie Reau, COO)
Finalists: Cooking with Caitlin (Molly Sandquist, Caitlin Steininger & Kelly Trush, Partners); The Voice of Your Customer (Crystal Kendrick, President)
Social Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner: Penny Friedman, Vice President & COO, InterAct for Change
Runner Up: Zola Stewart, President & CEO, Focus Solutions Inc.
Finalists: Peggy Stookey, CEO, Legacy Connection LLC & CEO-ACT; Tamara Sullivan, President, Sullivan Communications
Business Mentor of the Year
Winner: Patricia Mann Smitson, Partner-in-Charge, Thompson Hine LLP
Runner Up: Elizabeth Rader, Director, Deloitte
Finalists: Monica Donath Kohnen, Partner, Graydon Head & Ritchey; Kelly Palmer, Owner, Moondance Group
2007
Women-Owned Business of the Year (26 or more employees)
Winner: Pure Romance, Patty Brisben
Runner-Up: Best Upon Request, Tillie Hildalgo-Lima
Finalists:Intrinzic Marketing + Design Inc., Wendy Vonderhaar; Multi-Craft, Debbie Simpson
Women-Owned Business of the Year (25 or fewer employees)
Winner: Contract Interiors, Deni Tato
Runner-Up: Blackwell Consulting Services of Ohio, LLC, Annette Tarver
Finalists:Abstract Displays, Carla Eng; Sanger & Eby, Lisa Sanger & Donna Eby
Women of the Year - Corporate
Winner: Karen Bankston, Drake Center/Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
Runner-Up: Ann Crable - Cincinnati Bell
Finalists: Kay Geiger, LaSalle Bank N.A.; Wendy Vonderhaar, Intrinzic Marketing + Design Inc.
Women of the Year - Entrepreneur
Winner: Sandra Roberts, International Language Plus
Runner-Up: Celine Piri, Taricel Management Staffing
Finalists: Suzanne LaChapelle, Suzanne LaChapelle Design; Katrina Mincy, Aunt Flora's
Women of the Year - Nonprofit
Winner: Charlene Ventura, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
Runner-Up: Susan Howarth, CET
Finalists: Marilyn Shazor, METRO; Sandy Walker, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
Best New Product or Service of the Year
Winner: Cincy Chic, Amy Storer
Runner-Up: Mackey Advisors, Mackey McNeill
Finalists: Herbs and Spice & Everything Nice, Susan D. Stewart; Life Management Strategies, Jenifer Fox-Gerrits
Business Mentor of the Year
Winner: Eva Ambrose, ESJ Freight Management
Runner-Up: Mary Beth Price, Empower MediaMarketing
Finalists: Julia Poston, Ernst & Young; Joanne M. Schreiner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
2006
Women-Owned Business Of The Year (26 or more employees)
Winner: Intrinzic Marketing and Design - Wendy Vonderhaar
Runner-Up: Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products - Eileen Berke
Women-Owned Business Of The Year (25 or fewer employees)
Winner: The Wolfe Practice Attorneys - Jennifer Wolfe
Runner-Up: Blackwell Consulting Services of OH, LLC - Annette Smith Tarver
Woman Of The Year - Corporate
Winner: Denise Kuprionis, The E.W.Scripps Company
Woman Of The Year - Non Profit
Winner: Pamela Mullins, Cincinnati Public Schools
Woman Of The Year - Entrepreneur
Winner: Debbie Simpson, Multi-Craft Litho
Best New Product or Service of the Year
Winner: Bright Future Foods/Ma-Me! - Anne Chambers
Social Entrepreneur Of The Year
Winner: Technology Recycling Group - Elli Workum
Business Mentor Of The Year
Winner: Jacqueline M. Mack - Provident Travel