The New York City chapter of The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the largest collective voice of women business owners in the United States, held its prestigious Signature Awards gala last night (3/18/03) at the Puck Building.
The gala honors outstanding women business owners who have made meaningful contributions to the city's business community and culture. Sponsored by NAWBO-NYC's corporate partner, OPENโ„ข: The Small Business NetworkSM from American Express, the gala attracted more than 250 of the most influential women in New York City, and was hosted by anchor woman, Valerie Morris, CNNfn.
โ€œEven in this sluggish economy, women business owners have been resourceful in building their businesses, employing some 250,000 people and in general, keeping the spirit of entrepreneurship alive in the City,โ€ says Lynn San Andres, president of NAWBO-NYC and president of the Mason Alexander Group. โ€œWe are very proud of our Signature Award winners who have persevered to reach success under difficult conditions.โ€ New York City women business owners generate more than $34 million in sales annually.
Winners of the awards represent some of the best of the best in the world of women owned businesses, vital to our economy, yet often not well known to the general public.
2003 Fast Track Signature Award for a woman in business less than five years: Xiaoning Wong, founder of ChinaSprout Inc., a must-visit website for parents of adopted Chinese children. The site provides a wealth of information about Chinese culture, history and traditions as well as more than 3500 products from China.
Runners up: Catrise Austin, VIP Smiles Dentistry PC; Karen Dalzell, Dalzell Productions; Wendy Gaynor, Ruby et Violette; Adele Horowitz, LiceAdvice, Inc.
2003 Signature Benchmark Award for a woman in business 5-10 years: Veronica Rose, president/CEO of Aurora Electric Inc. One of the first women to hold a New York City master electrician's license, Ms. Rose's company earned a reputation for excellence, opening the door for winning contracts of some of the city's great landmarks: The New York Botanical Garden, NBC in Rockefeller Center, nine subway stations for Air Train and the new wireless voice and data systems at the city's three airports.
Runners up: Shannon Ayers, Turning Heads Salon & Spa; Nina L. Kaufman, Paltrowitz & Kaufman LLP.
2003 Signature Masters Award for a woman more than 10 years in business: Madelyn Simon, President, Madelyn Simon & Associates, the 14th largest landscaping contractor in the nation. Starting in 1978, Madelyn Simon rose from a one-woman shop to her current status as an employer of 75 in a firm that is renowned for its innovative floral and landscape designs both indoors and out in the city.
Runners up: Melba J.
Duncan, The Duncan Group; Adrienne Giannone, Edge Electronics; Patricia Helding, Fat Witch Bakery Inc.
2003 Signature Community Leadership Award for a leader of a nonprofit or community-focused organization: Julie Menin, Wall Street Rising. A lawyer and former restaurateur, Julie Menin founded Wall Street Rising after September 11, 2001 to promote Lower Manhattan as a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week destination for businesses, residents, employees and tourists. The organization's first programs were Art Downtown, the largest public art event in the history of lower Manhattan and Wall Street Wednesdays, a dining initiative that increased business over 400% for participating restaurants.
Runners up: Lynn Brooks, Big Apple Greeter; Nancy D. Miller, Visions: Services for the Blind.
The 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rachelle Friedman, president of J&R Music and Computer World, which she founded in 1971 with her husband Joe. Launched from a small basement on Park Row, J&R has grown into the largest independently owned music, computer and electronics megastore in the country with 700 employees and $315 million in sales.
Nell Merlino, president and CEO Count Me In, a national non-profit organization that has given small business loans and training scholarships to over 300 women, is the first recipient of the OPEN Network Signature Award.
This award, established by OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express, recognizes the woman whose organization shares the OPEN Network's commitment to advancing the growth and success of women business owners. Among her many other accomplishments, Nell Merlino developed the very successful Take Our Daughters to Work Day for the Ms. Foundation.
"Access to capital is a major concern for women small business owners, and Nell Merlino's pioneering efforts have helped hundreds of women small business owners in New York City and across the country gain access to that all-important first loan to help get their business off the ground," said Kerry Hatch, executive vice president and general manager, OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express.
"For her efforts in assisting women business owners achieve their dreams and succeed, we are proud to honor her with the first OPEN Network Signature Award."
About OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express
OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express offers small business owners a wide range of tools, services and savings designed to meet their evolving needs, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital and credit information, enhanced online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an enhanced lineup of partners.
To obtain more information about the OPEN Network, visit OPEN.americanexpress.com or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan.
American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.
About National Association of Women Business Owners-NYC
NAWBO-NYC (www.nawbonyc.org) inspires and empowers women business owners and promotes and supports the growth of women-owned businesses.
As a unified voice of women in diverse industries from diverse backgrounds, NAWBO-NYC seeks to affect social, political and economic change. Founded in 1983, NAWBO-NYC is the voice of the city's 231,000 women business owners. NAWBO-NYC is part of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), which was formed 25 years ago and today has more than 8000 members in 80+ chapters nationwide.
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