RALEIGH, N.C. January 2, 2020 – Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine, has announced the winners of the 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, an annual tribute to the world’s top women entrepreneurs. Honorees will be recognized at the 18th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference, to be held from Sunday, March 29 to Tuesday, March 31 at the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

The Enterprising Women of the Year Awards is widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners. To win, nominees must demonstrate that they have fast-growth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand out as leaders in their communities. Many of the honorees also serve as leaders of the key organizations that support the growth of women’s entrepreneurship.

Award winners were recognized in categories based on the annual sales revenues of their businesses.  

Finalists for the award, called Champions, were also named to the prestigious list of honorees. 

Enterprising Women Champions (Honorable Mention) -- all revenue levels: 

·      Jennie M. Campbell, Stewart Steelwood Investments, LLC, East Loxley, Alabama

·      Michelle Murphy, Nice Dog Media, Pacific Palisades, California

·      Christina Pou, Harvest Pack Inc., Torrance, California

·      Michelle Funk Deal, Key Services Inc., Winston-Salem, North Carolina

·      Jennifer Compton, J & L Communications, Brooklyn, New York

·      Cathey Hunter, APX Plastics, Inc., Arlington, Texas

·      Holly Steele, GavinHeath LLC, Greenwood Village, Colorado

·      Joanna Terry, Souperb, LLC, Emeryville, California

·      Sonya Pierrelus, DSSP Consulting, Inc., National Harbor, Maryland

·      Gail Trauco, Medical Bill 911, Barnesville, Georgia

·      Sherri Heckenast, Dirt Oval 66, Joliet, Illinois

·      Monir Jalili, InstantFigure Inc., Irvine, California

·      Mary S. Swenson, PhD, mymedchoices, Hockessin, Delaware

·      Qingyuan Li, Teriyaki Madness, Greenwood Village, Colorado

·      Dr. Mendee Ligon, Ligon Dental Group, St. Petersburg, Florida

·      Deborah Anne Jackson, Pivotal Talent Search, Village of Lakewood, Illinois

·      Wendy Barlin, Barlin Business Solutions Inc., Los Angeles, California

·      Daphney M. Smith-Jackson, Broker Builder Solutions, LLC, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina

·      LaFarris Risby, Loving Arms Childcare and Preschool, Junction City, Kansas

·      Ida Abdalkhani, Ability to Engage, Las Vegas, Nevada

·      Elin Barton, White Knight Productions Inc., Vestal, New York

·      Alison Freeman, Alicomm International LLC, McKinney, Texas

·      Heather Cox, Certify My Company, Henderson, Nevada

·      Emellie O’Brien, Earth Angel, Brooklyn, New York

·      Debra Sunderland, Sunderland Coaching, Nashville, Tennessee

·      Virginia McGann, Value Management Resources, Chicago, Illinois

·      Amy Jacobus, Amy Jacobus Marketing, Brooklyn, New York

·      Roberta Moore, EQ-i Coach, St. Louis, Missouri

·      Tonya Tiggett, Tiggett and Co., LLC, Columbus, Ohio

·      Franne McNeal, Significant Business Results LLC, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

The 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference will bring together dynamic women business owners from North America and around the world for two-and-a-half days of top-notch workshops, networking opportunities, corporate sponsor exhibits, and awards presentations. The celebration will shine the spotlight on honorees, with award presentations at the Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Gala Dinner. During the annual "Hall of Fame Luncheon,” one woman entrepreneur and one nonprofit leader will be inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame.

In honor of the 20^th anniversary of Enterprising Women magazine under the leadership of Monica Smiley, Publisher/CEO, 20 past recipients of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award will be honored with the Enterprising Women "Top 20 in 2020 Award” and recognized at a special reception held in their honor.

The event is open to 2020 award honorees, alumni (previous) award winners, corporate supporters, members of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board, VIPs in the women’s business community, readers of Enterprising Women magazine, and members of the many partner organizations affiliated with Enterprising Women.