#ewawards2026 #enterprisingwomen
About
The Enterprising Women of the Year event is the magazine’s annual celebration of the world’s top women entrepreneurs. Nominations for this prestigious award are submitted each Fall on the magazine’s website. The event draws heavy interest from the magazine’s readership and allows us to shine the spotlight on a remarkable group of outstanding women. The top organizations for women entrepreneurs partner with us to help assure wide support for this outstanding annual event.
The event is co-hosted by some of the country’s top corporations. It generates international media attention for the award winners and sponsoring companies who are a part of this very special event. Now in its 24th year, the program recognizes top women entrepreneurs in categories that include women business owners with revenues up to $1 million annually, over $1 million and up to $5 million, over $5 million and up to $10 million, over $10 million and up to $25 million, over $25 million and up to $100 million, and over $100 million in annual revenues. We recognized 100 outstanding women at our 2024 event. We have also inducted 50 women into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame over the past 22 years and have presented a number of Advocacy Awards to nonprofit organizations and other advocates deserving of recognition.
Weather in New Orleans in March:
March in New Orleans brings mild to warm weather, perfect for exploring the city. Daytime highs typically range from the upper 60s to low 80s °F, while evenings can dip into the 50s–60s. Pack light layers for comfort, and don’t forget a rain jacket or umbrella, as brief showers are common this time of year.
The 24th Annual Enterprising Women
of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference
March 8-10, 2026
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
921 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 70112
2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winners:
Enterprising Women Magazine Announces
Prestigious Awards Program and Introduces List of Honorees
CARY, NC: Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women magazine, has announced the winners and finalists (champions) of the 2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, an annual tribute to the world’s top women entrepreneurs. Both the Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winners and Enterprising Women of the Year Champions will be recognized at the 24th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference to be held from Sunday, March 8, to Tuesday, March 10, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New Orleans.
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 are recognized in eight categories this year: annual sales revenues of more than $100 million; annual sales revenues of more than $25 million and up to $100 million; annual sales revenues of more than $10 million and up to $25 million; annual sales revenues of more than $5 million and up to $10 million; annual sales revenues of more than $3 million and up to $5 million; annual sales revenues of more than $2 million and up to $3 million; annual sales revenues of more than $1 million and up to $2 million; and annual sales revenues of up to $1 million.
For the Champion award category, all revenue levels are represented. While the Enterprising Women of the Year Award winners are receiving a once-in-a-lifetime award and may not apply again in future years, Champions may apply again to earn the Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winner designation.
Below are the 2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winners:
Businesses with more than $100 million in annual revenues:
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- Kelly Skalicky, Stearns Bank N.A, St. Cloud, MN
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Businesses with $25 million in annual revenues and up to $100 million in annual revenues:
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- Beth Goff McMillan, SKG and FOLIO , Austin, TX
- Lalitha Sneha Nandyala, Smart Folks Inc, McKinney, TX
- Isabella Pina, Inspired Solutions Inc., Manassas, VA
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Businesses with $10 million in annual revenues and up to $25 million in annual revenues:
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- Kathleen McCarron, Portland Pet Food Company, Portland, OR
- Dr. Lesley Steele, Steele Veterinary Group, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Cimin Ahmadi Cohen, Idea Peddler, Austin, TX
- Emma Dickison, Home Helpers® Home Care, Blue Ash, OH
- Johanna Faigelman, HumanBranding, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sima Ladjevardian, Earth Stone & Colours, Houston, TX
- Nancy Gail President, Commercial Quality and Food Safety Solutions, Atlanta, GA
- Dr. Kristyn Butler, Ability Matters, Dublin, OH
- Marsha Stone, Foundation Stone Family of Programs, Austin, TX
- Lindsey Haught, HTR Logistics, Virginia Beach, VA
- Ellen Wood, VCFO, Austin, TX
- Kristi Matthews, Promethean General Contractors, LLC, Jefferson, LA
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Businesses with $5 million in annual revenues and up to $10 million in annual revenues:
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- Suni Jani, Community Behavioral Health, Cambridge, MD
- Hannah Hembree Bell, Hembree Bell Law, Austin, TX
- Rachel Formaro, Collabry, Des Moines, IA
- LaJuanna Russell, Business Management Associates, Inc., Alexandria, VA
- Alexis Thompson, River Fox Realty, Richmond, VA
- Christine Hopkins, ASCI Family of Companies, Anchorage, Alaska
- Annette Valle, Social Kapture, El Segundo, CA
- Allison Beers, Events North, Traverse City, MI
- Barb Smith, Journey Steel, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
- Jovanah McKinney, Sierra Sotheby's International Realty, Truckee, CA
- Shaw, Shaw Law Group, PC, Sacramento, CA
- Dr. Ana Everett, SolutionsAe, Inc., Atlanta, Ga
- Jackie Lightner, Lightwork Therapy and Recovery, Woburn, MA
- Sarah Brohm, UA Designs, Califon, NJ
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Businesses with $2 million in annual revenues and up to $5 million in annual revenues:
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- Brittany Quintana Marti, Quintana Law, PA, Miami, FL
- Shaurice E. Mullins, The Elite Group, Inc. dba Elite Disaster Consulting, Mint Hill, NC
- Sonya Hopson, HIRE Strategies, Raleigh, NC
- Thyme Sullivan and Denielle Finkelstein, UNICORN, Duxbury, MA
- Emily LaRusch, Back Office Betties, New Braunfels, TX
- Cathy Lindemann, Evolution Creative Solutions, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Michelle Marks, Ideas On Purpose, New York, NY
- Amelia Cook, Goodwinds Composites, Mount Vernon, WA
- Jenn Kammerdiener, Clearpath Learning Group, LLC, Knoxville, TN
- Lisa Bradley, R.Riveter, Southern Pines, NC
- Julie Brufke Wenger, Phoenix Tax Consultants LLC, Phoenixville, PA
- Audra Brehm, Brehm Media, Highlands Ranch, CO
- Michelle Blackwell Ray, Blackwell HR, Wilmington, DE
- Khaliah Moody, Steady Strides Behavior Solutions, Philadelphia, PA
- Erin Phillips Cukor, Pennington Gray, Scottsdale, AZ
- Joyce Onyango, Informatix Health, Inc, Brockton, MA
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Businesses with $1 million in annual revenues and up to $2 million in annual revenues:
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- Adi Klevit, Business Success Consulting Group, Lake Oswego, OR
- Leila Rao, Cultural Cartography, Decatur, GA
- Gwen Griggs, ADVOS Legal, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
- Salome Johnson Tinker, TSC Enterprise LLC, Suitland, MD
- Yolonda Higdon, HH Logistics Planning LLC, Washington, District of Columbia
- Sonja Anderson, zö agency, Bend, OR
- Michelle Rohrer Lauer, Michelle's Interiors Ltd., Grayslake, IL
- Anne Marie Principe, Affinity Healthcare Advocates, Inc., Fort Lee, NJ
- Rochanne Douglas, Loving 2 Learn Child Care Center, Hyattsville, MD
- Magaly Chocano, Sweb Development, San Antonio, TX
- Selena Fu, RSVP MED Spa & Cosmetic Eye Institute, Overland Park, KS
- Cynthia Grizzle, Artemis Consulting Collective Inc., Safety Harbor, FL
- Lakila Bowden, iSee Technologies, Stone Mountain, GA
- Dr. Paula Anderson, PACE Consulting, College Park, MD
- Linda A. Hamilton, Linda A. Hamilton, CPA LLC and Grow Profit Scale LLC, New York, NY
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Businesses with up to $1 million in annual revenues and up to $2 million in annual revenues:
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- Selena Rodgers Dickerson, SARCOR, LLC, Birmingham, AL
- Nicole Martin, HRBoost LLC, Libertyville, IL
- Darby Affeldt, North Star Resource Group, Denver, CO
- Jayme Limbaugh, Crystal Coast Wellness and Performance, Morehead City, NC
- Kelly Primeau, CEA Marketing, Clearwater, FL
- Denise Jones, J2 Design Studio, Bedminster, NJ
- Que Alicea, Q & A Consulting LLC, San Francisco, CA
- Dawn Barnes, RGD Construction, Las Vegas, NV
- Inna Korenzvit, KORE Accounting Solutions, Scottsdale, AZ
- Bukeka Blakemore, FAVUnite LLC, Overland Park, KS
- Bhawna Aggarwal, Cognifi, Fort Mill, SC
- Wendy Roberts, NorthStar Strategic Partners, Inc., Campbell, CA
- Cathy Dimarchos, Solutions2you Pty Ltd, Newtown, Australia
- Riana LeJeune, Repinned Luxury Upholstery, Des Moines, IA
- Tricia M. Taitt, FinCore, Far Rockaway, NY
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2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Champions:
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- Rosalee Frank Murugan, Blackstorm Security, Sugar Land, TX
- Barrie Cohen, Barrie Cohen Public Relations (BCPR), Denver, CO
- Sheena Eizmendiz, The WellBiz, Coral Gables, FL
- Shannon Sutherland, Simple Impact LLC, Reno, NV
- Lauren Pimpare, Tomorrow’s Women Today, Cohasset, MA
- Kim Miller Hershon, Kim Miller-Hershon Coaching & Consulting, Inc., Concord, CA
- Shay Cook, Crusaders for Change, LLC, Glen Burnie, MD
- Leslie Graham Andrews, Daisy Ventures LLC/Leslie Andrews Consulting, Detroit, MI
- Dr. Kimle Nailer, Nail-Rite Construction Company Inc, Detroit, MI
- Alexandra Suchman, BarometerXP, Washington, DC
- Jacqueline Whitmore, The Protocol School of Palm Beach, Mount Dora, FL
- Hana Alkilani, Hana Kilani Design Studio, South Lyon, MI
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The 2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference will bring together dynamic women business owners from North America and around the world for two full 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,” two women entrepreneurs will be inducted into the Enterprising Women Hall of Fame. The Enterprising Women Business Icon Award will also be presented at the Gala Awards dinner.
The event will shine the spotlight on the work of the Enterprising Women Foundation, the sister nonprofit to Enterprising Women magazine. The Foundation’s core initiatives include Entrepreneurs of Purpose, the Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum program, and the Peace Through Business program.
The event is open to award honorees, corporate supporters, members of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board, Entrepreneurs of Purpose, VIPs in the women’s business community, readers of Enterprising Women magazine, and members of the many partner organizations affiliated with Enterprising Women.
Partner organizations represented on the Enterprising Women Advisory Board and supporting the 2026 event include:
- Women Presidents Organization (WPO)
- Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
- Women Business Collaborative (WBC)
- Women’s Entrepreneurship Institute
- The Global Initiative for Women’s Entrepreneurship Research
- Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC)
- The BOW Collective
- KNOW Women
- Quantum Leaps
- Springboard Enterprises
- National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses (NAWRB)
- Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC)/Women Entrepreneurs Inc. (WE)
- Women’s Leadership Exchange
- The International Alliance for Women (TIAW)
- Asian Women in Business (AWIB)
- eWomenNetwork (EWN)
- Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC)
QUOTES:
“The recipients of the 2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Award represent an amazing group of women entrepreneurs from across the United States and globally,” said Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women and Founder and President of the Enterprising Women Foundation. “We could not be prouder to recognize their accomplishments as CEOs of fast-growth companies, community leaders, and role models and mentors to other women and girls. We look forward to shining the spotlight on them at our 24th annual awards event in March.”
Conference attire:
Monday and Tuesday are business attire during the day. The Gala Dinner on Tuesdayy evening is semi-formal. A short cocktail dress, dressy suit or long dress for women, suit or sports jacket for men.
Travel Information for Conference Attendees:
The conference will take place from March 8-10, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, located at 921 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 70112
Transportation options from the airport to the hotel include:
- Taxis and Ride-Sharing Services: Easily available at the airport.
- Airport Shuttles: Some shuttle services offer rides directly to The Ritz-Carlton.
- Car Rentals: Major car rental companies operate at the airport if you prefer to drive.
Schedule at a Glance
Sunday, March 8
Registration Open: 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Exhibit Tables Set-Up: 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Fun: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Explore New Orleans Tour
Entrepreneurs of Purpose Retreat: 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Honoree Reception and Second Line (New Orleans Style): 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Open to all registered conference attendees
No-Host Dine Around Dinners: 7:15 p.m
(Meet in hotel lobby near registration desk) Open to all conference participants and their guests, Enterprising Women has secured reservations at several area restaurants. Join other conference participants for an informal dinner this evening.
Monday, March 9
Registration Open: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Healthy Start Breakfast Buffet: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Opening Welcome and Remarks: 8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Opening Session: The science of happiness: 8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
General Session: 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Leading your company through change.
She’D Moments: 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Be inspired and learn from extraordinary women like you who share one, single impactful idea, lesson or wisdom from their life experiences of successes and failures. She’D Moments are inspired by TEDx Talks.
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
General Session: 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
The AI revolution: Embracing AI to automate your work and drive innovation
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Enterprising Women Foundation Luncheon: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Peace Through Business Champion Awards: Celebrating 20 years of global outreach
• Entrepreneurs of Purpose: Scaling to support communities and build legacies
• Young Enterprising Women Program: Inspiring and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Enterprising Women Workshops: 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
• How to write, publish and promote a book
• The pillars of raising your visibility
• Digital marketing trends
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Enterprising Women Workshops: 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
• Understanding your finances to gain a strategic advantage
• What I wish I had known about menopause
Welcome Party: New Orleans Style (Ritz Carlton Courtyard): 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy music, food & fun! In case of rain, this event will move to the French Quarter Balcony
Advisory Board Open House: 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Members of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board, Entrepreneurs of Purpose, and honorees interested in joining the board may stop by the Enterprising Women reception to enjoy a glass of wine and dessert with other board members.
Tuesday, March 10
Registration Open: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Enterprising Women Advisory Board and Honoree Breakfast (open to all conference attendees): 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
General Session Panel: 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m
Raising the capital you need at any stage of your business.
General Session Panel: 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The founder’s dilemma: How to know when it’s time to leave and planning for transition
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Enterprising Women Advisory Board Editorial Meeting: 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
The annual meeting of our Advisory Board, open to board members and interested conference attendees who would like to participate in this interactive brainstorming session focused on identifying the biggest challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and a strategy session to discuss solutions to these challenges. Join other thought leaders and come ready to share your best ideas. Opening remarks and policy update from Women Impacting Public Policy and the Women's Entrepreneurship Institute.
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Enterprising Women Hall of Fame Luncheon: 12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Enterprising Women Workshops: 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
• Taking care of your team: what employees want now.
• Wealth management strategies for growth and legacy.
Break: Visit the exhibit area: 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Enterprising Women Workshops: 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
• Momentum lab: shifting from stress state to flow state
• Pivoting to purpose: how to get involved with the Enterprising Women Foundation
• Leveling up your LinkedIn
Pre-Gala Wine Tasting: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy sampling wines from a variety of women-owned wineries while you toast the accomplishments of our Enterprising Women of the Year Award honorees
Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Gala Dinner: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Join us for an exciting night celebrating the Class of 2026 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winners and Champions, the Enterprising Women Business Icon Award Winner, and our Corporate Legacy Award Winners.
