Kootenay Influential Women in Business to be honoured at Kootenay i-Tech Tradeshow and Luncheon

by Keith Powell — May 18, 2012

1st Annual Influential Women in Business Awards.

In the past 15 years, there has been a 50 per cent increase in the number of self-employed women in Canada. There are now more than 800,000 female business owners in Canada, and the number of women-owned businesses is growing 60 per cent faster than the number of those run by men.

Kootenay Business recognizes that this trend is evident in the Kootenays as well, with a tremendous increase in women-owned and operated businesses throughout the region. Kootenay Business is pleased launch a new awards program to recognize and salute the outstanding accomplishments of Kootenay women in business. This new program is called The 2012 Influential Women in Business Awards.

A call for nominations went out earlier in the year and dozens of women were nominated. Kootenay Business would like to congratulate all the nominees. At the upcoming Kootenay i-Tech Tradeshow and Luncheon we will be presenting an award to six of the most influential Kootenay women in business for 2012.

Here are the nominees for 2012...

WEST KOOTENAY Influential Women In Business Awards Nominees

Lisa Erven, Columbia Basin Trust; Pam McLeod, Castlegar & District Chamber Of Commerce; Terri MacDonald, Selkirk College; Truus Zelonka, Gill and Gift in Balfour; Allison Smith, Little Scholar Montessori Pre-School; Barb Blatchford, publisher of the Trail Daily Times; Betty Anne Marino, Executive Coaching & Consulting; Natasha Lockey, Betty Go Hard; Jan McMurray, Valley Voice; Nikta Boroumand, Maverick Design; Kathleen Zubick, McDonalds Castlegar and Trail; Nancy Trotman, Centum Mortgage Centre; Thea Stayanovich, Realtor – ReMax All Pro Realty; Ingrid Hope, President/owner Hall’s Printing; Maggie Stayanovich, executive director – Trail & District Chamber of Commerce; Fiona Richards, Cartolina Cards; Tammy Darough, RHC Insurance Brokers Ltd; Willow Enewold, Pinnacle Accounting; April Cashman, April’s Care Giving For Seniors, Trail; Rebecca Vassilakakis, Krueckl Financial Services Ltd; Jenna Semenoff, The Seed.

EAST KOOTENAY Influential Women In Business Awards Nominees

Sydney-Anne Porter, owner of AG Valley Foods; Diane Sirois, Kootenay Savings Credit Union; Tiffany Gulbe, Thredz Clothing; Cynthia Levagood, Smoking Water Coffee Co. Café/Bistro, Fairmont Hot Springs; Denise Pallesen, Nutters, Cranbrook; Janice Alpine, Kootenay Aboriginal Business Development Agency, Cranbrook; Vivian Ko, That’s A Wrap; Suzanne Pantazis, Notary Public; Marilyn Christensen, P.T. The Clown / Kootenay Energy Advisor.

Everyone is invited to attend the 2nd Annual Kootenay i-Tech event but remember seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Kootenay i-Tech Trade Show & Luncheon, Nelson
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson, B.C.
Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Kootenay i-Tech Trade Show & Luncheon, Cranbrook
Friday, May 25, 2012
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort in Cranbrook, B.C.
Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

To register email Kristin Polier [email protected] or call her direct at 250 426 7253 or 1 800 663 8555 at Kootenay Business magazine. $25 for lunch