‘WE Celebrate’ did just that

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s first WE Celebrate awards honoring top businesswomen were announced at a breakfast today. For those who have questioned the need for women-focused events in the business community, the 600-plus women (and men) in attendance provided an emphatic answer.

The inaugural winners were:

– Women-owned business of the year with less than 25 employees: The Wolfe Practice, Jennifer Wolfe, president. Runner-up was Blackwell Consulting Services of Ohio, Annette Tarver, president.

– Women-owned business of the year with 25-plus employees: Intrinzic Marketing & Design Inc., Wendy Vonderhaar, president. Runner-up was Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products Inc., Eileen Berke, chairwoman.

– Best new product or service: Bright Future Foods, Anne Chambers, co-founder.

– Social entrepreneur of the year: Technology Recycling Group, Elli Workum, CEO.

– Business mentor of the year: Jackie Mack, director, Provident Travel.

– Woman of the year – corporate: M. Denise Kuprionis, vice president, corporate secretary and director of legal affairs, the E.W. Scripps Co.

– Woman of the year – nonprofit: Pamela Mullins, supplier diversity manager, Cincinnati Public Schools.

– Woman of the year – entrepreneur: Debbie Simpson, president, Multi-Craft Litho Inc.

Congratulations to the winners, and to everyone who attended to show their support for the region’s businesswomen. The energy in the room was amazing.

– Cindi Andrews

Editor, WBC

(Full disclosure: Women’s Business Cincinnati was the media sponsor for the event.)