The 2009 Nellie Cashman Businesswoman of the Year event was a once-in-a-lifetime party. The entire process started back in early 2009 when nominations for the award were taken. All the nominees spoke at an early morning breakfast, filled out many essay questions and then waited as the judges went through all the applications. When I was chosen in the final five nominees, it was an exciting day! The judges then went over our business history with a fine toothed comb. They called customer references (thank you to Joanna from ProductBody and Debbie from SoapyLove for vouching for me as customers of Bramble Berry). They also called our lawyer and our accountant and asked for tax returns to confirm all the information in the applications. Nominees were judged on our entrepreneurial spirit (35%), ethics and community spirit (25%), financial and management skill (20%) and the difficulty and risk we have endured to achieve success (20%). The other fabulous finalists were Kathy Casey, Marcia Ives, Julie Tappero, Mari Eriksson.
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Before the big event (held at the Fairmont Hotel in Seattle with 350 well dressed people in attendance), there were many opportunities to get to know the other Nellie finalists better. We did panel interviews for the Women Business Owners group, an interview with Chat with Women and had lots of opportunities to interact. All the nominees are incredible women – inspiring, unique, community-minded and whip-smart. One of them (Mari) runs a bead company. I’ve made earrings a few times but when I went into her store to make my necklace for the big night, I felt like a kid in a candy store. And who knows, I may have found a new addiction!
One of my stressors about the evening was the six minute speech that all the nominees had the privilege of giving. It’s stressful to speech in public, no matter how much you do it, and this night was particularly nerve wracking. My whole family was in attendance, friends from the Women President’s Organization were there and several of my business mentors were there. My biggest fear was crying up on the stage. Thankfully, the Nellie committee hired a speech coach to help all the nominees on their speeches and Jean Hamilton helped put my racing heart and fearful mind at ease. I didn’t cry. I made it through the speech and even got applause through out the speech (well, in fairness, my Dad and my Husband were applauded but that’s close enough).
Though I had a wonderful support network there to celebrate Bramble Berry and everything that our team has accomplished over the years, I was not expecting to win. In fact, I had told my entire family that it would be a fun party but that there was “no way” I would win up against such an incredible group of women. When they called my name, I was shocked. I had been so confident that I would not win that I hadn’t written an acceptance speech (seriously). I managed to speak coherently for a few minutes about how important it was that women continue to help women through mentoring and collaboration, thanking my family and the Bramble Berry team and acknowledging the other incredible women nominated for the Nellie. Â
And then, I floated off the stage. It was one of the best nights of my life. To have my family and friends all together in one room, celebrating our successes and then to be acknowledged for the hard work that Bramble Berry puts into helping other women achieve their goals was a once in a lifetime, epic evening.
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Do you know someone in Washington State who qualifies? Nominate them next year!
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Nellie Cashman Award Qualifications.
Nominations are accepted from businesswomen who meet the following criteria:
Nominations are accepted from businesswomen who meet the following criteria:
- Nominee must be a current woman business owner with headquarters in the Puget Sound Area (King, Snohomish, Whatcom, Pierce & Kitsap Counties).
- Nominee must be primarily responsible for the financial performance of her business.
- The business must gross over $1,000,000 and have at least 3 employees.
- The business must have been in operation for at least 5 years.
- Nominee must have greater than 50% equity ownership in her business, unless the company is publicly held. If the company is publicly held, the nominee must be the original founder or purchaser and be actively involved in the company’s day-to-day management.
Learn more about the WBO (Woman Business Owners) and Nelli HERE
