{"id":8230,"date":"2023-05-11T18:26:37","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T18:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=8230"},"modified":"2023-05-11T18:26:37","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T18:26:37","slug":"the-annual-wedo-awards-recognize-outstanding-area-business-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/11\/the-annual-wedo-awards-recognize-outstanding-area-business-women\/","title":{"rendered":"The Annual WEDO Awards Recognize Outstanding Area Business Women"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Ambrea Mikolajczyk, Jera Stewart and Tina Butts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Angie Hayes<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Northwest Ohio Women\u2019s Business Council held an event to encourage, celebrate and support women entreprenuers who have achieved successful outcomes and have contributed to the economic atmosphere in our community.<\/p>\n

The event was scheduled to award selected women business owners for their contributions to the community. The Women\u2019s Entrepreneurial Distinction Ovation Award (WEDO Awards) was arranged to establish impactful results in the community. The WEDO Awards are provided to support the success of the women who were nominated and selected for the win and also provided to share the inspirational stories of each woman entrepreneur who achieved success, despite struggles or obstacles.<\/p>\n

Northwest Ohio Women\u2019s Business Council is an active member and contributor to the Women of Toledo\u2019s Economic Development Initiative.\u00a0 A non-profit established in 2014, \u2018Inclusive For Women Inc.\u2019 is currently dba <\/u>Women of Toledo: a local 501c3 nonprofit that supports the women of the community, by providing programs and services that address any barriers to women\u2019s growth and economic successful progress.<\/p>\n

All of the women from The Women\u2019s Business Council, committed to the cause of supporting the community women, are acknowledged by The Women of Toledo program! All participants of both The Women\u2019s Business Council and The Women of Toledo have provided support to\u00a0 women everywhere in the community.<\/p>\n

Many women were nominated and judges created a process to select the honorees for the 2023 award ceremony. The WEDO Award event was set up to share the inspiring stories of the five selected award winners: local women who have followed their dreams, established jobs and contributed to the community.<\/p>\n

\"\"The beginning of the event consisted of networking: time to communicate with all attendees present in the facility and celebrate the success of women. The hosts established a networking room offering food, drinks, and a band providing musical entertainment.\u00a0 The communication\/networking session was an opportunity to speak with the women who are committed to the community. The networking also provided motivation to others to activate community contribution!<\/p>\n

\u201cNominations are now open for 2024, so push for successful entrepreneurs who have a successful impact in our community,\u201d said Sena Friedman, co-chair of the Women\u2019s Business Council. \u201cIt\u2019s important that their stories get told to help the women in our community.\u00a0 Celebrating these five incredible women, who have had an economic impact on our community, is truly an honor! This year\u2019s winners represent the entrepreneurial spirit that creates change and growth. These five women are truly a blessing to our economic development. Than you to ALL who have contributed to make today happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reception ended after the networking time and the Award presentation began. The reception period was created by numerous volunteers and various sponsors. Sponsor recognition was provided throughout the atmosphere to acknowledge all who contributed to the event; appreciation was acknowledged to all volunteers as well as all sponsors.<\/p>\n

The beginning of the award ceremony began with introductions and knowledge provided for understanding of the successful women involved.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cHere to celebrate great women. We have such excellent judges,\u201d said Olivia Holden, committee chair for WEDO Judges.<\/p>\n

The WEDO judges included Dr. Soon-Young Yoon, Athena Golianis, Crystal Harris Darnell, Pamela J. Moore and Deborah Barnett.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe judges are very active in our community. The co-chair, Sandy Spang, brings experience and her passion for small business owners. Especially women! Co-chair Sena Mourad-Friedman, is a motivation!\u201d said Kathy Tucker, vice president Women of Toledo.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s honorees are: Noor Alexandria Abukaram; Erin Curley; Ambrea Mikolajczyk; Jeraldine Stewart and Tina Butts.<\/p>\n

Abukaram, the founder of Let Noor Run, is the year\u2019s Rising Star awardee \u2013 a woman who is 25 or younger who has founded a successful business with promises for the future.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cI am grateful for the recognition and humbled to be amongst such incredible women entrepreneurs,\u201d said Abukaram. \u201cThis award not only celebrates our achievements but also ignites a flame of hope in aspiring entrepreneurs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Curley, the owner and inspiration of Engage Studio Architects, is this year\u2019s recipient of the Second Act Award \u2013 a woman who draws inspiration from previous life and work experiences to find success as an entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving back, volunteering your time, not being paid: gives back,\u201d said Curley. \u201cThanks you to those who nominated me. I have three quick words to share: Be Feisty, Be Fierce, Be Fearless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mikolajczyk, owner of ARK Restoration and Construction, is the Trailblazer Awardee \u2013 an innovator, creator and leader who has broken new ground as a woman entrepreneur<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel so incredibly honored to receive this inaugural award, to be recognized for the hard work I do in the community restoring forgotten architecture and contributing to many causes in order to move the needle forward in my hometown is something I will always treasure,\u201d said Mikolajczyk. \u201cA trailblazer to me is someone who presses forward! Thank you to The Women of Toledo. I know that God has me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Stewart, owner of Jera\u2019s Heavenly Sweet Bakery, is the Thriver awardeee \u2013 a woman whose entrepreneurial leadership has grown and sustained a business meeting increasingly higher levels of achievement in revenue, job creation and market share.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning this award just solidifies the fact for me that, with God, ALL things are possible,\u201d said Stewart. \u201cFor anyone interested in a business, make sure it\u2019s your passion!\u201d<\/p>\n

Butts, owner of Tina Butts Bail Bonds Service and founder of The Movement, is the Legend awardee \u2013 a woman we celebrate for a lifetime of entrepreneurial achievement, community impact and support of the success of others.<\/p>\n

Award winner Tina Butts:<\/u> \u201c I transform every passion that I have into a business. That\u2019s why I love what I do and I hope to inspire you!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Women\u2019s Business Council strives to promote, support and celebrate entrepreneurship in the community.\u00a0 The 2023 WEDO Awards are the beginning of a new tradition. Nominations for 2024 WEDO Awards are open now! All are invited to nominate a woman entrepreneur or yourself for the future 2024 WEDO Awards. Nominations are possible at NWOWBC.com. The future plans will continue to recognize and acknowledge the excellence of women entrepreneurs in our community, to support improvement and growth in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Angie Hayes The Truth Reporter The Northwest Ohio Women\u2019s Business Council held an event to encourage, celebrate and support women entreprenuers who have achieved successful outcomes and have contributed to the economic atmosphere in our community. The event was scheduled to award selected women business owners for their contributions to the community. The Women\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,17],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[174],"class_list":["post-8230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy","category-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8230"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8235,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8230\/revisions\/8235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8230"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=8230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}