Business Center News

Award Winners Announced at the Sixth Annual Women's Business Celebration

The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center hosted its sixth annual Women’s Business Celebration on Wednesday, October 24^th, 2018 at The Florian Gardens in Eau Claire. A highlight of the celebration was the announcement of the 2018 recipients of the New Business of the Year Award and the Business Woman of the Year Award.

The New Business of the Year Award: This award goes to a business that was launched in the 2017/2018 Small Business Administration (SBA) grant year via services provided by the Women’s Business Center, and that is innovative, interesting, and has great potential for future growth and sustainability.

The Women’s Business Center celebrates all of the 2018 nominees:

Lacey Ashwell, Lacey's Lingerie: Premier lingerie boutique featuring a variety of products for women with or without breast cancer, helping them to feel comfortable through and after treatment.

Brandi Berg, The Bluebird Salon and Boutique: Salon and boutique promoting beauty and wellness that can be achieved while reducing environmental impact.

Carrie Cha, Thai Orchid: Dine-in restaurant, with carry-out services, specializing in Thai cuisine.

Shantel Kristian, Sky Yoga and Fitness: Yoga studio offering a variety of classes for interested yogis of any experience level.

Laura Lash, Shift Cyclery & Coffee Bar: Full-service bicycle repair shop, craft coffee bar, and all-around creative lounge in downtown Eau Claire.

Heather Marble, Blue Marble Pub: Prohibition-themed restaurant specializing in handcrafted, wood-fired pizzas, grinders, burgers, wraps, salads and more.

Winner of the New Business of the Year Award: Shantel Kristian, Sky Yoga and Fitness, LLC

Shantel Kristian created Sky Yoga and Fitness in order to provide a safe space where people could go to relax. They offer a variety of classes and ultimately seek to support people on their yoga journeys. Shantel worked closely with the Women’s Business Center to create a full business plan for submission to the 2017 Jump-Start Downtown Business Competition, for entrepreneurs wanting to open a business in downtown Eau Claire. Her plan proved impressive, winning her the Honorable Mention Award for start-up capital.

The Business Woman of the Year Award: This award goes to an established business owner or community leader who is extensively involved with and supportive of the Women’s Business Center and its mission to assist other women in starting, expanding, or growing a small business.

Winner of the Business Woman of the Year Award: Kelly Berry, ResourceAbility, LLC.

Kelly Berry owns ResourceAbility, LLC, a company offering a variety of services to aid small business growth. She specializes in research, marketing planning, strategic planning and project management. Kelly is passionate about supporting the growth of women-owned businesses, and runs Business Plan Basics seminars in partnership with Western Dairyland, in order to help people learn how to create an effective and engaging business plan that can be presented to lenders and used to guide the launch and growth of a new business.

View Other Articles

$2,500 Grant for New Child Care Businesses in Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson Counties
Read article.

Would you like to become a speaker/instructor for the Women's Business Center?
Read article.

COVID-19 Small Business Assistance
Read article.

COVID-19 Grants for Movie Theaters, Lodging and Entertainment Venues
Read article.

The Women's Business Conference is going virtual!
Read article.

We're All In Small Business Grant - Reopens October 19th!
Read article.

Business Success Story: Sky Yoga and Fitness
Read article.

2018/19 Advisory Board Chair, Committee Chairs and Board Members Announced
Read article.

Thai Orchid
Read article.

American Phoenix Transportation
Read article.

Forage
Read article.

Shift Cyclery & Coffee Bar
Read article.

Get to Know Anneka, Our Fall Writing Intern
Read article.

USDA GRANT TO CREATE 23 RURAL WISCONSIN JOBS
Read article.

State-Wide Economic Development Meeting in Eau Claire July 13th
Read article.

FFATS Brewing Company
Read article.

the bluebird salon and boutique
Read article.

The Music Therapist Company
Read article.

Rebel Writing Company
Read article.

Shear Serenity Salon
Read article.

Eau Claire Pet Care
Read article.

Ramone's Ice Cream Parlor
Read article.

Melnaturel
Read article.

The Sari Bazaar
Read article.

AMK Cleaning Services
Read article.

Eau Claire Business Owner Featured in Report on Women’s Entrepreneurship
Read article.

Western Dairyland Presents Two Awards at the 5th Annual Women’s Business Celebration!
Read article.

Local Winner Announced: Aunt K's Natural Powder
Read article.

InnovateHER: 2017 Innovating for Women Business Challenge
Read article.

Wisconsin Business Incubation Association Announces 2017's Board of Directors
Read article.

Lynn's Chatterbox Cafe
Read article.

Meet Alanna, Our New Writing Intern
Read article.

9 Essentials when Starting Your Own Business
Read article.

6 Tips on Raising an Entrepreneur
Read article.

Entrepreneurship: A Three Legged Stool
Read article.

Are your entrepreneurial efforts on summer vacation?
Read article.

Kurth Valley Fiber Mill
Read article.

Casual Ore Formal
Read article.

Charity's Haven
Read article.

Glaze N Glass
Read article.

Eau Claire Sports Warehouse
Read article.

Atelier Designs by Lucianne
Read article.

The French Press
Read article.

Meet Jake, Our New Business Development Specialist
Read article.

The Attic
Read article.

Earthbound Organic Recycling
Read article.

Mouttaki Consulting LLC
Read article.

9th Annual Volk Field Small Business Conference
Read article.

Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) awarded to the Western Dairyland Business Center
Read article.

USDA Awards Two Year Grant to Western Dairyland for the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
Read article.

Western Dairyland Announces 2015 Women's Business Center Advisory Board
Read article.

12th ANNUAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN EAU CLAIRE APRIL 30th
Read article.

Gladys' Dazzling Desserts
Read article.

Forget-Me-Not Memory Support Program
Read article.

Simply Checking In
Read article.

Woodworth and Sons, LLC
Read article.

2015 Black River Area Chamber of Commerce Election Results
Read article.

Jeanne Kay Publishing
Read article.

Muang Thai: Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Inc.
Read article.

Mikes-E-Bikes
Read article.

ArtBoxx Salon & Co
Read article.

Honey Salon
Read article.

11th ANNUAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS CONFERENCE APRIL 10, 2014
Read article.

GrowthWheel Certified Advisor
Read article.

New Business Development Specialist Hired
Read article.

New Day Yoga and Wellness
Read article.

Children's Learning Village Montessori Academy
Read article.

Badger State Inspection, LLC
Read article.

Western Dairyland Presents Two Awards at the 10th Annual Women's Business Conference
Read article.

Micro-Loan Fund Available to Rural Small Business Owners and Start-Ups
Read article.

Lily Pad Lab
Read article.

Rent-a-Kent
Read article.

WESTERN DAIRYLAND ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF WOMEN OF THE VALLEY
Read article.

Western Dairyland Women's Business Center Receives Donation from Phillips-Medisize
Read article.

WOMEN OF THE VALLEY GERANIUM SALE
Read article.

Anita's Music and Spanish
Read article.

Mounders Cutz
Read article.

Holtz Creative Enterprises
Read article.

LIFESIZE VIDEO CONFERENCE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS USE
Read article.

Rice Palace
Read article.

Saylon 7
Read article.

New Director of Jobs & Business Development at Western Dairyland
Read article.

Chippewa Valley Cremation Services
Read article.

Big River Tile & Stone
Read article.

Schultz's Country Barn
Read article.

Evolve Wellness
Read article.

Straighten-Up Organizing
Read article.

Erin Designs
Read article.

MüD Modular Marketing Systems
Read article.

Swan Lake Ballet Studio
Read article.

Becki's Mediterranean Olive Salsa
Read article.

A program of Western Dairyland. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business
Administration. Agreements for persons with disabilities will be made at all times in accordance with the
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and associated amendments. Arrangements for persons with special needs
will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.
Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals