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.

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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