It was not until Caroline MacDougall, founder/CEO of Teeccino and previous Spirit of Entrepreneurship (SOE) award winner, opened the envelope and read “the winner is …” that the 30 finalists learned who was going home with a Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award.
The event, held May 3 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, honored women entrepreneurs from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
The winners in 10 categories were selected from the 30 finalists by a panel of independent judges who live outside the area and are not connected with the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.
Also, Women’s Economic Venture’s League of Extraordinary Women members selected Caleigh Hernandez (RoHo) as the winner of the Successful Women Giving Back Award. Hernandez was awarded a $10,000 grant and a business support package valued at $6,000 at the event.
“These were not easy decisions for our judges to make since we had 30 outstanding women entrepreneurs who have all overcome many obstacles to build successful businesses,” said Marsha Bailey, founder/CEO of Women’s Economic Ventures, presenter of the awards.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Combined, the 30 impressive finalists have gross revenues that total about $18 million and employ more than 300 people in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,” she said.
“They are a great example of the impact women business owners make onto our local economy,” she said.
The previously announced Rock Star: Life Achievement Award winner, Carol Duncan, owner/CEO of Rusty’s Pizza Parlors, was also honored surrounded by family and friends. Duncan was selected for the award based on the success of Rusty’s, as well as for her contributions to the community.
Winners by category are:
Arts & Entertainment
Laurie Gross, Laurie Gross Studios www.lauriegrossstudios.com
Green & Social Entrepreneur
Emily Barany, VISIONALITY www.visionalitypartners.com
Hospitality & Tourism
Leanne Schlinger
Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals www.santaynezvacationrentals.com
Health & Wellness
Carmen Curtis, The Aerial Studio www.theaerialstudio.net
Media & Communications
Jamie Edlin, Hollywood & Wine www.hollywoodandwine.net
Nonprofit
Jen Baron, Girls Rock Santa Barbara www.girlsrocksb.org
Professional Services
Sara Caputo, Sara Caputo Consulting www.saracaputoconsulting.com
Retail
Claudia Cordova Rucker
Aqua skin and nail bar www.aquaskinandnailcare.com
Science & Technology
Shawn Sullivan, Above All Aviation
www.aboveallsba.com
Wholesale, Manufacturing & Online Retail
Andrea Ridgell, Glop & Glam
www.glopandglam.com
Rock Star: Life Achievement Award
Carol Duncan, Rusty’s Pizza
www.rustyspizza.com
Successful Women Giving Back Award
Caleigh Hernandez, Rojo
loveroho.com
The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards also honored high school and college student winners of SBCC Scheinfeld Center’s New Venture Challenge competition.
Proceeds from the SOE Awards dinner went toward cash prizes, in the form of seed money, as well as scholarships for the winning student entrepreneurs.
The student winners as well as the finalists all had their products and services on display at the Student Startup Showcasethat preceded the event and was open to the public.
Major sponsors of the 2019 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards were Montecito Bank & Trust, Bank of the West, Southern California Edison, Santa Barbara City College Foundation, Nicholson & Schwartz, and Wells Fargo.
All proceeds raised will go toward funding the student prizes and scholarships.
— Alisa Robakowski for Spirit of Entrepreneurship.