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The 2004 WBO Nellie Cashman Women Business Owners congratulates
Distinguished finalists:
Habitude, which means a state of body or mind has not only become one of the most respected salon and day spas in the country, it has evolved into a space for artists and guests to gather together to celebrate art, beauty and wellness. In 1996, Gray stumbled across a 100-year-old dilapidated building in Oldtown that she transformed into Habitude’s first flagship location. Over the next five years, she went on to open Habitude Fremont and Habitude Uptown. As fate would have it, in April 2002, the Oldtown locations was lost to a fire. Taking this misfortune and turning it into a reason to grow, Habitude at the Locks was born in August of that year. This 8,000 square foot space has become home to an incredible team of artists. It is the only Aveda Lifestyle Concept Salon and Spa in Washington and is the place to escape for the quintessential Northwest spa experience. Habitude is also recognized as one of the most renowned venues for art in the city. In 1988, Gray was instrumental in creating the Ballard Second Saturday Art Walk, where businesses stay open late, promote their products and services and celebrate local artists. Since then the “walk” has grown to include over 50 businesses and hosted more than 100 local artists. Gray’s vision has been to create a place where her employees can discover a career path, have a future and be part of something bigger as they live Habitude’s mission “to love and amaze our customers and each other.” A “sleep deprived yet enthusiastic” mother of three small children, Gray and Habitude has received significant recognition, including the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Ernst & Young, the 2001 Mayor’s Small Business Award, The Salon Association Community and Fellowship Award, and being named one of the Top 200 Salons by Salon Today two years in a row.
Hirai was instrumental in developing the Washington State Cosmetology Apprenticeship Program, a curriculum for a work-based skill certification and the only one of its kind. She also led the industry in the development of skill-standards to up-grade the skills of the workforce. Hirai’s passion and vision for “making the world a better place” and her ability to work collaboratively with public and private sectors made her the choice to chair the Governor’s Small Business Improvement Council. In 2003, she was invited to represent the small business and workforce training position in the Governor’s Economic Development Commission. Hirai authored a “Direct Entry to Work” bill in the 2003 legislative session and successfully passed it to the Governor’s office for his signature. Hirai’s model business practice has been recognized internationally. Studio 904 has been the recipient of numerous awards for the last twelve years. In 2002, Studio 904 became the first small business in the western region to win the “Better Business Bureau’s International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics”.
Kirsch opened her company in 1987, choosing the name Paradigm, which means a model or set of assumptions, concepts, values and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline. Her vision was to structure a company that valued, appreciated and respected its employees. Kirsch believes that Paradigm is successful because of its clear corporate vision that is focused on the customer - the airlines, the passengers and the advertisers - executed by great people. Paradigm’s publications, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Horizon Air Magazine and Midwest Airlines Magazine, have been recognized regionally and nationally with numerous awards for editorial and design excellence, including the 2004 top publications by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Western Publications Association Maggie Award for Best Cover/Consumer Magazine in 2001. Her greatest corporate challenge was overcoming the threat of bankruptcy in 1990, as the recession forced many corporations to reduce or eliminate advertising budgets. Faced with this threat, Kirsch created a new, fiscally conservative business plan to grow sales and control costs and was able to achieve profitability , while servicing and retiring all debt. This approach served the company well since 9/11 and the current downturn, as the company has not laid off any employees, retained bonuses and been able to fund 401 k contributions and profit-sharing. In addition to building Paradigm over the last 17 years, Kirsch has been actively involved in the community, including being named the 1987 “Volunteer of the Year” by the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, 1995 “Person of the Year” by the American Marketing Association, 1999 Seattle Mayor’s “Small Business Award” winner, and 1999Alaska Visitors Association “Alaskana Award” winner, while serving on the Seattle Children’s Theatre Board of Trustees and the Marketing Communications Executives International Board of Directors.
Rice is committed to serving the community, locally, nationally and globally. She has a deep passion for furthering women’s causes and empowering women through business opportunities. She has traveled to Israel, Jordan and Ramallah with the Israel Policy Forum, of which she has been invited to join the National Board. Through this involvement she has recently organized an event and hosted Avraham Burg, one of the chief architects of the Geneva Initiative for Peace and member of the Israeli Knesset. Rice hosted Mavis Leno’s event at Town Hall on the plight of women in a post-Taliban Afghanistan. She has been involved with Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation since 2000 and is a member of the International Women’s Forum. She was instrumental in the 2002 and 2003 delegations to Cuba with Senator Maria Cantwell, which led to a historic trade agreement. As part of this initiative, Rice hosted the Cuban ambassador and first secretary during their week long visit to Washington State. Most recently, Rice has traveled to China with the Committee of 200, an organization of top women business leaders from the United States. She is involved in many philanthropic and arts organizations in the Northwest. Rice serves on the University of Washington Academic Medical Council, is past community chair for the Harborview Hospital Gala for two consecutive years. She serves on the board of Cornish College of the Arts and is currently co-chairing the capital campaign. She also serves on the boards of Poncho the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Rice is a Founding Board member of the Center for Women and Democracy at the University of Washington and has been awarded the Leadership Award by the Global Networking Committee at the Center.
Williams is a powerful ally to buyers and developers in the Seattle market. She realizes the importance of combining buyer satisfaction with developer results, and has pioneered innovative sales and marketing techniques designed to keep buyer/developer communication strong from the opening of the sales office to the final move-in date. From hard-hat construction site tours to buyer breakfasts, Williams created a Buyer Retention Program that keeps buyers and potential buyers consistently involved in the progress of their new homes and helps acquaint them with their new community. Williams also sponsors quarterly Buyers Seminars, designed to help unique groups of prospective condominium and townhome purchasers understand the often complicated real estate process. Her newest seminar, “Purchasing a Condominium - What Women Want to Know,” addresses issues specifically pertinent to female condominium buyers including security, narrowing the search, and getting over the fear of purchasing. Williams began her real estate career in 1977 selling resale Seattle properties, and was later recruited as one of the first agents for a new firm that focused on new construction and condominiums. In 1981, she ventured out on her own to start Williams Marketing Inc. Today, many well-known domestic and international developers entrust their developments to Williams and her full-service team of experienced, energetic staff and consultants. Extremely active in the community, Williams served on the committee for the Olympic Sculpture Park for the Seattle Art Museum, is a past board member of the Intiman Theatre and is active in the Belltown Business Association, King County Master Builder’s Association and Commercial Real Estate Woman (CREW). She was featured as one of the region’s “Smart Women” by Washington CEO Magazine in 1994, and is frequently asked to speak at Seattle area real estate forums. |
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Nellie
2008 
