Nellie Cashman
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The 2010 WBO Nellie Cashman
Finalists

Candidates for the Nellie Cashman Business Owner of the Year Award and WBO Excellence award are judged based on their entrepreneurial spirit, ethics and community spirit, financial management skill, and the difficulty and risk they have endured to achieve their success.  Press Release.

Women Business Owners congratulates
2010 Nellie Cashman Woman Business Owner of the Year

 Susan Kaufman
Serafina, Inc.

 and all our distinguished finalists 

 Barbara Bollinger of Senior Salons, LLC
Jody Hall of Cupcake Royale & Vérité Coffee
Andrea Heuston of Artitudes Design, Inc.
Liz Lasater of Red Arrow Logistics

 2010 WBO Excellence Award Winner

  Susan Huenefeld
Accents et cetera Gift Baskets, Inc. 

and our distinguished finalist

 LeeAnn Huggins of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Barbara Bollinger, Senior Salons, LLC. Barbara Bollinger’s first job after attaining her license was in a beauty salon with a largely senior clientele. After four years she opened her own salon, which she later sold to build another in her home so she could raise her children while continuing an active business. In 1998, Barbara opened her first senior salon, in an assisted living community that had been built down the street, and rediscovered the enjoyment she had found working with seniors in her very first job. When a back injury forced her out of hair styling, instead of giving up her business, Barbara decided to take on more salons and hire staff to provide a unique service – hair care exclusively for seniors. Senior Salons now has a staff of 35 and growing, plus a management team of 3, serving over 1500 residents in 34+ salons in senior communities in the Greater Seattle area. Each salon embodies her loving spirit, reflected in her fabulous decorations for every season. A wife and mother of three teenagers, Barbara is an active, enthusiastic PTA member and double PTA Golden Apple and Golden Acorn recipient. She is also a major volunteer and leader in her community, in the Northshore Girls Slowpitch Softball Association, Cedar Park Christian School, and Evergreen Community Church in Bothell. She also loves to entertain family and friends on every occasion that comes along.
www.seniorsalons.com.

Other finalists

Jody Hall, Cupcake Royale & Vérité Coffee. LLC. Jody Hall embarked on her first business venture at the age of 8.  It involved her grandfather’s pumpkins, a stealthy fleet of wagons, and a modest cut of the neighborhood kids’ earnings.  After graduating from Seattle University with a marketing degree in business and 13 years of work in corporate America (growing Starbucks from 30 to 3000 for 11 years, and working to build REI’s brand beyond membership), she decided to step out on her own.  In 2003, she took the plunge, and opened Cupcake Royale & Vérité Coffee in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle.  Now with four neighborhood locations, an expanding wholesale business, an online ordering and delivery service, and all natural cupcake recipes that are 66% local, Cupcake Royale has truly earned the title of “Seattle’s Best Cupcakes,” while remaining committed to the community and the environment. Noting a rising and substantial cost in employee healthcare, Jody embarked on a two-year crusade for health care reform on behalf of all Americans as a member of the Washington CAN! Small Business for Secure Health Care Coalition The past year (2009) proved to be particularly busy as Jody advocated for affordable health care: She championed her cause to politicians locally and in the White House, while simultaneously welcoming son Truman into her family and opening her fourth location, Capitol Hill.
 www.cupcakeroyale.com.

 Other finalists

Andrea Heuston, Artitudes Design, Inc. Andrea Heuston, Founder and CEO of Artitudes Design Inc., is an award-winning graphic designer and consultant with over 20 years of experience in the design industry. Her unique approach to design management and relationship building has helped to make her firm a leader in the arena of visual storytelling. Her expertise and the amazing skills of her employees have connected her with such companies as Microsoft, Starbucks, Avanade, Big Fish Games, and many others. In 2009, she was honored by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the “Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40.” In addition she serves on the Board of Directors for Olive Crest Abused Children’s Foundation, and has created an art docent program connecting local schools with art resources and instructors. All business aside, Andrea spends her free time with her husband and their young two boys. Travel, beachcombing, and hiking all contribute to the balance she strives for in her life and serves as a source of much inspiration.
www.artitudesdesign.com.

Other finalists

Susan Kaufman, Serafina, Inc. Susan Kaufman, a native of New York, grew up eating all foods Italian.  She is a born entrepreneur, having started her first business at the young age of 16.  Her love affair with cooking, especially Italian, blossomed in her early 20’s, after spending a year in Italy.  This love affair begat two highly successful restaurants in Juneau, Alaska.  During her ten years as chef/owner, Ms. Kaufman introduced Alaska to authentic regional Italian cuisine, from housemade pasta to freshly made gelato.   In 1991, she opened Serafina in Seattle, which was an immediate success city wide and has become nationally known.  Serafina, now in its nineteenth year, is considered a Seattle institution, and has received many accolades and awards, including Best Italian, Most Romantic, Best Wine list, Best Outdoor Dining.  As a business owner, Ms. Kaufman has made well-timed decisions on personnel changes, expansions, remodels, and property acquisition to promote growth.  Her most recent move was to purchase the building behind Serafina to open Cicchetti Kitchen and Bar.  A strong proponent of the local and sustainable food movement, Ms. Kaufman resides close to the restaurants, where her kitchen garden is a source of herbs and vegetables for Serafina.  Susan’s other full time job is raising her 13-year old daughter Isabella, guiding her into becoming a powerful woman in her own right.  Susan lives true to the Italian idiom of bringing people together to share food and wine with family and friends.
www.serafinaseattle.com.

Other finalists

Liz Lasater, Red Arrow Logistics. Liz Lasater founded Red Arrow Logistics in 2003, and in just 6 years it was named a top 10 woman-owned company in the state of Washington and by WPO as one of the 50 fastest growing women led business in America. Liz brings over two decades of experience in transportation and logistics, advising Fortune 100 companies and others with fast growing, complex and high value supply chains in both the international and domestic arenas. She previously served in senior management for Fritz Companies (acquired by UPS in 2001), SeaLand Logistics and APL Logistics. Dedicated to corporate philanthropy, Liz and her company are active supporters of community organizations including the American Cancer Society, The Mission Continues and Treehouse. Lasater earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington and is a lecturer at the University’s Global Trade Transportation and Logistics program.
www.redarrowlogistics.com.

Other finalists

Susan Huenefeld, Accents et cetera Gift Baskets, Inc. After being a stay at home mom and community volunteer, Susan Huenefeld needed to find a job.  So, nine years ago, Susan bought Accents et cetera, a ten year old gift basket business and retail store.  To take the business to the next level, Susan recently purchased a new, larger location for the business, in Sammamish, Washington. She is still very active volunteering for local non-profits, including WBO and Hopelink, and has one child is college and the other in high school.
www.accentsetc.com.

 Other finalists

LeeAnn Huggins, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Two decades ago LeeAnn Huggins realized helping others succeed would become her passion and life’s work. Her appreciation for the economic, personal, and social pressures that affect us all grew as she watched others suffer with financial and medical challenges leading Ms. Huggins to leave an established career with Nordstrom. Her business is dedicated to improving the lives of others.  She charts the course for business owners, families, and trustees, providing financial knowledge and leadership to clients as they navigate their lives.  Her mission is to educate her clients and demystify personal finance. She offers insight assisting clients to gain confidence investing, managing assets and liabilities.  Her approach is practical, based on sound financial planning where risks are mitigated using achievable plans supported by custom tailored strategies.  She believes financially stable; confident members of society are able to go out in the world to create prosperous, happy lives and will help others do the same.  Ms. Huggins earned recognition for her financial advice, planning experience and customer satisfaction.  She is a Vice President and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Bellevue. SEATTLE MAGAZINE recognized her as a 5 Star Wealth Manager in 2008 and 2010 and she was nominated as ‘Most Influential Member” of Eastside Women in Business in 2009.  Ms. Huggins passed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ exam, holds securities licenses, and is a Life Agent and, a member of the Financial Planning Association.  Ms. Huggins serves as a Legacy Advisor for Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation. .She attends the University of Washington and enjoys speaking to groups of all ages.  Ms. Huggins is a Seattle native and, mother of three children. Their family and community activities include Northwest outdoor sports, volunteerism, and walking dogs. www.morganstanley.com/fa/leeann.huggins. 
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC
Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. This material was not intended of written to be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may b e imposed on the taxpayer. Individuals are urged to consult their personal tax f legal advisors to understand the tax and related consequences of any actions of investments described herein.

Source: Crescendo Business Services' FIVE STAR: “Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth
Managers,” April 2010, and 2008, 30,000 to 80,000 consumers most likely to use the services of
a financial services representative (identified by Crescendo) and 4,000 to 8,000 financial service
professionals (identified by Crescendo) are asked to name and evaluate up to three financial advisors.  The number of individuals in the sample varies based on the size of the local market. In addition to the survey results, other evaluation criteria, such as a minimum of five years' financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, and evaluation results by a panel of local industry experts are incorporated into the overall evaluation process. The final list identifies the wealth managers, of those evaluated, in the local market that score highest in client satisfaction. For more information on the rating methodology, go to http://www.fivestarprofessional.com.
ƒÞ The FIVE STAR Wealth Managers do not pay a fee to be included in the research or the final list of FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Managers. 

• The overall evaluation score of a wealth manager reflects an average of all respondents and may not be representative of any one client’s evaluation.
• The inclusion of a wealth manager on the list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Crescendo or [insert magazine].
• The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor's future performance.

Other finalists