| Women Business Owners is a community of business professionals who motivate and support each other to achieve our individual visions of success. |
Congratulations to the 2020 Award Winners Women Business Owners of the Year Awards |
Spirit of Nellie Cashman Margo Engberg PinkaBella Cupcakes & PB Franchising LLC Margo Engberg is the founder and CEO of PinkaBella Cupcakes and PB Franchising. She is the mother of 5 adopted children Gabe 22, Tycie 20, Jazzy 17, Joseph 16, and Mia 13, the wife of Doug Engberg who dedicates his life to organizations helping the underserved who is currently working for “Acres of Diamonds” serving moms and children in transitional housing. Margo graduated from Seattle Pacific University where she was selected Alumna of the Year in 2013. Prior to PinkaBella, Margo owned and operated a successful house cleaning service. Margo has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Margo’s dream to provide birthday treats for kids who couldn’t afford them fueled her desire to open her cupcake shop, 10 years ago. Margo’s heart and passion is for the disenchanted and it is reflected in the communities she serves. |
Olga Sagan Piroshky Piroshky Olga Sagan is the sole owner of the nationally renowned Piroshky Piroshky. Founded in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market, Piroshky Piroshky has offered hand-crafted pies to loyal fans since 1992. An immigrant from Russia, Olga arrived in America when she was just sixteen. Since that time, she has faced challenges overcoming language barriers and learning to navigate what it means to be a woman in a leadership role, which was not something that was encouraged in her home country. In 2006, she became a part owner of Piroshky Piroshky and took complete ownership in 2017. Under Olga's leadership, the bakery has grown to four locations and a food truck, teamed up with iconic Northwest businesses such as Field Roast, Uli's Famous Sausages, Tillamook and Double R Ranch and introduced Vegan Line as well. Passionate about leadership she got her SHRM certification in 2018 and was picked by Puget Sound Business Journal as a small business hero in 2019. |
Enterprise Business Small Business Gazala Uradnik GFS Events Gazala Uradnik started GFS Events in 2012 because of her passion for helping nonprofits. She has a Masters in Health Services Management and is an entrepreneur by nature. Starting her own businesses was a natural progression of her goals and skills. Gazala really listens to her clients to understand their needs. She loves fundraising and working with nonprofits to help them to reach their goals. Eight years later, GFS Events has become an award-winning company managing large-scale galas and events throughout the Pacific Northwest. GFS Events has gone from producing 2 events in 2012 to over 20 events in just the first half of 2020. Gazala prides herself on excellent customer service and has instilled that in the entire GFS team. Gazala has helped to double and sometimes triple the fundraising goals for her nonprofit clients. It makes what she does every day a privilege and not just a job. |
Kelly Smith Willow & Oak Business Solutions I believe that an entrepreneur with a desire to improve the lives of others deserves to have an abundant supply of sustainable success. Willow & Oak’s mission is to connect honest entrepreneurs with the audience they seek to serve by creating exceptional, authentic content. It’s my privilege to serve the small business and solopreneur community. If you offer an honest service that creates positive change and benefits the greater good, you will be successful. There’s an audience who wants what you offer and they’re relieved when they find you. They say things like “This is exactly what I needed,” or “How did you read my mind?” It’s our job to find that audience, create meaningful content, and deliver it in a way that matters to them. Exceptional marketing is rooted in empathy: It’s about honestly and authentically creating something that meets a need, worthy of invited (not interrupted) attention and respect of the audience we want to make a difference for. |
Solo Business
Catherine Bye & Mariah Lincoln House of Knack Mariah and Catherine are the powerhouse founders behind the House of Knack, a woman owned and queer led organization. Their knack lies in disrupting “how it’s always been done” with the intent of increasing access to business opportunities for people who are too often left out of the conversation such as LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, those living with disabilities and women. They currently do this in 2 ways: Knack Collective – a re-imagined marketing agency, blurring the lines of a creative and strategic consultancy, enabling workforce flexibility while empowering expert minds to bring equity and humanity to work. As they allow more creative, diverse thinking to thrive, they generate radical levels of business success and produce meaningful impact for their clients. Knack Co-working – a reinvented accelerator that elevates underrepresented communities in entrepreneurship and disrupts outdated business culture through the lens of equity, collaboration, and abundance. Rather than traditional “micro-leasing” models, they provide enterprise-level service including marketing, IT, recruiting and advisory support that has long been serving only the elite. |
New BusinessCongratulations to the 2010 Women Business Owners Member of the Year Award Winner! |
 Susan Huenefeld Accents et cetera, Inc. |
Congratulations to the 2009 Women Business Owners Member of the Year Award Winner! |
 Dianne Cumberland Personal Training Team, Inc |
Congratulations to the 2008 Women Business Owners Member of the Year Award Winner! |
Business Writing That Counts! |
Dr. Julie MillerCongratulations to the 2007 Women Business Owners Member of the Year Award Winner! |
 Dena Levine DML Insurance Services, Inc. |