Laurie Sayles Artis of Civility Management Solutions in Bowie, Maryland Named ‘Count Me In’ Awardee in Business Pitch Competition for Women Veteran Entrepreneurs
McLean, Va. – June 10, 2013 – Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education, and community support for women entrepreneurs, is pleased to name twenty-four business owners as Awardees of its first-ever WVEC small business competition for women.
WVEC, made possible with generous support from Capital One, is an exciting new business growth initiative for women veteran entrepreneurs currently at $50,000 to $150,000 in annual revenues and designed to help them grow quickly and sustainably to spur local economies and job growth in their communities.
WVEC aims to help women-owned businesses across the country grow to $250,000+ in revenue with support through the Count Me In Business Accelerator Program. That goal translates into $75 Million in new economic activity and 600-900 much needed new jobs.
WVEC Awardees each receive a place in Count Me In’s renowned nine-month Business Accelerator program, which provides intensive business coaching and education designed to help participating businesses grow their revenues by at least 30% and create new jobs within 18-36 months. That program will commence for the Awardees in March 2014. Awardees also receive a one-year legislative membership with Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP).
In addition, the Top 20 Awardees each receive Jump Start Prizes, a $1000 cash award to use in their businesses. A full list of the 2013 WVEC Awardees is available at www.countmein.org/WVEC_Awardees.
In addition to the Washington, D.C. Area, in 2013 Count Me In is presenting Urban Rebound pitch competitions in Los Angeles, New York and North Carolina. Additional WVEC events are currently being planned for November of 2013 and again in the spring of 2014.
The 24 Awardees named each presented a two-minute pitch on their business at the WVEC conference and competition at the Capital One Corporate Offices, in McLean, VA on April 25, 2013. 25 Pitch Winners were selected at that event and invited to submit financial documentation and business plans as part of the second round of competition. Awardees were chosen based on their demonstrated ability to benefit and grow through the Business Accelerator Program.
“Our Women Veteran Awardees represent yet another group of women business owners have to the potential to truly impact economic growth in our country,” said Nell Merlino, Founder and President of Count Me In. “We look forward to working with this promising group of motivated military affiliated entrepreneurs as they grow their micro-businesses into thriving enterprises.”
According to 2010 US Census statistics, while women-owned businesses represented nearly 50% of privately held companies, the majority of these firms reach just $50,000 in annual gross revenues or less. In order to impact the current economic recovery, significant growth among these businesses is essential.
About Count Me In
Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education, and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses to million dollar enterprises. Count Me In launched the Make Mine a Million $ Business Competition to inspire one million women entrepreneurs scale their businesses to a million dollars in business revenues in the next decade by providing tools, skills, and the support of a nation-wide community of peers.
For more information about Count Me In and WVEC, visit www.countmein.org/WVEC_Awardees
