NAWBO recognizes top Silicon Valley women business owners
By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

The Silicon Valley chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Silicon Valley Business Journal announced the top 60 women-owned businesses and women of the year during their third annual luncheon and marketplace at the San Jose Hyatt on Sept. 25. The annual "Women at the Top" event featured keynote speaker Donna Dubinsky, co-creator of the Palm Pilot and co-founder of Handspring.

"This is a great time to be a woman," announced emcee Kathleen Ronald of Speaktacular. "We've got some powerhouses in the room today. They are amazing, extraordinary individuals because they had a dream, they had desire. They put compassion in it and created a business."

In her keynote speech, Dubinsky shared her successes and failures, as well as her philosophy for always delivering value. "You want everybody to have been better by virtue of having touched your enterprise," she said. "You want anyone who's done business with you to want to do business with you again, even if the deal didn't succeed."

As expected, much of the talk at the luncheon was geared toward survival during the recent economic downturn, yet impressive numbers released during the awards ceremony confirmed the stamina, stability and determination of the women who run these companies, including two from the Almaden and Blossom Valley areas.

The number-26 seat went to Wendy Buller, owner of Benchmark, a building inspection and environmental engineering firm with $3 million in revenues. "In today's economy and especially in the Silicon Valley, this is quite an honor," she said. "Not only for a women's business, but any business that can achieve growth and success."

Spirit Road Oils took a bow at number 31. Janet Simas, owner of the paving and construction company, reported fiscal revenues of $2.4 million. "It's been a tough year," she commented. "We've all suffered losses from the economy yet I'm so goad to see so many women being acknowledged. It's wonderful that even in bad times, so many women are still able to make their companies work."

Women of the year awards were also handed out to three instrumental NAWBO women, Public Policy Advocate of the year was awarded to Bonnie Bedford-White with Cherry Pie Graphics, Inc. for her work toward the advancement of women business ownership at the state or local government level. Women's Advocate of the year went to Laurel Leone with Leone Advertising for supporting and strengthening innovative and effective changes toward establishing a presence for women business owners. And the most prestigious award for Enterprising Woman of the year was handed out to Joanne Devlin with Black Diamond Paving, Inc. for exhibiting leadership and bringing new standards of quality, substance and integrity to the community as well as women-owned businesses.

"It's not easy to be a business owner," Dubinsky concluded. "It's not easy to balance the needs of your family and yourself with those of your business and your customers. In the end, it's worth it. It's very satisfying to build products and services that help customers. Everyone is better by virtue of you being there."

"Because of you, someone will decide they too can do what you do," added Ronald. "And because of you, we all benefit."

Founded in 1989, NAWBO is an organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all types of businesses and is dedicated to empowering women business owners with a forum to deliver knowledge and information, while building strategic alliances among its members, corporate partners, associations and the Silicon Valley community. For more information, visit www.nawbo-sv.org.