2010 Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.  
Member of the Year Awards
 

Emerging Business Award

Christin Butcher of The Cupcake Conspiracy accepting the Emerging Business of the Year Award presented by Kim Ulmer on behalf of RBC Royal Bank and Laura Small, CEO.

Kim Butcher and Christin Butcher are the ladies behind the cupcakes, best friends and cousins, have been tweaking family cake recipes since they were little girls.  A litter older and wiser now, they are baking cupcakes for you weddings, parties, meetings and other events and have come up with everyone's favourite flavours to enjoy.

Kim and Christin grew up in Saskatoon and are excited to own a business in their home town.  They are proud to be a Saskatchewan owned and operated business that made some important decisions about commitment to the community.  The Cupcake Conspiracy proudly donates cupcakes each day to local charitable organizations.  They focus on charities that help feed and house people in need. 

 

Existing Business Award
Linda Ball & Lana Sheppard of Checks 'n' Balances accepting the Existing Business of the Year Award presented by Kristin Lesko of Business Development Bank of Canada and Laura Small, CEO of W.E.

 It started as a home based business partnership in June of 2006 with each partner believing they would work part time form their respective homes while planning for growth over the next three years.  By the end of the first year of operation the business had grown and one partner was working full time in the business.  Growth from quality service forced the partners to look at strategic planning in 2007 as they had outgrown their initial business plan; they needed more staff and more room.  In September 2008 they hired their first staff member and moved into a commercial location.
 

With year over year growth, the company now has a staff compliment of 6 full time, two part time and four contract employees.  Checks 'n' Balances Business Services Inc.  stays true to the original mission:  to provide high quality, accurate, prompt bookkeeping, training and business services to enable small and medium sized businesses to maximize success, contribute to the community's economic growth, and develop into valuable corporate citizens. 

 

Lana Sheppard and Linda Ball have made their company a strong competitor in the greater Saskatoon bookkeeping industry in just 4 short years.


Congratulations to the following members for their noted achievements.

Kathy Bond is celebrating her 10th year in business with the Saskatoon Pilates Centre. Her business is Saskatchewan’s largest and most fully equipped pilates studio and continues to provide quality classes with the most experienced and dedicated teachers.

Shelley Wicks & Jeannie Large of The Quilt Patch won Best New Exhibitor at the Quilt Market in Minneapolis. There were approximately 1,000 booths with a number of those booths being new to the show. Shelley & Jeannie have also recently published a book titled ‘Tis the Season’ and are currently working with a fabric company designing fabric. 

Adrienne Zvacek, Studio 2.0 won a Torch Award for “Outstanding Ethics & Integrity in Business” in the Trade, Contractor, and Home Improvement Services category. 

Brittney Althouse placed third in the 2010 Progress2 Capital competition with her business, The Renfield Trading Company. Brittney has an on-line business that sells gothic and counter-culture fashion products and accessories.

Janice Holmes placed fourth in the 2010 Progress2Capital competition with her business, Just Be Friends.

Dr. Shauneen Pete was appointed President of the First Nations University for a six month term.

Brita Lind and Tania Wolk from Go Giraffe Go Writing & Design Inc., received the Gold International Summit Award: Youth Websites and Bronze International Summit Award: Not-for-Profit Websites Category - www.PlannedParenthoodRegina.com.

SAFbaby.com, a popular website with parents seeking safe alternatives for their children, recently presented Demetria Organics' Soap Nuts with its "Mom-Approved, Child-Tested Green Award".  Soap Nuts is a one ingredient laundry detergent that is biodegradable and sustainably grown.  Marlese Assman works directly with fair-trade growers' cooperatives in Nepal to import the wild, hand-harvested berries into Canada, where they are packaged by hand in a reusable muslin bag.

Information from the September/October Bulletin, Volume 15 Issue 4