Make Mine a Million $ Business(TM) Awards Newest Class of Promising Women Business Owners at Arizona Event

The Make Mine a Million $ Business program made its first stop in the state of Arizona at an inspiring small business event and competition for women entrepreneurs on March 4, 2008 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Twenty women were selected from more than 1,000 applicants from Arizona and across the U.S. to compete and ten emerged as Make Mine a Million $ Business awardees. More than 400 women entrepreneurs and business experts attended the all day event where Governor Janet Napolitano delivered a stirring keynote address on the tremendous impact women entrepreneurs can have on the state of Arizona. One by one, each finalist presented captivating "elevator pitches” before ten awardees were selected by a panel of judges and a live audience. The winners became the newest members of a flourishing network of 122 Make Mine a Million $ Business awardees and a community of 47,000 more women who share their commitment to entrepreneurial growth; every member of the community has made a pledge to build a million-dollar enterprise. In Arizona, women-owned businesses number nearly 170,000, almost 30 percent of the state’s total businesses, but less than 3% generate $1 million or more in revenues annually (versus 7% for men*). The Make Mine a Million $ Business program’s goal is to inspire one million women around the country to declare their intent to reach revenues of $1 million. If one million women entrepreneurs reach revenues of $1 million nationwide, Arizona's women-owned firms are then estimated to contribute a total of 125,000 jobs and nearly $18.5 billion to its economy - a net gain of over 95,000 jobs and nearly $14 billion in revenues#. "Women-owned, million-dollar businesses are a rarified reality,” said Nell Merlino, founder and president of Count Me In. "The women in the Make Mine a Million $ Business community are the vanguard of this emerging economic force – women business owners are the stimulus this economy needs.” Launched in 2005 by Count Me In, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources and business education for women entrepreneurs, and founding partner OPEN from American Express®, Make Mine a Million $ Business is the only national program dedicated to raising the awareness of the growth challenges facing post-start-up, women-owned businesses. In doing so, the Make Mine a Million $ Business program is leading a powerful grassroots movement that is galvanizing a community of women entrepreneurs from across the country and providing them with the resources and support to build thriving businesses and fuel the economy. Each Make Mine a Million $ Business awards package provides a combination of money, mentoring, marketing and technology tools that women business owners need to help grow their companies. In Arizona, the Make Mine a Million $ Business program set out to uncover the next crop of promising women entrepreneurs and provided a one of a kind business growth experience for everyone in attendance. Select women from the audience were given the opportunity to go on stage and deliver their very own elevator pitches for a chance to receive personalized coaching from a team of business experts. Attendees also benefited from invaluable insight shared through inspiring stories from women business owners during various workshops and panels throughout the day, including entrepreneurial superstar Nely Galan, former celebrity contestant on the hit NBC series "The Celebrity Apprentice.” The most inspirational moments of the event came during the winning presentations. Kay Woods, president of Precious Treasures Childcare, spoke to the hearts of many of the women in attendance by demonstrating how she was fulfilling a much desired need for 24/7 child care. Debra Johnson, CEO of Eco-Edge, LLC, moved the audience as she talked about bucking a trend by running a non-traditional women-owned business while working to protect the environment at the same time. Cathryn Scheeler of Desert Breeze Glass captured the essence of the Make Mine a Million $ Business program when she revealed that she started her windshield-replacement company after being denied a raise by her former boss because she was earning "good money for a woman.” The following ten women were selected as new members of the Make Mine a Million $ Business program based on their ability to build significant and sustainable companies with the growth potential to achieve $1 million or more in annual revenues. Debra Johnson, of Chandler, AZ-based Eco-Edge, LLC (www.ecoedgeco.com), helps diesel fleets and industrial operations function more efficiently and become more environmentally friendly Kay Woods, of Chandler, AZ -based Precious Treasures Childcare (www.precioustreasures.org), a 24/7 Child Care Center that believes children are the "Treasures of the Future” Laurie Myers, of Chandler, AZ -based Coupon $ense, Inc. (www.couponsense.com), a web-based coupon-organizing service Cathryn Scheeler, of Mesa, AZ -based Desert Breeze Glass (www.desertbreezeglass.com), windshield-replacement company Shauna Wekherlien, of Scottsdale, AZ -based SWC Business Enterprises, PC (www.swcbe.com), a CPA firm that handles a variety of tasks for corporate and individual clients Kim Roseman, of Tubac, AZ -based Karin Newby Gallery (www.newbygallery.com), a fine art gallery and sculpture garden Tiana Ronstadt, of Tuscon, AZ -based Power Women Investing (www.powerwomeninvesting.com), provides overall consulting and financial planning services to women Suzanne Miller, of Dallas, TX -based SPM Communications (www.spmcommunications.com) , public relations agency with clients in food/restaurant, retail, fashion, franchising, and non-profit categories Eleanor Whelan, of Tinton Falls, NJ -based Sprayology (www.sprayology.com), produces an all-natural line of homeopathic and vitamin oral sprays that promote beauty and well-being from within Laura McCann-Ramsey, of New York, NY -based Zweave, Inc (www.zweave.com), sells a revolutionary new software solution for two of the largest global product development markets of apparel: Consumer Products and Defense As founding partner, OPEN from American Express has been an integral part of the program’s growth since 2005. OPEN is committed to each and every winner as well as the growing community of the program. OPEN provides an awards package that includes a Financial Health Analysis from a small business lending expert, national promotion of awardees via OPEN marketing campaigns, and a line of business credit. Each Financial Health Analysis provides specialized hands-on advice about the financial condition of their businesses. "We understand the path to one million-dollars in revenue is an incredible journey, and a critical juncture is declaring the intent get there,” said Michelle Thompson-Dolberry, Director of Advocacy Marketing, OPEN from American Express. "All of the women who have joined the Make Mine a Million $ Business movement have taken this important step and OPEN is honored to be a part of enabling their success.” The Make Mine a Million $ Business program has garnered support from other blue-chip national sponsors who are all joining the movement in order to make an impact in women’s lives and strengthening the US economy. The impressive list includes AIG®, Cisco®, FedEx®, Jet Blue®, Marriot®, and Dell®. Sponsors provide an array products and services that serve as invaluable tools for growth. Awardees receive: Coaching, Mentoring, Financing and Community Up to $50,000 in financing from OPEN from American Express and Count Me In. Financial Health Analysis from OPEN from American Express Cisco® Smart Business Communication network from Cisco Systems valued at up to $20,000 for one awardee Discounts from FedEx select shipping and office and print services. Dell Vostro notebook™, built exclusively for small business valued up to $1000 Upcoming Make Mine a Million $ Business Events: Newark, New Jersey - June 3, 2008 Open to women business owners in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Seattle, Washington - June 11, 2008 Open to women business owners in Washington, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. Albuquerque, New Mexico - September 18, 2008 Open to women business owners in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. To apply or join the Make Mine a Million $ Business community, please visit: www.makemineamillion.org. About Count Me In Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of business education and resources for women to grow their micro businesses to $million enterprises. Find us at www.countmein.org or call 212-245-1245. About OPEN from American Express OPEN from American Express is dedicated exclusively to the success of small business owners and their companies. OPEN supports business owners with exceptional service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPENSM, visit OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply. American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. * Data source: US Census Bureau. Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners: Women-Owned Firms, 2002. Published January 2006. (SB02-00CS-WMN). # State-level impact estimates prepared by Julie Weeks, President and CEO of Womenable, www.womenable.com. The state level impact of having 1 million women-owned firms at $1M in revenues nationally are calculated using the national-level rates of a 412.7% increase in the number of $1M firms, at exactly $1M in revenue for those firms, with an average of 6.82 employees per firm. Net level impact calculations subtract estimated pre-existing employment.