Thirty-Eight Women Entrepreneurs Reach Make Mine a Million $ Business™ Goal

Make Mine a Million $ Business, the only national initiative committed to helping post start-up women entrepreneurs grow million-dollar firms, announced the 38 program awardees, up from 27 in 2008, who succeeded in growing their businesses past the $1 million revenue level in 2009 this year. The elite group of women business owners saw a nearly flawless retention rate as just one entrepreneur dropped off the 2009 list—in spite of the recent economic climate.

Make Mine a Million $ Business, a program of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the leading national not-for-profit provider of business resources and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow micro businesses to million dollar enterprises, and founding partner American Express OPEN, is helping to inspire thousands of women to grow and prosper as the country emerges from recession.

"The perseverance of the women in this elite group is infectious,” said Nell Merlino, founder and president of Count Me In. "The entrepreneurs in our community are the go-getting innovators who don’t take no for an answer and are determined to build successful companies that thrive and survive in this economy.”

"The accomplishments of these women business leaders will remind small business owners everywhere what is possible when faced with obstacles,” said Sophia Lundberg, vice president, American Express OPEN. "On average, women hire three to six people when they grow to $1 million in revenue. Crossing this threshold is not just good news for these women entrepreneurs, they are also helping stimulate the economy by creating jobs nationwide.”

The next Make Mine a Million $ Business event will be held June 15 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ. Women who want to grow their businesses can learn more about the program by visiting http://www.makemineamillion.org/.

The Make Mine a Million $ Business Club:

Awardees:

• Tammy Adler of QWANtify, Inc.

Madison, WI-based information technology professional services organization specializing in developing, delivering and integrating custom business software

www.qwantify.com

• Colleen Bonniol of MODE Studios, Inc.

Seattle, WA-based company specializing in the application of multimedia and lighting design

www.modestudios.com

• Maureen Borzacchiello of Creative Display Solutions, Inc.

Long Island, NY-based company specializing in trade show displays, graphics and event exhibits

www.creativedisplaysolutions.com

• Leah Brown of Aten Solutions, Inc. (A10)

Cary, NC-based national clinical trials staffing company

www.atensolutions.com

• Amelia Case of Universal Health Institute

Chicago, IL-based medical center that provides a unique combination of drug free, non-surgical traditional and alternative therapies

www.uhichicago.com

• Amelia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards

Napa, CA-based ultra-premium family-owned winery

www.cejavineyards.com

• Sandy Corso of Peaceful Company

Madison, CT-based online retailing company

www.peacefulcompany.com

• Theresa Daytner of Daytner Construction Group

Mount Airy, MD-based commercial construction consulting group

www.daytnercorp.com

• Allison Evanow of Square One Organic Spirits, LLC.

Novato, CA-based developer and marketer of organic spirits

www.squareonevodka.com

• Claire Evans of amaZulu, Inc.

Winter Garden, FL-based supplier of natural and synthetic tropical theming materials

www.amazuluinc.com

• Molly Fuller and Anne McCarten-Gibbs of Hands On Gourmet, LLC

San Francisco, CA-based cooking party company

www.handsongourmet.com

• Theresa Hinton of Comprehensive Consulting

Louisville, KY-based company that provides medical utilization review and medical case management

www.compreconsult.com

• Adele Horowitz of Licenders, Inc.

Brooklyn, NY-based lice removal, Natural Product Line

http://www.licenders.com

• Debra Johnson of Eco-Edge, LLC

Chandler, AZ-based firm that helps diesel fleets and industrial operations function more efficiently and become more environmentally friendly

www.ecoedgeco.com

• Virginia Jones of Kinetic Electric Group LLC.

Laurinburg, NC-based electrical contracting group serving the military, institutions and commercial customers

www.kinetic-electric.net

• Lynne Lambert of Prak Productions, Inc.

Chappaqua, NY-based licensed sportswear & accessories company

nycsubways@earthlink.net

• Fiona Macaulay of Making Cents International, Inc.

Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm committed to job creation and improved livelihoods and opportunities through training and services for entrepreneurs

www.makingcents.com

• Tamara Mangum-Thomas of Sharpened Image, Inc.

Newark, NJ-based Human Resource Management Solutions provider designed to enhance workplace productivity

www.sharpenedimage.com

• Bonnie Marcus of Bonnie Marcus & Co., a Westport, CT-based invitation and greeting card company specializing in chic, stylish greeting cards and invitations

  www.bonniesstylepress.com

• Kimberly Martinez and Lisa Harrington of Bonitas International LLC

Englewood, FL-based manufacturer of beaded ID Lanyards, retractable badge reel jewelry and eyeglass holders

www.bonitasinternational.com

• Laurie Meyers of Coupon $ense Inc

Chandler, AZ-based coupon education service

www.couponsense.com

• Suzanne Miller of SPM Communications

Southlake, TX-based public relations agency

www.spmcommunications.com

• Marie Moody of Stella & Chewy’s, L.L.C.

Muskego, WI-based organize dog food company

www.stellaandchewys.com

• Robin Moorad of Imago Associates

Berkeley, CA-based furniture rehab and resale company

www.imagoassociates.com

• Caryn Neary Delgaizo and Erica Lyon of Realbirth Education Center

New York, NY-based pregnancy education company

http:\\www.realbirth.com

• Garnett Newcombe of Human Potential Consultants, L.L.C.

Carson, CA-based employment solutions company

www.hpcemployment.org

• Doris Ng of GingeRootz Asian Grille

Appleton, WI-based Asian restaurant

www.gingerrootz.com

• Elizabeth Perelstein of School Choice International Inc.

Mamaroneck, NY-based global educational consulting firm working with families being relocated

www.schoolchoiceintl.com

• Rebecca Reichardt of Tazzina Bistro

Woodland, CA-based local restaurant

www.tazzinabistro.com

• Linda Remeschatis of Wisconsinmade LLC

Verona, WI -based online retail of Wisconsin products

www.wisconsinmade.com

• Cynthia Rubio of Radiant RFID

Austin, TX-based provider of RFID solutions for tracking assets and people in emergencies

www.radiantrfid.com

• Gina Stern of d_parture spa

Newark, NJ-based business that runs three full service spas located in airport terminals

www.departurespa.com

• Dawn Stokes of Texas Driving Experience

Fort Worth, TX-based high performance driving school held at the Texas Motor Speedway

www.texasdrivingexperience.com

• Maribeth Vander Weele of Vander Weele Group, LLC

Chicago, IL -based security consulting services

www.vanderweelegroup.com

• Sandi Webster and Peggy McHale of Consultants 2 Go, LLC

Newark, NJ-based consulting firm that provides marketing and analytic solutions to Fortune 500 companies

www.consultants2go.com

• Susan Wilson of The Judgment Group

Stevensville, MD-based professional judgment enforcement firm

www.judgmentgroup.com

• Kris Wittenberg of SayNoMore! Promotions

Eagle, CO-based promotional products agency

www.saynomorepromotions.com

• Doreen Zayer of Relax On Cloud 9

Staten Island, NY -based spa

www.relaxoncloud9.com

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 micro businesses to million dollar enterprises. Count Me In launched Make Mine a Million $ Business® to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to a million dollars in revenue by providing tools, skills and the support of a nation-wide community of peers.

About American Express OPEN

American Express OPEN is the leading payment card issuer for small businesses in the United States and supports business owners with products and services to help them run and grow their businesses. This includes business charge and credit cards that deliver purchasing power, flexibility, rewards, savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners and online tools and services designed to help improve profitability. Learn more at www.OPEN.com and connect with us at openforum.com and twitter.com/openforum.

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at www.americanexpress.com and connect with us on www.facebook.com/americanexpress, www.twitter.com/americanexpress and www.youtube.com/americanexpress.