Two women-owned small businesses win Ohio’s Key to Success awards

Ameridian Specialty Services is a women-owned general contractor and construction manager whose projects have included the clubhouse at Sharon Woods Golf course.  The firm, whose president is Betty Owens, was one of two Cincinnati women-owned small businesses to win a 2008 Key to Success Award from the Ohio Department of Development. The other was Dr. Kimberly Wells, an owner and practitioner at Wells Chiropractic. The department’s Division of Entrepreneurship and Small Business and the state’s Small Business Development Centers sponsor the awards and winners are chosen in the areas of manufacturing/technology; service; real estate/construction; health care; marketing/advertising/public relations; and a “rising star” who is in business less than five years. Recipients must be female majority owners of companies with annual revenue of more than $500,000 (except for the Rising Star, who must top $200,000.) Ron Carlson of the Cincinnati branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration, says the award and ceremony (held tonight) “recognize the successes of women in business and create an opportunity to get face-to-face with experts that can assist women entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, get government contracts, and move up to the next level.” Writer: David HolthausSource: Eileen Turner, Ohio Dept. of Development