2005 Business and Professional Woman of the Year nominees
Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network
holds annual awards
by NWBM staff
Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network have named its 2005 Business and Professional Woman of the Year nominees.
Coinciding with National Businesswomen’s Week, the Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network is holding its 21st annual S.W.A.N. Banquet to honor the 2005 Business and Professional Woman of the Year. McIntyre Hall at Skagit Valley College on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m.
Last year’s winner was Lisa Janicki, chief financial officer for both Janicki Industries and Janicki Logging and Construction. Five business professionals have been nominated for the award this year, which is chosen by a panel of judges from S.W.A.N.
The following is a list of the nominees and a brief look at their recent accomplishments.
Bonnie J. Anderson,
owner and president,
Anderson Electric
Bonnie Anderson has owned Anderson Electric since 1981 when she and her husband still lived on the Olympic Peninsula. Moving to Skagit County in 1987, Anderson found that there weren’t many women involved in the construction industry. Since then, she has worked to put customer service first in her business, as well as mentoring other women.
Anderson has been heavily involved in the area for the past several years, earning “Small Business of the Year” from the Small Business Association in 2001, and working as executive director of the Mount Vernon Downtown Business Community. Anderson is also involved with the Mount Vernon Rotary, Leadership Skagit’s recruitment committee, the Celtic Arts Foundation’s Highland Games, and the Children’s Museum of Skagit County.
Jeanne M. Youngquist,
co-owner,
Mike and Jean’s Berry Farm
Jeanne Youngquist knows her berries. As co-owner of Mike and Jean’s Berry Farm since 1969, Youngquist has seen many harvests come and go. This longevity has allowed Youngquist to be heavily involved with different agriculture organizations such as the Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland and the Skagit County Farm Bureau.
While Youngquist knows her berries, that doesn’t keep her from paying attention to the farm’s workers, which totals approximately 300 seasonal workers per year. She’s founded “The Berry Good School,” an award-winning non-profit pre-school and daycare serves seasonal workers’ children from infant to 12-year-old. Their berry farm provides housing for seasonal harvest employees and features a park for their workers with a playground, soccer lawn, basketball court, and covered picnic areas.
Apart from agriculture, she’s also been heavily involved throughout the community in a number of organizations including the United Way of Skagit County, Skagit Valley YMCA, and the Washington State Housing Authority.
Cheryl A. Lee,
operations manager,
San Juan Rehab and Care Center
Cheryl Lee is trying to change the face of nursing homes. In 2002 and 2003, she was awarded the Hope Award by the owners of her company for launching a new concept called “Eden Alternative,” where residents are allowed to wake-up when they want, choose their meals, have pets and plants, and more visitors on a daily basis. This effort has landed her on a national radio show, as well as a local television station. She said this innovative program has promoted more continuity with staff, less absenteeism, more teamwork and stability.
Lee also supports her employees by offering to further their education by paying for tuition and books.
Amongst her many volunteer activities, Lee has served as the president of Anacortes’ Soroptimist Club, and worked with the Salvation Army on food drives. She also serves on the board of a local community shelter and volunteer’s at the public library’s bookstore. She is currently trying to bring a homeless shelter to the Anacortes area.
Laura F. Cailloux,
director,
Skagit Valley College Business
& Community Development
Laura Cailloux is all about business education. As director of Skagit Valley College’s Business Resource Center, Cailloux places a premium on education and leadership programs for the region’s business community. Since 2003, she’s increased the program offerings by over 200 percent.
Cailloux also launched Leadership Skagit, a nine-month community leadership development that received the 2004 Washington State Governor’s Award for Economic Development. She also helped develop a Latino Business Retention and Expansion program in Skagit County, which has met with 110 Latino-owned businesses in 229 meetings. Cailloux is also involved in the Mount Vernon Rotary service club.
Pat Grenfell,
owner,
City Bakery, Café, and Catering
Pat Grenfell is a former schoolteacher turned bakery owner whose business interests go beyond perfect pastries. After taking the helm of the historic City Bakery from 1984 to 2004, Grenfell eventually closed the 109-year-old business after not being able to find a buyer. During her time at the bakery, Grenfell invested in her employees by mentoring her part-time first job workforce on professional standards, many of whom have returned since to thank her for her contribution to their careers. Among her past employees, she lists a professional city planner, Boeing programmer, teacher, and an insurance broker.
The bakery also participated in the Restaurant Walk – a Bite of Downtown Mount Vernon for 14 years.
Now in retirement, she’s listing her occupation as “community volunteer.” Keeping to her word, she’s involved in the Rotary, the Mount Vernon Downtown Business Community, the Skagit Valley Hospital Board, and the Mona Annual Auction Culinary Committee among others. She’s also involved in the Sedro-Woolley School District citizen’s Committee and Site Based Council.
.