NAWBO Iowa Awards
Annual NAWBO Iowa
Celebration of Excellence
The Hall of Fame Legacy Award honoree is selected by the NAWBO Iowa Board of Directors. The NAWBO Iowa Woman Business Owner of the Year and The NAWBO Iowa Advocate of the Year are both selected through a nomination and review process. A review committee is appointed by the NAWBO Iowa Board of Directors. This committee reviews all nominations and makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors for their approval. Criteria for all awards can be found on this page and nomination forms are available for download prior to selection. See list of all past HONOREES >>
Woman Business Owner of the Year
This award honors one outstanding NAWBO Iowa woman business owner who has used creative initiatives to overcome obstacles, generate economic impact, grow a successful and sustainable business, and improve the community.
To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must meet the following criteria:
- Must be an active member of NAWBO-Iowa (NAWBO board members are ineligible).
- Must demonstrate leadership by serving on a committee, board or project work for NAWBO-Iowa.
- Must be in business a minimum of five (5) years.
- Must demonstrate excellence as a woman business owner.
- Must demonstrate initiative and creativity in overcoming obstacles in her business.
- Must demonstrate community involvement.
- Must agree to be interviewed and accept the award in person at the annual awards luncheon.
Advocate of the Year
This award honors one outstanding individual or company who has worked to practice, innovate, and effect change by supporting and advocating for women business owners in Iowa.
To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must meet the following criteria:
- Must actively advance women business owners in Iowa (members and partners preferred but not required).
- Must support and strengthen NAWBO Iowa's vision and mission.
- Must demonstrate leadership by serving on a committee, board or project work for NAWBO Iowa.
- Must strengthen the image of NAWBO Iowa in the public and/or private sectors.
- Must create innovative and effective change in NAWBO Iowa.
- Must agree to be interviewed and accept the award in person at the annual awards luncheon.
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
The NAWBO Iowa Hall of Fame Legacy Award was established in 2014 to honor Iowa’s women business owners who demonstrate exemplary leadership. These women are respected for their commitment to leadership and excellence across their business, industry, community, and volunteer service. Their contributions represent a legacy of achievement and an inspiration to others. Each year the honoree is selected by the NAWBO Iowa Board of Directors. The Board of Directors welcomes recommendations for consideration.
NAWBO Iowa Award Honorees
2025
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Barb Kniff McCulla
KLK Construction
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Riana LeJeune
Repinned and the Renewabl App
Advocate of the Year
Karla Rendall
Lincoln Savings Bank
See photos from 2025 Celebration of Excellence >>
2024
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Molly Lopez
IEDA/IFA, AML
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Kendra Erkamaa
Triangle Financial Services, Inc.
Advocate of the Year
Tricia Rivas
Trixies Salon, SBDC Iowa
See photos from 2024 Celebration of Excellence >>
2023
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Katie Roth
RC Research Group
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Jean Jones
Lil' Brother Construction
Advocate of the Year
Amanda Lundstedt
Active Edge Massage
See photos from 2023 Celebration of Excellence >>
2022
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Lori Day
FocusFirst, Inc.
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Pennie Carroll
Pennie Carroll & Associates
Advocate of the Year
Tamara Kenworthy
On Point Strategies
See photos from 2022 Celebration of Excellence >>
2020
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Teresa VanVleet-Danos
President / Owner, VanVleet, Inc
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Cassie Sampson
East Village Spa
Advocate of theYear
Mary Anne Kennedy
Primary Source, Inc.
See Videos of the 2020 Celebration of Excellence >>
2019
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Lynn Schreder
KHI Solutions
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Christy Jones
R Jones Collision 1
Advocate of the Year
Bobbi Segura
Women Lead Change
See Photos from 2019 Celebration of Excellence >>
2018
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Barbara Crowley, Brokers Clearing House Ltd.
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Kimberly Baeth, Golden Openings Inc.
Advocate of the Year
Karen Taylor, Taylored Benefits Inc.
See Photos from 2018 Celebration of Excellence >>
2017
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Rowena Crosbie, Tero International, Inc.
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Jane Whalen, Midwest Project Partners, An Aureon Company
Advocate of the Year
Mo Collins, Mo Collins, Inc.
See Photos from 2017 Celebration of Excellence >>
2016
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Miram Erickson Brown, AE Dairy
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Mary Anne Kennedy, Primary Source
Advocate of the Year
Jayne Armstrong, U.S. Small Business Administration
See Photos from 2016 Celebration of Excellence >>
2015
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Mary Vermeer Andringa, Vermeer Corporation
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Christina Moffatt, Crème Cupcake + Dessert
Advocate of the Year
T. Waldmann-Williams, Ph.D., TWW Consulting, LLC
2014
Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Connie Wimer, Business Publications Corporation
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Dr. Christi Hegstad, MAP Professional Development
Advocate of the Year
Deb Duncan, Iowa Small Business Development Center
2013
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Monica Dolezal, BIZSTARTS, LLC
Connie Wimer Spirit
Terry Hernandez, Chrysalis Foundation
Aspiring Woman Business Owner
Ini Augustine, SocialWise Media Group
2012
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Dawn Lull, Dawn R. Lull, CPA
Connie Wimer Spirit Award
Allison Fleming, Community Leader
Aspiring Woman Business Owner
Kelly Boon, CHAOS
2011
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Michelle DeClerck, Conference Event Management
Connie Wimer Spirit
Renee Hardman, Bankers Trust Company
Aspiring Woman Business Owner
Lori Murga, Just Beadiful
2010
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Kathy Towner, Win Communications
Connie Wimer Spirit
Connie Wimer, Business Publications Corporation
Aspiring Woman Business Owner
Betsey Qualley, Smitten Kitten
2009
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Pam Schoffner, P.S. Writes
