Center for Women & Enterprise Announces 10 Women-Owned Business Challenge Finalists

    BOSTON, MA, October 15, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), a nationally-renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in business, announced the names of ten New England women-owned businesses that will compete for two $12,500 prize packages at the 9th Annual CWE Women Business Leaders Conference on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Eighty-eight women-owned businesses from throughout New England entered the competition. Each eligible application was judged on viability, competitiveness, scalability, realism, management experience, and professionalism. Ten finalists will give ten-minute pitch presentations to a panel of judges comprised of local business leaders.

Finalists:
• Bixby & Co. (Rockport, ME)
• Celadon Road, Inc. (North Attleboro, MA)
• Femme Forte, LLC (Fall River, MA)
• FireFlower Alternative Energy (Boston, MA)
• GreenestBeans.com (Kennebunk, ME)
• JHill Design (Boston, MA)
• Labyrinth Psychological Services PC (Holden, MA)
• The Dinner Daily LLC (Westford, MA)
• The Third Piece (South Boston, MA)
• TheDailyBasics.com (Middletown, RI)

"The Center for Women & Enterprise organized the 2015 CWE Women-Owned Business Challenge to promote the advancement of early-stage and growing women-owned businesses in New England," said Susan Rittscher, President and CEO of the Center for Women & Enterprise. "We applaud every applicant, we congratulate our Finalists, and we look forward to the final presentations!"

The two prize packages are comprised of cash as well as professional services donated by Astia Angels, Barba CFO, Beacon Innovation Group, Celia Slattery, Gesmer Updegrove LLP, Julie Levin Coaching & Consulting, JustJump Marketing, More Advertising, Research Rockstar, The Castle Group, and WeWork.

About the CWE Women Business Leaders Conference

Hundreds of business professionals will converge at New England's premier educational and networking event for women business leaders and supplier diversity professionals. This year's conference theme is "Paths to Possibilities," featuring interactive workshops and networking opportunities with Fortune 500 corporations, women business leaders, and community advocates who support women's economic empowerment in New England. The event will also include the Women-Owned Business Challenge Finals and the annual CWE Awards Luncheon where business and community leaders will be recognized for their achievements in promoting and furthering the success of women in business in New England.

About the Center for Women & Enterprise
The Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE), a nonprofit organization founded in 1995, provides opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women in business to increase professional success, personal growth, and financial independence. With offices in Boston and Worcester, MA, Providence, RI, and Nashua, NH, CWE supports women's businesses throughout New England through education, consulting, strong corporate-community relationships, and WBENC certification. Since its founding twenty years ago, CWE has trained more than 33,500 women (and men), helped entrepreneurs create and/or nurture more than 36,800 jobs, and helped entrepreneurs generate over $1 billion in wages. CWE is also the New England Regional Partner Organization for the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). http://www.cweonline.org

More information about the CWE Women-Owned Business Challenge can be found at http://www.cweonline.org/2015Challenge

Event Keynote Speakers:
Robin Chase, Co-Founder, Zipcar
Helen Greiner, Co-Founder, iRobot
Joanna Meiseles, Founder, Snip-its

Event Date and Location:
October 22-23, 2015
Sheraton Hotel, Framingham, MA

More information about the conference can be found at http://www.cweonline.org/wblc

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