Governor Rendell Announces Winners of Annual Best 50 Women in Business

Affirms Commitment to Help Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CEOs, partners-in-charge, and senior vice presidents are among the winners of the 2008 Best 50 Women in Business Award, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

"Once again this year, choosing just 50 women out of all the worthy nominees we received wasn't easy," Governor Rendell said. "Whether it's the founder of a professional development firm, or the partner in charge of a global firm, or the president of a bakery, all of the winners have one thing in common - they're all hard-working people who are making Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, and play."

An independent panel of judges selected the top 50 candidates based on their dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women in business. Recipients must also be a female resident of Pennsylvania, be employed in the state as an owner, partner, president, chief executive officer, board chair, in a senior executive management-level position, or a woman with significant authority in decision-making in a business or company.

Honorees will be invited to several events on May 19, including an evening reception at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg. Winners will be highlighted in special supplements in several business journals throughout the commonwealth.

The Governor noted that as the nation's economy appears to be faltering, his administration continues to develop ways to help Pennsylvania's businesses weather any downturn and thrive.

Earlier this month, he launched the Pennsylvania Business Opportunities Fund, a $2 million pilot program designed to provide loans and technical assistance to minority- and women-owned businesses in 13 counties across Pennsylvania. The program is open to businesses in the Community First Fund's service area. Based on this pilot, similar funds may be available statewide in the future.

"The Business Opportunities Fund will help entrepreneurs who are sometimes shut out of traditional lending programs," the Governor said.

For additional information on the Best 50 Women in Business, the Pennsylvania Business Opportunities Fund, or other funding sources available to businesses through DCED, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of the 2008 award winners follows:

Allegheny County

Audrey L. Brourman, founder, owner and president, A.L. Brourman Associates Inc., Pittsburgh

Laura E. Ellsworth, partner-in-charge, Jones Day, Pittsburgh

Diane P. Holder, executive vice president, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh

Linda Ruckert, owner, Linda's Imprinted Products, Pittsburgh
Sharon Scheidemantle, broker of record, Achieve Realty Inc., Wexford
Sandy E. Simon, owner and artist, Kiln-in-Time Studios, Pittsburgh

Berks County
Deborah A. Kintzer, senior vice president, Westlawn Graphics, Reading

Anne L. Stevens, chairman, president and CEO, Carpenter Technology Corporation, Reading

Blair County
Bonnie Lee Hand, president, Blair Insurance Services Inc., Altoona
Amy B. Seltzer, owner, Seltzer Financial Strategies LLC, Altoona

Bucks County
Ramila Philip, Ph.D., Immunotope Inc., Doylestown
Gina F. Rubel, esquire, Furia Rubel Communications Inc., Doylestown
Donna E. Teitelman, president, Impact Executive Consulting LLC, Richboro

Butler County
Victoria A. Hinterberger, CEO, Butler County Radio Network Inc., Butler

Ann F. Morrison, senior vice president, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, Butler

Centre County

Jessica Dolan, owner, Room to Breathe Home and Office Organizing, Bellefonte

Chester County

Kimberly J. Brumbaugh, president, Brumbaugh Wealth Management Group, Glenmoore

Bronwyn L. Martin, financial advisor, Amerprise Financial Service Inc., Kennett Square

Cumberland County

Tammy L. Shearer, vice president, Shearer Enterprises d/b/a The Camera Box, Camp Hill

Dauphin County
Linda Harvey-Burkley, principal, Ardis Communications, Harrisburg
Rhonda R. Hess, president and CEO, Rhonda Hess Associates LLC, Hershey

Janice L. Holsinger, owner, founder, and chairperson, U-GRO Learning Centres Inc., Harrisburg

Deborah Saline, principal and COO, PR Works Inc., Harrisburg

Delaware County
Mildred E. Bell, president and CEO, Skin Health Solutions, Edgemont
Mary L. Catona, president and CEO, Retriever Waste Management, Media
Marlene Weinberg, owner and operator, McDonalds, Villanova

Erie County

Misty O'Connor, founder, owner and president, Point Click Learn Inc., McKean

Lackawanna County
Sunita Arora, president and owner, ERA One Source Realty, Clarks Summit

Lancaster County
Marilyn Hedge, vice president, Susquehanna Bank, Lancaster
Sarah Young Fisher, president, Kuntz Lesher Capital LLC, Lancaster

Lebanon County
Anna Lynn Skamangas, president, The Baklava Goddess Inc., Schaefferstown

Montgomery County

Janet B. Cunningham, president and CEO, JBC Associates Inc., King of Prussia

Patricia H. Imbesi, founder and president, Patriarch Management, North Wales

Patricia J. Owens, chief strategy officer, Decision Strategies International, Conshocken

Ilyse Shapiro, founder, MyPartTimePRO.com, Wynnewood
Bonnie Squires, president, Squires Consulting, Wynnewood

Philadelphia County
Autumn Bayles, senior vice president, Tasty Baking Company, Philadelphia

Leslie Esdaile Banks, author and entrepreneur, Leslie Esdaile Banks LLC, Philadelphia

Deborah M. Fretz, president and CEO, Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., Philadelphia

Iola Harper, president, In Good Company LLC, Philadelphia

Vernoca L. Michael, CEO and president, The Legendary Blue Horizon, Philadelphia

Keirra Strayhorn White, owner, Copper Desserts LLC, Philadelphia
Kimberly R. Williams, principal, KlingStubbins, Philadelphia

Pike County
Ellen Cabaniss Bawc, owner and president, La Tienda Inc., Milford

Union County

Erica L. Shames, editor and publisher, Susquehanna Life Magazine, Lewisburg

Washington County

Sherri Hewitt-Laird, president and CEO, The Caring Mission Inc., Washington

Westmoreland County
Carol Boerio Croft, owner and CCO, Cozy Inn Pet Resort, Stahlstown
Candy D. Valentino, founder and owner, Platinum Salon and Spa, Greensburg

York County
Lynne Grote Briel, president and founder, The Professional Edge, York
Anne E. Zerbe, attorney, CGA Law Firm, York

CONTACT:
Teresa Candori
717-783-1116

Janel Miller (DCED)
717-783-1132

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Teresa Candori of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,
+1-717-783-1116; or Janel Miller (DCED), +1-717-783-1132

Web Site: http://www.newpa.com/
http://www.state.pa.us/

2008-03-25 09:13:47 0319532 PRNEWSWIRE