The incredible impact of women in business is being felt like never before. An explosive trend of success and growth is being fueled by professional women determined to make a difference.

Women-owned businesses now account for 39.1% of all businesses in the U.S., totaling over 14 million enterprises. These businesses employ 12.2 million individuals and generate an impressive $2.7 trillion in revenue.

At CEOtoCEO, we have assembled a trio of women business leaders who exemplify success in their fields.

Our CEOtoCEO panel will share the lessons they've learned, the hurdles they've overcome, and the opportunities they see in growing their local companies. The panel will also provide advice and encouragement to young women who hope to follow in their footsteps.

Recent data highlights indicates the number of women-owned businesses has surged at nearly twice the rate of their male counterparts. Women of color entrepreneurs have emerged from the pandemic more resilient and successful than ever.

In 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, women launched more businesses than they closed, and added 1.4 million jobs and contributed $579.6 billion in revenue to the economy during the pandemic.

According to the 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report, developed in collaboration with Ventureneer, CoreWoman, and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the growth of women-owned businesses between 2019 and 2023 was nearly double that of their male counterparts. Notably, the growth rate from 2022 to 2023 surged to 4.5 times that of men-owned businesses.

Merrisa Firnstahl-Claridge: Merrisa is a fifth-generation leader in her family's food and spirits business. She runs Von's 1000Spirits in Seattle and Woodinville, Sharps RoastHouse in SeaTac, and Northwest Spirits Distillery in Woodinville, the only certified woman-owned distillery specializing in blended bourbons in the region. Von's 1000Spirits ranks in the top 1% of restaurants nationally by sales, while Sharps RoastHouse is a beloved SeaTac favorite among locals and tourists. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new spirits, especially bourbon.

Colleen Echohawk: Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee, Athabascan) joined Eighth Generation as CEO in January 2022, bringing with her over twenty years' experience in leadership, community development, and activism to our Native-owned business. As part of her work in community development, Colleen is heavily involved in Seattle's public art and design spheres, while her experiences as an Indigenous woman, small business owner, community organizer, and executive leader inform her efforts in building a community of justice and reconciliation.

Stephanie King: Stephanie is the Founder of Kitchen & Market. "Long before she created her dream grocery store, she spent a career in private-label grocery building programs for national retailers, where days were long and "what's for dinner?" was a dreaded question-and typically, an afterthought. With three stores open and more planned in the Puget Sound region, King has sights set next on growing this into a new national grocery concept.

Moderator:

Elisa Jaffe: Award-winning journalist Elisa Jaffe is a familiar personality on Pacific Northwest television and radio. Over her four decades dedicated to truthful storytelling, Elisa has served as a reporter, anchor, manager, and producer. Her unique interview skills earned her the position of host and executive producer of Seattle's longest-running live daily TV talk show, *Northwest Afternoon*. Her interviews include three presidents, two Secretaries of State, dozens of Hollywood legends and a who's who of newsmakers.