Winnipeg, MAY 23, 2008 – Elizabeth Gage, President & CEO of PCM International Inc. (a market research, ad placement and ad monitoring business with offices in Winnipeg, Vancouver and Toronto), won the Overall Excellence award at this year’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award gala, hosted by Women Business Owners of Manitoba at the Convention Centre on May 22nd. In addition to the Overall Excellence award, Elizabeth Gage also won the Building Business award.

Winners were also announced in the following categories:
Excellence in Service: Karen McMechan, Karen’s Fashions (Melita)
Contribution to Community: Tara Potter, Thompson Water Factory Ltd. (Thompson)
Home Enterprise: Michle Lecuyer-Hutton, Acc’s Direct Promotions
International Trade: Lewena Bayer, The Civility Group Inc.
Impact on Local Economy: Nadine Coubrough, VERICO One Link Mortgage & Financial
Emerging Business: Kristina Poturica, Rituals in Hair and Skin
Lifetime Achievement: Claudette Griffin, L.J. Baron Realty (Teulon)

“We congratulate all the winners and pay tribute to each and every woman who was a finalist in this challenging process,” said Yvonne Thompson, President of WBOM and Principal Consultant at Change Innovators Inc. “Charting your own course by owning your own business brings both challenges and rewards. The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year gala puts the spotlight on Manitoba women who are embracing those challenges head-on and who are reaping the rewards of the risks they take every day.”

The gala, MC’d by Polly Craik, President and CEO of FineLine Communications, well attended, with more than 500 people in attendance.

Women represent a growing economic force in Canada:

Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy: 4 out of 5 businesses are started by women; between 1991 and 2001, women’s self-employment increased by 43%.

The 821,000+ women entrepreneurs in Canada annually contribute in excess of $18 billion to the economy.

The number of women-owned businesses that focus on manufacturing, construction, transportation and communications is growing rapidly

Women Business Owners of Manitoba
P.O. Box 2748
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4B3
Tel: (204) 775-7981
Fax: (204) 897-8094
Email: info@wbom.ca