Women In Business 2010

The 2010 Women in Business Achievement Awards are designed to celebrate women who have been successful in their business and careers, have made a significant impact on the business community and local economy and have served as mentors and examples to others.

A panel of judges will review the nominations to select the women, who will be profiled in a special issue of Inside Business. The women will also be honored at a luncheon on Dec. 13. Deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Sept. 28.

– Carol Lichti, Editor of Inside Business

Scroll down to meet the honorees.
Learn more about each honoree by clicking on her name or photo.

Amy Przymuzala, Owner and president of Coastal Management Solutions Inc., Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The company does outsourcing, staffing, consulting and executive coaching.

Home and family Virginia Beach; husband Jason and two energetic boys named Mason, 5, and Miles, 2.
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Angela Reddix, President and CEO of A. Reddix & Associates Inc., Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The multimillion dollar health care management consulting firm provides compliance, communication and education solutions for some of the nation's most complex health care management challenges.

Home and family Chesapeake; husband Carl, daughters Anyssa and Ayla, son Ahmon.
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Arlene F. Klinedinst, Attorney with Vandeventer Black LLP, Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

Position/company Represents and advises employers on all types of labor and employment matters.

Home and family Norfolk; husband Tom Baragona; daughter Anna Baragona; cat, Maxwell Smart Baragona.
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Ava L. Benson, Mission support manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Responsible for providing support to a 550-employee workforce that executes primary missions of engineering, construction and water resource management for the commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. I direct and lead a 60-person support division overseeing support functions of contracting, information management, human resources, logistics, equal employment opportunity and security. I serve as principal adviser to the commanding officer of the Norfolk District and serve as member of the board of directors for corporate governance of the organization.
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Barbara Taylor, Deputy for small business for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Provides technical support and leadership to 12 full-time small business deputies and approximately 60 part-time small business specialists across the command.

Home and family Chesapeake; married to Mike for 28 wonderful years. We have two children who we are very proud of: John Michael, 25, and Janie Leigh, 22. Fluffy is our 17-year-old angora cat.
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Betty Lu, Manager and owner of DanceSportVA, Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Manage the daily business including hiring staff and instructors, creating activities and events for the students, marketing, financing.

Home and famiy Virginia Beach; husband Luke Lu, daughter Joann Lu Yung; son-in-law Jason Yung; granddaughters Kaylee and Ellis Yung; son Allen Lu; daughter-in-law Ayaka Lu; granddaughter Elizabeth Lu.
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Cami Hahn, Director of business development at Cox, Kliewer & Co. PC, Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

Home and family Virginia Beach; husband Bret, daughters Helen, 5, and Heather, 1, niece Bayli, 14, nephew Kevin, 10; Yellow Labrador, Honey, and Jack Russell, Summer.

Career progression Finance degree from Virginia Tech. Four years in packaging sales, four years in commercial flooring sales, followed by four years in economic development for the commonwealth of Virginia where I was recruited by Jerry Cox nine years ago.
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Capt. Mary Jackson, Commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Naval Station Norfolk supports the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Home and family Norfolk; a calm and patient husband, a gregarious 11-year-old daughter, an all-boy 7-year-old son, and three cats.

Career progression I am a surface warfare officer who has spent my career alternating between sea assignments and shore assignments of increased complexity. The majority of my tours, to include four ship and three shore assignments, have been here in Norfolk.
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Cathie France, Director of government and community relations for Virginia Natural Gas, Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

Home and family Virginia Beach; my husband Dave and two children, Eli, 7, and Marley, 5.

Career progression After practicing law as a prosecutor in Virginia Beach for five years, I opened a Hampton Roads office for a Richmond public affairs firm, the Vectre Corp. After serving as its legislative counsel and director of Hampton Roads Client Services, I was recruited as a director at Virginia Natural Gas.
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Elizabeth Lester, President of Launch Interactive, a website development and Internet marketing company, Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

Home and family Norfolk; two daughters, Zoe, 9, and Madeline, 7.
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Francina R. Harrison MSW, Founder of The Career Engineer and TheCareerEngineers, a service of Harrison & Associates, Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The firm provides career coaching and business consulting to entrepreneurs and employers as well as social media and eBiz optimization, training and speaking, talent brokering and global marketing and sponsorship for businesses.

Home and family Virginia Beach; husband Tonnie, son Nehemiah, daughter To'Niah.
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Kelly McMahon Willette, Owner of Willette Designs LLC, Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The company provides all levels of photographers with business marketing tools such as a set of seven posing guides, the "keepin' it real" workshop workbook, other online camera workshops, the photographer's marketing calendar and other tools to help photographers build a business.

Home and family Norfolk; husband Michael; son Max, 7, daughter Flossie, 11 months; wild Australian Shepherd Dog, Egan, 2; Cleo, the toothless-wonder cat, 13.
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Kirsten Tynch, Project manager of government design services for Woolpert Inc., Chesapeake

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Responsible for business development, client relations and project development for public and private civil engineering projects.

Home and family Portsmouth; husband Jack, son Logan, 2, and dog Holly.
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LeAnne Rains Benedetto, communications director at TFC Recycling, Chesapeake

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Creates and manages advertising and public relations for the company. Also owner and operator of LeAnne Rains & Co. Media Services LLC, producing and hosting broadcast video productions.

Home and family Virginia Beach; husband Michael, daughters Allie, 12, Juliette, 11, and son Marco, 9. My mother, in-laws and 89-year-old grandmother live within a mile of me. My father, stepmother, brother and sister live in Florida.
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Lorna Trent, President and CEO of La Belle Femme Photography and La Belle Femme Boudoir, Virginia Beach

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The company is a boutique photography business specializing in boudoir, portrait and wedding photography.

Home and family Virginia Beach; husband Richard Trent; brother Robert Tweed; mother Thelma Tweed; father Dr. John Tweed; Old English sheep dog Duncan.

Proudest business achievement Beating the odds in this sluggish economy.

Biggest success factor My family is the biggest contributing factor of my success. I have the best supportive husband, family and friends.
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Marcie Laumann, President of Hampton Roads Piranhas Pro/Am Soccer, Virginia Beach/Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Manages all aspects of both the women's and men's Pro/Am soccer teams. This includes operations, marketing, sponsorship negotiations, staffing and league liaison.

Home and family Chesapeake; husband James "Doc" Laumann and our "boys," dogs Buster, 17, Rocky, 14, Ozzie, 10, and our "girls," cats Abi, 10, Miss Kit, 10, Phoebe, 4.
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Marieta A. Bajit MD, anesthesiologist at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work For the past 10 years, my practice is concentrated on ocular surgery - retina, vitreous and cataract.

Home and family Norfolk; widow since 2004 with two children: Michael, 41, a project manager for Intellidyne in Falls Church, and Jennifer, 31, a career adviser for the Culinary Institute of Virginia in Norfolk.
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Mary Beth Gibson, Co-founder and executive director of Beyond Boobs! Inc., Williamsburg

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The nonprofit provides support to women diagnosed with breast cancer pre-menopause and promotes breast health education in the area from Richmond to Virginia Beach.

Home and family Toano; I have an incredibly supportive (and very handsome) husband, Bo, and three precious (and also supportive) sons, Cole, 12, Clay, 10, and Lance, 7.
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Rene Bowditch, Co-founder and president of the board of Beyond Boobs! Inc., Williamsburg

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work The nonprofit provides support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause, and breast health education.

Home and family Williamsburg; husband David; son David, 23, daughter Tilden, 19, and two labs, Higgins and Charlie.
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Ronda Markus, President and owner of LTI (Lee Telecom Inc.), Hampton

Posted: December 10, 2010

At work Company provides communication and electronic security solutions.

Home and family Chesapeake; my recently supersized family consists of my husband Gino Maluto and our six children.
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Amy Przymuzala, Owner and president of Coastal Management Solutions Inc., Virginia Beach	view
Angela Reddix, President and CEO of A. Reddix & Associates Inc., Norfolk	view
Arlene F. Klinedinst, Attorney with Vandeventer Black LLP, Norfolk	view
Ava L. Benson, Mission support manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Norfolk	view
Barbara Taylor, Deputy for small business for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, Norfolk	view
Betty Lu, Manager and owner of DanceSportVA, Virginia Beach	view
Cami Hahn, Director of business development at Cox, Kliewer & Co. PC, Virginia Beach	view
Capt. Mary Jackson, Commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk	view
Cathie France, Director of government and community relations for Virginia Natural Gas, Virginia Beach	view
Elizabeth Lester, President of Launch Interactive, a website development and Internet marketing company, Virginia Beach	view
Francina R. Harrison MSW, Founder of The Career Engineer and TheCareerEngineers, a service of Harrison & Associates, Virginia Beach	view
Kelly McMahon Willette, Owner of Willette Designs LLC, Norfolk	view
Kirsten Tynch, Project manager of government design services for Woolpert Inc., Chesapeake	view
LeAnne Rains Benedetto, communications director at TFC Recycling, Chesapeake	view
Lorna Trent, President and CEO of La Belle Femme Photography and La Belle Femme Boudoir, Virginia Beach	view
Marcie Laumann, President of Hampton Roads Piranhas Pro/Am Soccer, Virginia Beach/Norfolk	view
Marieta A. Bajit MD, anesthesiologist at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk	view
Mary Beth Gibson, Co-founder and executive director of Beyond Boobs! Inc., Williamsburg	view
Rene Bowditch, Co-founder and president of the board of Beyond Boobs! Inc., Williamsburg	view
Ronda Markus, President and owner of LTI (Lee Telecom Inc.), Hampton	view
Sally Kocen, Investment advisor representative at the Frieden Agency/John Hancock, Virginia Beach	view
Sonya Schweitzer, Chief Geekette of the Geekettes Club/director of marketing for Dominion Enterprises, Virginia Beach/Norfolk	view
Susan Ralston, President/CEO of Bank@LANTEC, Virginia Beach	view
Victoria Strasnick MD, Physician at Virginia Beach Pediatrics Center and Sentara Pediatrics, Virginia Beach	view

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