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WINNER - 2009 Woman Business Owner of the Year
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Elaine Creasser - Tile Collection, Inc.
In 1992 Elaine came up with the idea of her business based on the frustrating experience in trying to find unique tile in Charlotte for her own home. Using a credit card for $20,000 in start-up capital, Elaine has followed her instincts to develop Tile Collection into a multi-million dollar company with over 35 full time employees and 15 contractors.
Tile Collection, Inc. provides total turnkey services for ceramic tile and natural stone. Design staff directs the design to clients with selections in the 7,500 s.f. showroom. Tile Collection carries over 80 different ceramic, granite and natural stone lines from around the world. The 10,000 s.f. fabrication facility specializes in custom countertops, vanities, and fireplaces made from granite, marble, and Zodiac materials. All installations include a project manager to oversee the process as well as in-house installers assuring the ultimate in quality control.
Creasser and Tile Collection’s uniqueness have not gone unnoticed. Voted “Charlotte’s Best” for tile showroom, installation and granite countertops, the company strives to exceed expectations. Tile Collection also received awards including the People’s Choice Awards in several Homearama Show Houses, National Association of Woman Business Owner’s Woman of the Year finalist, and Outstanding Trade Member of the Year for Interior Design Society.
Elaine’s business philosophy is focused around hard work, integrity, and optimism. She believes the company’s role in the community to be making a difference, be it in their industry, marketplace or for those less fortunate. Her company has continuously given monetary donations, installations and products to Charlotte Rescue Mission, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Blessings in the Storm and community schools. She considers her husband and their children, Matthew and Jennifer, as her greatest accomplishments and sources of drive and inspiration.
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Woman Business Owner of the Year Finalists
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Mary H. Bruce - Kaleidoscope Business Options, Inc.
In 1995, Mary Bruce drew on her 20+ years of business and volunteer leadership experience to create Kaleidoscope Business Options, Inc. Since then, she has helped over 180 growing businesses by providing customized consulting services including:
• evaluating growth strategies and options;
• developing economically sound business plans;
• growing operating capacity by building the team, systems and processes;
• designing measurement systems to keep the implementation on track.
Mary has also shared her expertise with hundreds of entrepreneurs as a trainer in programs such as The Business Success Institute, CPCC’s BEST Program and the Charlotte Chamber’s Minority Business Leadership Institute. She supports emerging business leaders through membership in the McColl School of Business’ Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle.
Community activities include long-time membership in the Charlotte Chamber, NAWBO and Women Executives and she has held numerous leadership positions in all three organizations. Mary currently serves on the board of the Business Expansion Funding Corp. (BEFCOR).
A recipient of The Business Journal’s Top 25 Women In Business Achievement Award and the Charlotte Post Best Small Business Advocate Award, she was also a finalist for the Charlotte Chamber Entrepreneur Award.
A native of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Mary moved to Charlotte in 1973. She and her husband Steve have a blended family consisting of her two sons, his two daughters, a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.
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Fabi Preslar - SPARK Publications
Fabi Preslar is an energetic entrepreneur and the president of SPARK Publications. She founded SPARK eleven years ago as a home-based business and built it into a thriving marketing-design powerhouse. Her award-winning graphic design firm specializes in the design and production of custom magazines, self-published books, catalogs and marketing brochures.
In 2008, Fabi was a finalist for the national Stevie Awards for Women in Business and in the Make Mine a Million $ Business competition. Business Leader magazine named her one of the Top 24 Entrepreneurs in Charlotte and an Impact Marketing Leader. She is also one of The Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women for 2009. Fabi’s firm has received over 40 regional and national industry awards for well-designed publications and promotional materials.
SPARK’s growth enabled Fabi to realize a long-time dream: she recently brought Larry Preslar – her husband of 22 years – into the firm as its new creative director, thereby boosting design capacity to an all-time high. The couple’s 21-year-old daughter, Sofi, is currently a junior at East Carolina University.
Fabi’s professional success comes from determination, perseverance and resilience. Community involvement plays a vital role in her life. She donates more than 200 hours of marketing design services each year to non-profits serving women in need. Fabi also acts as a business mentor, sharing her professional knowledge with fellow entrepreneurs.
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