Enterprising Women

2006 Enterprising Women of the Year Winners — Over $5 Million and Up to $10 Million in Revenues

Issue: Vol. 7, No. 3

LINDA COUGHLIN founded Metro-Home NYC, LLC eight years ago with a mission of supplying short term furnished or corporate apartments to individuals who were relocating or on assignment. Since that time, she has built her business to more than $10 million in annual revenues. She actively gives back to the women business owner community through participation and leadership roles in WIPP, WBENC, the WPO and other
organizations. A platinum member of the Enterprising Women National Advisory Board, Linda became a mentor last year in the Make Mine a Million Program, funding and helping to launch two other women-owned businesses.

She credits her staff and other women entrepreneurs for mentoring her, but gives top mentoring credit to her father, who owned his own business for 40 years.

Linda Coughlin
Metro-Home NYC LLC
New York, NY

CAROLE SANDERSON is one of three dynamic partners in the Cleveland-based firm, Herschman Architects, Inc. The company provides planning, design, architectural and engineering services for retail, shopping centers, restaurant/food service, commercial and industrial clients. Herschman is considered one of the top retail architectural firms in the nation. Joining the company 24 years ago as a secretary, Carole's entrepreneurial spirit quickly surfaced as she assumed responsibility for the financial management of the company. She ensured that projects were profitable and the architects and staff had the technology they needed to be successful. With $8.5 million in 2005 revenues, her five-year goal is to reach $15 million in sales.

An active NAWBO member for more than 14 years, Carole’s leadership has helped to grow the Cleveland Chapter.

Carole Sanderson
Herschman Architects, Inc.
Cleveland, OH

JOHANNA HAMBROSE had the know-how to create user-centered business systems that could help organizations increase their productivity through productive software applications. She launched Electronic Ink 15 years ago and since that time has helped clients like the New York Stock Exchange increase the speed and accuracy of their transactions. Banks, pharmaceutical companies, life insurance companies and others have benefited from her company’s expertise.

A member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, Johanna gives back through South Street Philadelphia, Women’s Way, and other community-based organizations. She launched a mentoring program for girls named after her daughters, Henny and Smith, and is involved with a program to help single moms in Philadelphia obtain their GEDs.

Johanna Hambrose
Electronic Ink
Philadelphia, PA

LANA CALLOWAY has distinguished herself as an outstanding entrepreneur and a leader in her community. As president of Exhibit Resources, Inc., her Raleigh, NC-based company provides total trade show management, including the design, construction, and installation of trade show exhibits. After Sept. 11, Lana took drastic measures to help her company survive, reducing staff and cutting budgets. Realizing that many companies were short-staffed and needed help, Exhibit Resources stepped in and offered trade show product management. The service segment of her business grew dramatically and her company is now thriving.

Lana gives back in a variety of ways through NAWBO, the WPO, and the Women’s Center of Wake County. As young single moms 20 years ago, Lana and a close friend both dreamed of starting their own businesses. That friend became Lana’s role model and mentor, and today, both women own multi-million dollar businesses.

Lana Calloway
Exhibit Resources Inc.
Raleigh, NC

ANANDA ROBERTS launched her company, nFocus Software, while she was still in college, but the company’s relocation to Phoenix 12 years ago proved to be her biggest challenge. It took five years of hard work to get the company on solid ground, but the firm is now a leading provider of public sector software. The company provides analytical tools to help clients track information and build knowledge to achieve phenomenal results. With $6.5 million in 2005 revenues, nFocus is achieving steady annual growth.

A founding national partner and advisory board member of WIPP, Ananda actively mentors young entrepreneurial women through programs like Camp CEO. She is helping organize a national mentoring program, Young Voices for WIPP, to engage women on college campuses with women entrepreneurs and provide information on public policy initiatives.

Ananda Roberts
NFocus
Phoenix, AZ

LISA GLADSTONE is blazing a trail in an industry traditionally dominated by men. As the founder of Priority One Financial Services, her company provides financing and insurance services to the marine and RV industries. She has invested heavily in technology to improve efficiencies and help her company become an industry leader. Her St. Petersburg, FL firm exceeded $5.5 million in 2005 revenues.

An active member of the WPO, the Marine Retailers Association of America, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the RV Dealers Association, Lisa gives back to her community through a company-sponsored mentorship program, and through CASA, a domestic violence center in St. Petersburg.

Lisa Gladstone
Priority One Financial Services
St. Petersburg, FL

(This article is reprinted from the 2006 Enterprising Women of the Year edition (Vol. 7, No. 3) of Enterprising Women magazine. Copyright 2006, Enterprising Women Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited, except by express permission of the publisher.)

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