Thank you to everyone who attended our 2021 NAWBO Charlotte Awards Gala!
Tuesday, May 4th at 6:30PM
Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park Hotel
Three great awards, one great night!
Each year NAWBO Charlotte awards two women business owners with prestigious awards. These women are nominated by you, and a panel of judges interviews each finalist to choose the final winners.
The Woman Business Owner Award is presented to a member who has demonstrated strong leadership skills in growing and managing a successful business that is more than five years old.
The Rising Star Award is presented to a member who has demonstrated entrepreneurial creativity and determination in successfully managing a business that is less than five years old.
NC Women Busines Owners Hall of Fame Charlotte is host city for the NC Hall of Fame award this year. Launched in 2018, the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame honors North Carolina’s most successful female entrepreneurs and advocates who have made significant and enduring contributions to impact women’s entrepreneurial development in North Carolina. This initiative is in coordination with NAWBO-Raleigh, the Small Business Administration and many other North Carolina organizations. Keep in mind, nominees for the Hall of Fame do NOT need to be a NAWBO member, and they can be living or deceased.
2021 Award Winners
2021 Rising Star
Nikki Laub
Premiere Concrete Supply
2021 Women Business Owner
Carolina Aponte
CAJA Holdings
2021 Women Business Owner Award Finalists:
Keri Bonfili
thekbonfili.com
Keri Bonfili is a PR black belt who develops powerful and inventive strategic communications and PR programs as the Founder and CEO of thekbonfili.com, a leading boutique firm. While virtual agencies are no longer rare, Bonfili’s strong relationships coupled with a passion for collaboration sets her apart from her expensive agency counterparts.
Bonfili’s approach is equal parts bold, brilliant and resourceful. She’s a sought-after ally who remains adept at creating compelling content while simultaneously (and successfully) positioning clients as thought leaders. Her unstoppable drive, strong collaborative relationships and quick wit generate consistent local, regional and national results.
Carolina Aponte
CAJA Holdings
Carolina Aponte is the founder of CAJA Holdings, LLC and Outsource Accounting provider in Indian Trail, NC. She graduated from Florida’s Nova Southeastern University. She holds a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Entrepreneurship certificate. Carolina is the recipient of the Latin American Businesswoman 2012 Award in Charlotte, NC and the 2017 NAWBO Charlotte Rising Star Award.
Carolina is also a recipient of The Mecklenburg Times 2019 Phenoms honoree and 2020 50 Most Influential Women in the Charlotte region. She currently serves as President of the 2020-2021 NAWBO Charlotte Board of Directors, and is a recipient of Career Mastered 2021 Leadership Award.
Lena Lumelsky
Woland Web
Lena is the founder of Woland Web. She was born in Minsk, Belarus (then part of USSR) where it was a very different business world. Private enterprise of any kind was forbidden by Article 171 of USSR’s criminal code.
Her parents gifted Lena a “second birth” by bringing her to the United States at age 16. She finished High School, then earned both a BS and MS in Computer Science – all in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After graduation she worked on Wall Street, becoming a Vice President (with over 60 reports) by the age of 26.
Lena’s family moved to Charlotte in 2005, where she started Woland Web – initially as a solopreneur. The firm now boasts a team of six.
2021 Rising Star Award Finalists:
Amy Haskell
Total Writing Enrichment
Amy Haskell is a college admission writing expert who teaches motivated teens to craft killer essays that win admissions, scholarships, and “A” grades – without parents having to lift a pen.
She guides her students to create their own unique strategy and writing style, feel more confident to express themselves, and excited to showcase the best of their personality and strengths to the colleges in a way that is game changing for admission success.
As a master teacher, founder of Total Writing Enrichment, and creator of unparalleled hands-on writing programs, she helps students clearly understand how a solid writing foundation leads to more opportunities with success in high school, college, graduate school and beyond.
Nikki Bradley
Nichely
Nikki Bradley is a brand strategist who specializes in helping women entrepreneurs build their personal brand alongside their business brand so that they can bring out their biggest, baddest, dopest version of themselves so that they can show up as more of themselves to serve with more impact and sell with more confidence.
Nikki also works with organizations to empower their business leaders to become powerful brand ambassadors, position themselves as thought leaders, and build their own personal brand. Learn more about and connect with Nikki at NikkiBradley.net.
Nikki Laub
Premiere Concrete Supply
Nikki Laub officially founded Premiere Concrete Supply in February 2016. With a background in Sales, Operations, Logistics & HR, Nikki took everything she knew and applied it to a different industry.
Nikki was born in Cincinnati, where she now lives as a single mother of 4 boys, although her business is based in Charlotte, N.C. After staying home for nine years, she accepted an entry-level position with Home Depot, quickly growing through the ranks. Nikki was then courageous enough to venture out on her own. She worked full-time with a Ready-Mix concrete company before founding Premiere. Nikki’s fiery personality and strong work ethic helped her carve out her own path in a new, male-dominated industry.
NAWBO Charlotte Awards & Hall of Fame Gala
The in-person event was held at the Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park Hotel
