FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18^th, 2011

Paulsen to Hold District-Wide Tour of Women-Owned Businesses

"Women Owned Business Day" Includes Stops in Maple Grove, Plymouth, Hamel and Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie, MN – On Wednesday, October 19, Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) will be touring the district to highlight several women-owned businesses and encourage more women to become entrepreneurs.  Earlier this year, the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses report found that Minnesota ranks 44^th out of 50 states in growth of women-owned businesses. According to the report, Minnesota is estimated to have 138,000 women-owned businesses with $19.6 billion in sales in 2011. A copy of the report can be read here.

“Minnesota is a great state teeming with endless possibilities, however we need to be doing more to encourage women to take the leap into entrepreneurship,” said Rep. Paulsen. “My hope is that this week’s tour will help inspire women to realize their dream of running their own businesses. After all, small businesses are going to be the growth engine that drives the economic recovery.” 

Tour schedule and description of businesses:

9:15 a.m. – Lily Pad Daycare, 7009 Everet Lane North, Maple Grove. Lily Pad Daycare is owned and operated by Stephanie Olesky and her daughter Kaliegh Boe. The staff at Lily Pad Daycare is dedicated to providing a loving, fun, and inviting atmosphere that allows children to grow and learn while developing a positive self image.

10:15 a.m. – ATEK Medical, 12925 16th Avenue North, Plymouth. ATEK Medical is co-owned by CEO Christy Bieber Orris, the third generation of Biebers to work at this family company, and Kay Phillips, who joined the company as President in 2002. ATEK Medical has launched over 400 different medical devices since its founding in 1946.

11:15 a.m. – C.E.L. Public Relations, 15600 36th Ave North Suite, Suite 120, Plymouth. Cindy Leines started C.E.L. Public Relations in her basement in 1988 after noticing how non-profits and service professionals sometimes struggle to market their services. In 2011, the Twin West Chamber of Commerce named Cindy “Entrepreneur of the Year.”

12:30 p.m. - Peg’s Countryside Café, 842 Hwy 55, Hamel. Peggy Rasmussen started Peg’s Countryside Café in 1975 after purchasing the former Frenchie’s Diner. Over 3 million diners have been served breakfast or lunch at Peg’s, which was named the best in the Twin Cities by Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine in 2009 and 2010. In 1996, General Mills named Peggy one of 75 women across the country to embody a modern-day Betty Crocker, which used a composite of all the women to create a new portrait of the iconic figure.

1:30 p.m. – Smarty Pants Kids, 966 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie. Smarty Pants Kids has a retail store in Eden Prairie and also offers online shopping at www.SmartyPantsKidsonline.com. It was founded by Makya Vandiver-Hawkins, certified early childhood educator. Every single toy in the store is hand-chosen for two purposes: child engagement and education. Both the online and retail stores offer items designed for all children, including those with Autism, Down’s Syndrome or developmental delays.

###