The Lillie Knox Investing for Growth Award
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Lillie Knox was a vital and important part of the history and current success of the Women's Business Council - Southwest (WBCS)
and the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Lillie passed away after a long battle with cancer on November 10, 2003. In 2005, the Lillie Knox Investing for Growth Award was created by the WBCS to honor Lillie for everything she has done for women business enterprises through her commitment, her spirit, her passion and determination.
Each year at the annual Harvesting Partnerships luncheon, a $5000 award in Lillie’s memory will be awarded. The recipient will be a certified WBE member of the WBCS who has identified a critical need in her business that, if met, will support the growth and development of her business. The cash award may fully or partially fund this need and may include, but is not limited to: equipment purchase, technical development or upgrade, consulting services, strategic planning, website development, planning or education.
CURRENT WINNERS:
Deanna Becker, Owner
Peak Promotions
Sue Murray, President
EduCorp Training & Consulting, Inc.
PAST WINNERS:
Ann Travis
When Ann Travis, Chairman/CEO of ACT TOO Food Service, Inc. applied for the Lillie Knox award, her plans were to use the award monies towards the purchase of a vehicle for a newly created operations manager position.
When business conditions changed, Ann was required to scale back on staff. The new operations manager position was no longer needed since there were fewer locations and staff to manage.
Then adversity hit her business. The vehicle used to transfer products, (from bulk purchases) and bakery goods, quit running. The vehicle needed approximately $3,000.00 in repairs. Faced with shrinking revenues, fewer overall staff, and a major unplanned expense, Ann used the award money to repair the delivery vehicle.
The repair of the vehicle allowed ACT TOO Food Service to:
- Keep food costs low, by making bulk purchases and distributing to each location
- Continue to offer competitive quality products to our clients
- Maintain one vehicle on opposite ends of the metroplex for on premise and off premise catering deliveries
- Maintain bakery inventories by making deliveries from a centralized location
Without the award, Ann’s expenses would have soared even more, at a time when revenues were at their lowest. Chances of survival would have been very slim. The Lillie Knox award allowed Ann to continue business operations while working extremely hard to increase revenues in their core market (mainly-off premise catering) and maintaining aggressive expense goals.
Karen Thompson
Upon winning the $5000 award, Karen Thompson began an immediate search for just the right person to assist with creating the best business plan to take Accent Transportation, Inc. to the next level. Marilyn Bushey owner of Power Performance Communication (also a WBE) was selected in the winter of 2005 and immediately conducted our first strategic planning session with staff participation from all departments. Marilyn brought together a very diverse group of transportation professionals and taught us to think strategically to grow in a new and challenging direction. Together we developed a strategy tree and an action plan. Key goals and objectives were written to be measured monthly. Individual staff members were chosen to be "champions" of the specific goals. As a direct result, Accent has completed most of the first and second quarter objectives. We are grateful to the WBCS and to the family of Lillie Knox for their commitment to investing in women business owners.
DONATING:
If you are interested in donating to this worthwhile fund for WBEs, please click here to download the donation form.
AWARD CRITERIA:
- Recipient must currently be a certified WBE member of the Women’s Business Council – Southwest for at least two years (original certification date cannot be later than 8/1/06).
- Application for award must be completed by the owner of the certified business and returned to the WBCS by July 31, 2008 – no exceptions. Applications received after this date will be unopened. Preferred method: send via email to Alma Garcia at agarcia@wbcsouthwest.org or mail to WBCS, 2201 N. Collins Street, Suite 158, Arlington, TX 76011.
- Funds awarded must be invested in the business and a report of their use provided to the WBCS no later than 8/1/09.
- Recipient must agree to be a part of the presentation to the following year's recipient at the 2009 Harvesting Partnerships event.
- Recipient must agree that all information from the application is available for use by the WBCS in the presentation or publicity of the award.
- The selection committee will determine the recipient and award the cash prize at the Lillie Knox Memorial Luncheon at Harvesting Partnerships on September 4, 2008 – by submitting an application, you agree to be present at this event.
APPLICATION:
If you can comply with the above criteria, please email Leslie Kazen to request the 2008 The Lillie Knox Investing for Growth Award application. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2008.
QUESTIONS
Please email Alma Garcia, Development Director of the WBCS or call at (817) 299-0566 with any questions.
