AABE Awards Night

Photo courtesy of Sweet Peas Design

We have another award on our trophy shelf!

Susan was one of 22 business owners and heads of nonprofits in suburban Chicago who received an ABBEY award March 16 from the Daily Herald's Business Ledger. Officially known as the Annual Awards for Business Excellence, the 26-year-old  program recognizes business achievement, growth and community involvement. The awards are presented in nine categories to outstanding businesses and nonprofit organizations with a significant presence in Lake County, DuPage County, Fox Valley, Northwest, West and Southwest Cook County and Will County. Susan told the crowd of about 200 attendees that she felt particularly proud to accept the award as a woman entrepreneur.

Photo courtesy of Sweet Peas Design

"There are 9.4 million women-owned businesses in the United States and they generated nearly $1.5 trillion in revenues last year and employed over 7.9 million people," she said, drawing applause from the audience. "I think that's amazing."  She also noted that in the Chicago area alone there are over 300,000 women-owned businesses and in Illinois there are 575 interior design firms, the majority of which have a woman at the helm.

From left to right, Tod Snyder-Grube, Lauren Benditzky, Beth Kweton, Susan Brunstrum and Jennifer Cioni Tarello. Photo courtesy of Sweet Peas Design

Every award is a team effort, and we could not have achieved this without the talent and hard work of Senior Designer Beth Kweton, Junior Designer Lauren Benditzky, Senior Architectural Associate Jennifer Cioni Tarello and Financial Manager Tod Snyder-Grube. A big thanks also to everyone at the Business Ledger for this honor.