enterprising Women 53 ENTERPRISING WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS Winners with Over $1 Million in Annual Revenues Kelly Gaines Charlotte Aquatics Charlotte, NC Kelly Gaines is the owner and Big Fish of Charlotte Aquatics, a swimming school with 25 employees and $1.5 million in 2021 revenue. They are dedicated to teaching children as young as six months old and adults water safety and how to swim. Gaines gives back to the community by tutoring elementary school students, serving meals at homeless shelters, and raising funds for local nonprofits. She is an executive director of a nonprofit organization that provides essentials for a quality education to children in Tanzania. Through NAWBO, Gaines helped create a mentorship program for young female entrepreneurs. Kathy Durfee TechHouse Bradenton, FL Kathy Durfee is the CEO and founder of TechHouse, an IT consulting firm based in Florida with 11 employees and $1.5 million in 2021 revenue. Durfee is a member of the Microsoft Partner Network, NAWBO, and Women in Cloud. In an effort to give back to the community and mentor young women, Durfee spearheaded food banks and helped establish Microsoft DigiGirlz, a technology program with the goal of giving middle and high school girls opportunities to learn about careers in technology. Melissa Brown Well-Bean Coffee Roasters Wake Forest, NC Melissa Brown is the founder and owner of Well-Bean Coffee Roasters, a woman-owned and operated coffee company based in Wake Forest with nine employees and $1.5 million in 2021 revenue. Brown is on the board of directors for the National Automatic Merchandising Association and New Song Mission, a children’s home campus for modern day orphans. Brown enjoys mentoring aspiring young women entrepreneurs to break barriers and into the industry. She volunteers at a local church and leads a local women’s group.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzA5OTEy