Elizabeth Gage receives Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Gala Event in Manitoba

Elizabeth Gage, President of Winnipeg-based PCM International Inc. was awarded top honours with the Overall Excellence – Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award along with the Building Business Award presented by the Women Business Owners of Manitoba.

The awards were presented at the 17th annual Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards gala dinner, attended by more than 500 people at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Gage was one of 29 finalists from across the province vying for the award as well as awards in eight specific achievement categories.

"She has shown superior leadership abilities, quality and innovation, both in business and in her community."

"The winner of the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award is chosen from the winners of the other eight categories," said Dawna Atamanchuk, chairwoman of this year's awards event. "In addition to achieving continued operational success, she has shown superior leadership abilities, quality and innovation, both in business and in her community."

"I'm very proud to receive these awards, but am humbled to be among the very accomplished group of women I was competing with," Gage said. "I was honoured to win both the Overall Excellence Award and the Building Business category."

Gage credits her family and staff for her success. "It's important to communicate your vision with passion and take risk but success also requires a supportive family and a dedicated staff that shares your vision. Fortunately I have both."

Although PCM has operated as a small business for more than a decade, in the past couple of years Gage has spearheaded an aggressive growth strategy that has seen the company's business revenues more than double. PCM is projecting growth to $50 million in sales over the next three years.

The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards were inaugurated in 1992 by the Women Business Owners of Manitoba, a non-profit, independent organization that promotes female entrepreneurs.

"Manitoba is rich with women entrepreneurs whose stories are inspiring," said WBOM President, Yvonne Thompson. "Anyone in business knows how tough it can be to keep that entrepreneurial spirit alive when the bills are mounting and the challenges exceed the triumphs – but when you believe in your business, in the vision you're realizing, your passion fuels your strength to carry on. The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is an exceptional celebration that recognizes outstanding achievements by Manitoba women in business."

Women represent a growing economic force in Canada:
• Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy: 4 out of 5 businesses are started by women; between 1991 and 2001, women's self-employment increased by 43%.
• The 821,000+ women entrepreneurs in Canada annually contribute in excess of $18 billion to the economy.
• The number of women-owned businesses that focus on manufacturing, construction, transportation and communications is growing rapidly.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS, PLEASE CONTACT 
ELIZABETH GAGE AT (204) 958-7788