The time has come for the working woman to put down the phone, put on her holiday dress, and toast a year of success in her business. Women entrepreneurs were elebrated at the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Sparkle Celebration, Tuesday, December 6 at the Cascade Hills Country Club.

AWE is a division of Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW), an organization with great leadership presence in West Michigan. The collaboration between GROW and AWE has provided the organization with wonderful benefits including access to a talented staff and making the next step to business bliss accessible.

“GROW has always worked with women at that beginning point who have this dream of ‘I have a business and always wanted to start a business,” says Rhoda Kreuzer, chairperson of the AWE committee. “GROW starts them out,” explains Kreuzer. “AWE helps you really flourish.”

With AWE stepping in, women-owned businesses are not limited to the metaphorical finish line of their success and can receive guidance and support through AWE for strength. The drive and motivation that these women have deserve to be celebrated after a long year of hard work.

“The event is important because it celebrates the 20+ years of AWE and brings together both founding and current members of the organizations,” says Bonnie Nawara, CEO of GROW. “It brings heightened awareness of what our community’s entrepreneurs are involved in.”

The event honored local women entrepreneurs along with past and present AWE members. The celebration shined a light on the women selected for the Business Accelerator Program, a year-long focus of women entrepreneurs in the community.

A silent auction, display tables, and a setting where business women connected with others were all part of the festivities. Meg Goebel, president and owner of Paul Goebel group, spoke and shared valuable information about the leadership experience that helped her in growing her successful business.

SPARKLE UPDATE: Photo Coverage

It’s our goal with “in 10″ to capture the essence of an event with only 10 photos. Here’s your peek at last night’s Sparkle Celebration. Photos by Two Eagles Marcus.