New for 2013: The Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship will begin the WES Awards

Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner

Peggy Barton
Great American Title Insurance Agency

Peggy Barton opened Great American Title Insurance Agency in 1994. First operating in Nixa, Missouri the agency grew rapidly and in 1998 Great American Title expanded to a branch in Springfield. Nineteen years later the agency has thirteen branches and 70 employees. Peggy’s philosophy of honesty and integrity, in addition to her hard work and dedication, has led Great American Title Agency through many obstacles and setbacks. The future is bright for Peggy and the agency as she looks forward to future growth and expansion in Missouri and across the nation.

Woman Start-Up of the Year

Christine Daues
Granolove

Founded in August 2010, Granolove was first sold at the Greater Springfield Farmers Market by Christine and her husband. Two and a half years later, Granolove now has a distribution network that includes online sales, local grocery stores, coffee shops, hotels and a theme park. Due to Christine’s dedication, Granolove has never strayed from its mission to provide a wholesome, organic granola product for adults and children alike. In addition to its natural product, Granolove also provides support to the Shriner’s Hospital for research and treatment. Christine has big plans for the future of Granolove including national expansion and larger support to Shriner’s Hospital.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium winners announced

Media Contact:
Sara Cochran
Assistant Director, Edward Jones Center
Office: (417) 873-3014
E-mail: scochran@drury.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 4, 2013 —Peggy Barton of Great American Title Agency was honored as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and Granolove’s Christine Daues was named Woman-Owned Startup of the Year at the 2013 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES) on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Drury University.

Judges had the following comments about Barton, “The rapid growth of Great American Title Agency from one office in Nixa in 1994 to thirteen branch offices today demonstrates Peggy’s dedication and integrity.” And, “Because she persevered through the adversity of her husband’s death and built her business while dealing with grief, Peggy deserves to be honored as a role model to other women entrepreneurs.”

Comments about Daues included, “ We appreciated Christine’s dedication to creating a healthy product, and her support of kids’ health by donating 10 percent of the business profits to Shriners Hospitals for Children.”  And, “Christine is a good example of an entrepreneur that has overcome the challenges faced bymany new businesses.  We are excited to watch Granolove grow in the future.”

This is the first year that Drury’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium has honored a Woman Entrepreneur and a Woman-Owned Startup of the year. The annual WES event is sponsored by Drury’s Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship.

Drury's Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium Announces Finalists for Awards

Drury's annual Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium (WES), sponsored by The Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship, will recognize top female entrepreneurs at WES on Saturday, Feb. 2.

These awards, new at the 2013 event, include Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and Woman Start-Up of the Year. The winners of these awards will be announced during the lunch session of WES. Finalists include the following women entrepreneurs:

Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 

  • Andrea Alcorn, Gracie's Bridal
  • Peggy Barton, Great American Title Insurance Agency
  • Brenda Jackson, Marketing Mix, Inc. 
  • Angela Smith, ADsmith Marketing and Advertising

Woman Start Up of the Year 

  • Christine Daues, Granolove
  • Claire Faucett, engage5w, Faucett Social Design, LLC  
  • Elle Feldman, Elle's Patisserie
  • Teri Pearman, Infusion Breast Care Botanicals, LLC 
  • Tara Rawlins, RAW Marketing  
 Those interested in attending the symposium may still register until Jan 31 at www.drury.edu/ejc/wes

New for 2013
The Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship at Drury University will begin the WES Awards.

These awards will be in the following categories:

  • Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Woman Start-Up of the Year

In order to qualify for an award, a woman must own at least 51% of the business and operate within 30 miles of Springfield. The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year nominees must have been in business for at least five years and the Woman Start-Up of the Year nominees for less than two years.

Nominees for these awards can be sent to scochran@drury.edu by December 19, 2012. Nominees will be sent a full application form which will be due by January 18, 2013.

The awards will be judged by a panel of independent judges and winners announced at the 2013 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium on February 2, 2013.