Jackson Jambalaya

Elizabeth Crisler - owner of Liquid Creative

Dana Canoy - Village Boutique

Michelle Austin, owner of Repeat Street in Ridgeland. In a few years went from small little vintage shop to largest consignment store (clothing, furniture, antiques, weird stuff) in Mississippi, with a second location in Starkville. Was named best resale store for the 3rd time by Mississippi Magazine.

Jeanie Malouf, she should be considered in the over 60 crowd

I know you already know her and her business might not pass the smell test (HA!), but I think Lauren McGraw should be in your poll. She works hard and tries to give back to the community.

Look into the owner of Material Girls, Whitney Giordano. Her first location is at Dogwood in Flowood, second location is at Renaissance in Ridgeland, third location is on the square at Oxford and the fourth location is at Turtle Creek in Hattiesburg. She is less than 30 and has done real good in the business world especially when sales went down in the past hard times and she was able to open up two stores during this period.

Belinda Patterson Manor, director of Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. She is a very effective leader of an organization that takes a special person to run, and they also have a center that helps children cope with greiving.

Misti and Ginger - MiGi's.

Sister Dorothea Songeroth

Gloria Martinson. She started Gleaners many many years ago and started it from her kitchen. She knew that she could help people and shelters and she has. Gleaners helps around 60 charities now. She started this organization 27 years ago. The volunteers pick up donated food from restaurants, hospitals, churches, grocery stores, etc, takes it back to Gleaners and gets it ready for the different shelters and organizations that are in need. The shelters come by every day and pick up their donation. Every day. Some shelters come in the morning, some in the afternoon, some on the weekend. From a kitchen table 27 years ago, this incredible lady now feeds hundreds of people in need. One of the most incredible and dedicated ladies I've had the pleasure to meet.

Unfortunately, several above are not business owners. Please stick with his parameters.

Those who work for hospitals or hospice, or run charities are not business owners.

Amanda Overby from The Overby Company.

Mary Ann Downey Kirby, GM at VIP Magazine

Karen Gilder PORTICO founder

Donna Ladd. She's a brilliant journalist, business owner, community activist and she's quite easy on the eyes if you know what I mean.

I am in agreement with the above comment about Whitney Giordano. She is not only an amazing business owner but also very big in promoting all her staff with getting their degree also she is a member of junior league. Please consider this 29 year old who has accomplished more than most 50 year olds. She is very determined and I believe would be honored to be recognized.

I will disagree with Whitney Giordano. I have nothing against her and am sure she is probably a very marvelous business owner. However, I think certain consideration should be given to those who built a business with their own finances. When a father, grandfather, etc. funds the business or sets you up in it, that is different from someone who uses their own money or goes to the bank and borrows strictly on their own merit. Ms. Giordano had too much help compared to some others who might have been mentioned. This is not meant as any type of slight to Ms. Giordano, as I think her stores are wonderful. This is only my opinion based on how I would judge the contenders.

5:25 , there are a lot of second generations that inherit money and blow it and open businesses and they are bankrupt within a year ans a lot of people are left holding the bag... It takes a lot to keep a business a float. We do not have to mention all the prominent names that never learned that lesson. It is not about where the money came from, it is about having a business head and a business plan and successfully accomplishing it.

5:45 I am the one you responded to and I agree with you. However, if I was judging the competition (and I'm not), I would give special consideration to someone who "built and ran" a successful business over someone who "ran" a successful business. For the record, I am a business owner so I am aware of what it takes to keep one afloat. Just my opinion. In no way did I mean to infer that Ms. Girodano isn't successful. She is operating a wonderful business and kudos to her.

It doesn't matter to me where the capital came from. Very easy to go bankrupt on someone else's money.

Not only did she start a business and have slightly some help from her father who also a vusiness owner that he started on his own but once she was capable she bought him out. Get your facts straight her grandfather and or etc were not involved. Whitney, not only promotes education to her employees but also is one who does everything on her own with no help from others. MATERIAL GIRLS is Whitney Giordano. Most other boutiques here in Jackson started but could not finish what they started. No one has discussed Migi's, Pink Bombshell or Coattails had help from their families as well but you want to target the most successful boutique owner sue to her motivation and determination. I bet if you wait for more Material Girls are to come in the future and it's a shame your assumption was just that.

OK, nice response. No more comments about that business. We got the idea from everyone

I agree on Michelle Austin. I am amazed at what Repeat Street has achieved in such a short period of time.

Lane Lawson Craft .

Great success story. Lane started a local Christian magazine ( WHOA ) which has grown into a national
publication, within about two years.

What about Wendy Ramage, you know, the Niknar trailer trash/motorcycle pin-up queen that Curt was so infatuated with at once time. ;) She's a successful business woman.

Jennifer Simmons of Pink Bombshell

Kendall Poole

Kendall Poole of Kendall Poole Event Planning

Laughing my Ass Off 7:42 !

What was her brand ?

"Bringing a lil' uptown to dowtown" ?

Jackie Mize from Gold n Guns Pawn in Ridgeland. Dirt poor beginnings to a very successful businesswoman. Kind hearted, but tough.a

What part of no more comments about that business did you not get????

Robin Owen of "Cooking Up a Storm"

Marilyn Tinnin - Metro Christian Living Magazine

I'd like to see more non-retail suggestions ...anyone have some more?

Rebecca Laskin of Laskin Therapy Group comes to mind. The eye doctor, Connie-something does a well. Pamela Hancock the attorney. Leigh Reeves just started up a magazine. Gail who owns Wavelengths. and so on.

Dr. Priscilla Jolly - Jolly Orthodontics (above Ms. Giordano's in the Renaissance)

Woman owns Skinners GMC, woman owns Haute Pig, DrElizabeth Mitchell(owns plastic surgery clinic) , Carolyn Boteler(temp staff) being a business woman is different than running a business. There is a huge difference in managing a business and owning and running a business. It takes hard work, risk taker and sacrifice.
Note: I'm disappointed in the diluted program top 50 MBJ has become. I am a former alum and since my induction over 8 years ago, it has become really Diluted. Not the prestigious award I received in 2003!

LEIGH REEVES is a good one - up before the sun, puts her all into any & everything she does, and looks like a million dollars no matter the time, the place or the thousand other things on her mind. But I think there probably needs to be 2 polls for this one because most of these women are hard-working business owners no doubt, but only a few actually do a 2nd job called "Mommy" & still manage to work their ass off - just with a much more complicated schedule. But there are a couple of non-moms above that are business-savvy, hard working ladies & deserve recognition for sure, and will likely continue to be successful in business, as well as motherhood, should that be in their future. But it truly is 2 different ballgames when you throw juggling motherhood into the mix with running a company.

Ronnie Davis- owner of the Inside Story in Madison. In her 60s now. Been running that place since the 80s. She started it as what I could only assume was the first retail shopping place in Madison. She has managed to stick around for a long time and back in the day before Madison consisted of the $$$ that it does now.

I second Mary Ann Kirby. She runs the hell out of whatever business or charity she is put in charge of.

Can't believe Kingfish excluded his usual favorites - T&A newsreaders.

Alissa Berry- Casabella Interiors

Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell- owns Elizabeth Mitchell eye care and Mon Ami Spa and Laser Center. She runs two successful businesses and has 2 small children. Anyone with kids can appreciate how difficult it is to balance motherhood and career.

Wendy Putt

Krishna Wojcik- Photography by Krishna

Susan Harrison at The William Morris Group.

Jill Beneke @ Pileum

Cindy Warner - owner of American Field Services. It is a road contractor that does MDOT work throughout the state.

Wendy Putt with Fresh Cut Catering and Floral. Started out of her house and grew business by word of mouth. She now, in my opinion, is one of the most sought after wedding and event planners/caterers/floral designers in the state.

Sure is a lot of estrogen and self promotion in this thread KF.
Now back to work!

The lady that owns the port-o-potty co. Can't think of her name, but she built it from the ground up.

Carolyn Boteler
Started working at Temp Staff and later bought it

Not only is Elizabeth Mitchell a successful businesswoman. She is HOT!!!

Elizabeth Crisler - she is the sole owner of Liquid Creative, which has been a successful advertising agency for 12 years. She stays under the radar and doesn't call a lot of attention to herself, but the company was named to the MBJ "Fast 40" list in 2009.

Liza Looser - Cirlot Agency

What happened to the annual hottest reporter poll?

Lauren McGraw. She does a lot for her community. She has been threatened by other businesses and survived with grace. She gets my vote!

Mary Grace Brown, started Horrell Photography in 1952, started Brown's Framing and Fine Art in 1965 (with 3 children under 5 no less) both businesses continue to operate today very successfully. She also transformed a building in downtown Jackson into Mardi Gras Restaurant and now leases it to the owners of Magoos

Mama Hamil!

Lauren McGraw at Gotta Go. Started in her home and now you can't go anywhere in central MS without seeing a green porta potty.

I think you should omit the women who 'are in charge' only for the benefit of gaining contracts as 'Minority or Female owned'. Warner is just one example. There are others.

Grace Bateman Greene, founder of Peru Paper. The idea for the company came out of Christian mission work but it is first and foremost a business. The products created by the Peruvian women she employs (and pays an actual living wage to) are in stores all over the country and were even in the gift bags give out at the Golden Globes last year.

Peru Paper isn't in the Jackson metro area.

Liza Circlot Looser, The Cirlot Agency

Jill Connor Browne, Queen

Ann Barnes, President of a home health care group

Linda Ross Aldy, consulting, author, association management, owner of 3 Cups franchises

Janice Cameron, owner of Cups corporate

Nancy Lottridge Anderson, financial planning, author, talk show host

Beth Clay, The Clay Firm

Clare Hester, Capitol Resources

Gretchen Cook, publisher, Parents & Kids Magazine

Off the top of my head plus I agree with many of the others listed already.

Our working group of women votes for Lauren McGraw. Although we are not business owners, we are business women and we know the value of hard work!

Linda Ross Aldy was a Cliff Finch protege who got her start when he took her from the job of newspaper reporter to the position of Executive Director of the Employment Security Commission. Her task there was to dismantle the organization and piss off as many people as humanly possible.

What the hell is Peru Whatever and why would Conner Browne be eligible given the rules posted by Kingfish?

3:35 spent way too much time on Google.

Peru Paper is run by Grace Bateman Greene of Jackson, out of Jackson. The work is done by women in Trujillo, Peru, but the BUSINESS was created and continues to flouish here. Grace supplies retail locations in 14 states, plus Canada and Austrailia.

Gale Fisher at Wavelengths
Marlana Walters at Everyday Gourmet
Liza Looser at The Cirlot Agency

And while we are on this topic, a recent report commissioned by American Express OPEN looked at the best states for women entrepreneurs. Look who is not last!

3. Mississippi

Growth in Number of Women-Owned Businesses, 1997-2001: 76.7%
Growth in Women-Owned Business Revenue, 1997-2001 (State Rank): 56% (#29)
Number of Women-Owned Firms, 2011: 67,700

Georgia ranked #1 and Nevada #2.

So many great ladies being nominated so far. But whoever is nominating Donna Ladd & the woman from Liquid Creative is smoking crack. But maybe it's just some self-promotion like someone else mentioned above, which is probably the case since its the only positive remark I've ever heard of either of them.

Todd Stauffer publishes "The Jackson Free Press", for which he allows Donna Ladd to act as "editor-in-chief", so I don't consider her nomination valid (unless you have more information on the business than I do). And whoever said Donna Ladd is a "brilliant journalist" must still be in high school.

Krishna Wojcik- Photography by Krishna? What a joke. She owns an SLR camera and gets prints made at Wal Mart which she sells to Daycares at a 3600 percent profit.

I guess that is good business practice, but she's horrible. I have started lobbying parents to demand changes. For her to be mentioned in a top businesswoman poll is ridiculous.

Hello, Shadowfax, this is Linda Ross Aldy. Someone told me I needed to help you with your memory. I did move to Jackson and work for the MESC the last year of the Finch term, but he did not hire me and I did not work as Executive Director of the agency then. Since I did not support him for Governor, I would hardly think I could be considered a protege. I did return to the agency as its first female E.D. in the late 80's. And, indeed, I did upset some folks! Sorry if you were one of them. At any rate, most of the cost-cutting suggestions that I made back in the 80s were actually put into place during the Barbour administration years, so I was either just ahead of my time or otherwise off-base! Since I was not perfect then and, dang it, still not some 25 years later, I probably did make some mistakes (and still do!). I have been in the private sector, including owning several businesses, for nearly 25 years now. Hope you have had a great life with no mistakes since the Finch days. Life is what you make it. I have been blessed and hope you have, too. I'm guessing most of these readers were not even born or were just learning to walk in 1979 and could care less about all of this! But I did want to correct your information.

And, by the way, I'm surprised that I didn't see Gail Pittman's name on this list. I would definitely nominate her.

Beth Henry (Paxton), owner of Staffers Inc., named in top 100 Miss. businesses by MBJ, and former owner of Tempo until she sold it. Wonderful and beautiful person.

Linda don't be concerned with the pissant SF. He is the second biggest nerd on this board.

Well, Ms. Peru Paper better register in Mississippi if her business is here. She nor her company is registered in the state to do business.

12:53, I presume you know what "DBA" means? In Mississippi, you don't have to register yours.

Peru Paper is registered in Mississippi as an LLC called "Peru Mission Cards." Check the Secretary of State's website.

And before someone accuses me of it, I am NOT Grace Greene, nor am I her family or good friend. I know her only slightly. I have found it HIGHLY impressive that she has almost single-handedly created an international business venture that is NOT using foreign labor to save money, but is actually trying to increase the standard of living for poor women in a country where they have so few opportunities.

Jill Conner Browne is a huge business. SF, you should try googling yourself. Bring yourself up-2-date. She runs an empire AND raises a ton of money for charity while she's at it.

Nerds aside, Miz Aldy's memory is deficient. She was brought into the agency by
Ed Lloyd who was a Finch appointee. Lloyd slid her in as head of the then Public Relations Department, the first outsider ever to have been brought into that role. She was summarily run off (by opposing political operatives) but later returned at the helm under another democrat governor.

Her legacy is that of a wicked woman who advocated closing down a multitude of their locations while retaining and promoting a group whose political leanings fell on her side of the fence. She became quite famous walking the legislative hallways with a sidekick (six pound telephones in hand) whose name escapes me and a sizeable group of republican lawmakers proved to be both her nemesis and her undoing and she vanished into the hedgework.

I'm sure she's redeemed herself and has done good things since; however, for that span of time she was a political pawn. The name Mabus comes to mind. I did some work for him at the time on a contract basis.

Marlana Walters the Everyday Gourmet - Jackson & Ridgeland
Lisa Palmer - Summerhouse

Paula Ricks - Keytrust properties