Sarah Friesen, owner of Gig Harbor Home Management (GHHM), participated in an award finalist panel Wednesday night, hosted by the Alliance of Women Owned Businesses (AWOB) at the Inn at Gig Harbor. Sarah, and eight other finalists, were selected from 60 nominees for three different Crystal Star Awards sponsored bi-annually by AWOB. Wednesday night’s event gave the finalists a chance to publicly share a little about themselves, their business, and their journey as an entrepreneur.
Each of the finalists enlightened a room full of attendees with their unique business perspective, advice, vision, and obstacles. Every question asked of the panel was answered with eloquence and passion. When asked about her company’s value statements, Sarah said they strive to live by the, “do it right, or don’t do it at all” motto that has stuck with her since college.
“Everyone has a different definition of what’s ‘right’ when it comes to their job performance. So we talk about this work ethic at our staff meetings, and I can’t emphasize it enough,” said Sarah. “When I decided to expand my business and hire six employees, this was one of my main requirements. I can’t have my staff doing ‘good enough’ work – it has to be done at the highest of standards, with the ultimate goal of understanding each client’s unique expectations.”
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Sarah Friesen is one of three finalists for The Rising Star Award, which honors a woman entrepreneur who has owned her business for less than five years, and is showing the persistence, tenacity and leadership to make a difference in her business and community.
The nine finalists will attend an award gala on May 15, 2014 to find out who will win The Rising Star Award, The Shining Star Award, and The Crystal Star Award. The Award winners will be selected by a panel of three judges, including Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor; Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent; and Jeff Rounce, publisher of the South Sound Business Examiner in mid-March.
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Jill Neumeister, President of AWOB, shared her enthusiasm recently, after the nominees were selected. “The caliber of women finalists in this year's Crystal Star Awards showcases the incredible amount of professionalism, passion and dedication that women business owners in our local communities have," said Neumeister.
Join all of the finalists, as well as numerous AWOB members and guests at the Gala Awards Dinner & Ceremony on May 15 at Fircrest Golf Club. Tickets for the gala are on sale at the AWOB website, www.awobwomen.org.
About Sarah Friesen – Owner of Gig Harbor Home Management Inc. Sarah’s business originated in 2011 with a vision for providing high quality, customized Home Watch Services for snowbirds, vacation rentals and vacant homes. In 2013, Sarah hired employees and expanded her services to include house cleaning, professional organizing, and senior relocation services.
Sarah joined AWOB in 2012 looking for educational opportunities to facilitate her own growth as a new business owner. She has been an AWOB sponsor for the past two years because she believes in its mission to support women in business. However, Sarah believes her most influential role with women is as an employer and supervisor.
In addition to AWOB, Sarah is a member of the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Professional Organizers.
For more information on GHHM, visit www.GigHarborHomeManagement.com or call 253.225.4864. You can also connect with Sarah through Facebook.com/GigHarborHomeManagement .