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Show A6 News MONDAY, NOVEMBERS, 2007 • THE COLLEGE TIMES In the community On campus The new role of women in business Namifiers honored as the 15th fastest growing business in Utah Press release Namifiers LLC surprised Utah business leaders by grabbing the number 15 spot at the annual Utah 100 awards program. Each year, the MountainWest Capital Network recognizes Utah's 100 fastest growing companies, 15 top revenue companies, and 12 "Emerging Elite" companies to watch for. The awards gala was held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, at which Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. was the guest of honor and keynote speaker. The selected winners for the 100 fastest growing companies were ranked according to total percentage revenue increases from 2002 through 2006, during which Namifiers recorded a daunting growth curve of 1,400 percent. Their seemingly sudden success turned quite a few heads, as this was the first year they were considered for the honor. There to accept the award for Namifiers were executives Christopher Jensen, chief operations officer and Brad Gasaway, vice president of marketing. 'The Utah 100 program is an important contribution to the Utah business community. It provides a forum for highlighting the achievements of both emerging and mature business, and keeps the public informed about positive developments," said Todd Leishman, chairman of this year's Utah 100 program. Namifiers blossomed under the direction of CEO Bryan Welton Jr., who founded the business in 2001. Their beginnings comprised of simple equipment and a 10x10 basement office, where Bryan and his wife produced customized nametags and ID accessories for other businesses. Welton quickly revolutionized the industry by combining his "same-day service" mentality with a fully-operative Web store where customers anywhere could order blank and personalized ID products. As Namifiers incorporated new processes and product lines to meet the needs of its growing customer base, the company opted to move from south Provo to its current 80,000 square foot facility in Springville where they offer all types of name tags, lanyards, ad specialties, office signage, custom engraved gifts, vinyl banners and decals, screen printing and embroidery services. They now have over 60,000 clients including prominent universities, government organizations, and the majority of the Fortune 500 companies. The Utah 100 award added to the ongoing stream of recognition for the Namifiers'team. Most recently they were selected to the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America, ranking 39th overall in the business services category. CEO Bryan Welton, Jr. was also recognized this year as the Reed Smoot Businessman of the Year in Utah County, as well as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for all of Utah and New Mexico. .V More women are going against the current to reform the business world Hillary Kirkman Mows writer When the first issue of Wasatch Woman Magazine showed up on her doorstep, the founding editor was elated. "T was so excited, it was like Christmas. I thought, 'It will take off like crazy.'" Starting a business is always an undertaking, but is starting a business as a woman harder? Barbara Vineyard is the founding editor for Wasatch Woman Magazine and has experienced the excitement and worries of owning her own company. Many businesswomen feel that they are undervalued or not respected-the US Census Bureau shows that women on average make 77 cents to the dollar of their male counterpart's. This has not stopped women from trying to be essential players in the business world. The Small Business Association (SB A) conducted a demographic review of women in business in 2006. They found that, "Women constituted nearly 47 percent of the labor force in 2004." According to the SBA, women are also more likely to continue with the responsibilities of a household when in a dualincome relationship. Laurie Ann Thomas of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UVSC said, "Barriers have broken down; women do not have the same problems with respect that they once did." The SBDC supports many women who arc starting businesses. There efforts must be working, Thomas said, because there are so many women that want to begin a company. According to Thomas, nearly 60 percent of women coming to the SBDC want to begin a home-based business while the other 40 percent want to begin a large company. Statistically speaking, women are finding great success in owning their own business-according to the SBA, between the years 1997 and 2002 there was an increase of 19.8 percent of women-owned firms. Some women feel respected in the business world while others do not. The difference Dr. Warren Farrell said might lie within them. How one dresses, acts and presents their self changes how others will perceive them. Farrell, author of Why Men Earn More: The Startling Truth Behind The Pay Gap And What Women Can Do About It, said that women often work less hours and choose jobs that are psychologically fulfilling but do not pay as well. Because of this trend, he said that proving discrimination from a statistic is like using the horizon to prove that the world is flat. Ferral also explained that if one looked at the socalled, high-powered women who hold jobs comparable to male counterparts, women often have higher pay. "Feel powerful and happy that you have control over your own life," Dr. Farrell said in an interview for the New York Times. "It's better than feeling like an angry victim of discrimination." Wasatch Woman Magazine is now 2 years old. Vineyard has seen it transform from those beginning months. Success for Vineyard is to "become a location that women, whatever they are involved in, can connect to all groups. It has a ripple effect to many if not all in the state. I would like to be able to give back more then we are taking." There are still hard days owning the magazine. Vineyard advised any woman that wants to start her own business, "Women can be successful but they have to be willing to put in the time and effort. You have to decide This is what 1 want,' and jump in." STT: UVSC BOOKSTORE Your College. Your Needs. Your Store !*,^55? (801)803-8040 - www.uvse.edu/book3tore - : 'Y^. 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