Pacific Northwest Firms Shine At 7th Annual Stevie Awards For Women In Business

Online, November 16, 2010 (Newswire.com) - It was an exciting evening last Thursday for three Seattle area businesses, as each took home a Stevie Award for Women in Business. Andrea Heuston, CEO & Creative Principal, of Artitudes Design Inc. won for "Community Involvement Program of the Year" while Lisa Quast, Founder & President, of Career Woman, Inc. won for "Blog of the Year - Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations." Sally Poliak, Chief Operating Officer, with Nyhus Communications won for "Best Executive - Service Businesses - up to 100 Employees - Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations".

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an international competition recognizing the accomplishments of outstanding women executives, entrepreneurs, and the organizations they run. The awards are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business AwardsSM. The gala event was held at New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel last Thursday night, November 12. Only a handful of Northwest businesses were selected to be among the 1200 finalists from around the world in 54 categories and virtually every industry.

Heuston and Artitudes Design won the "Community Involvement Program of the Year" for its Artitudes in Action: Art Docent Campaign which provides arts education to K-6 students in the Seattle area. The campaign has reached over 500 students at several local schools since it began in 2007 and gives Artitudes' employees the opportunity to volunteer and give back to the community with something they are passionate about - art.

With all the budget cuts occurring in schools, this is one way to keep arts education in the classroom. The kids and teachers can't get enough of the art classes. Artitudes gets calls frequently from teachers who have heard, by word of mouth, there is an organization out there that provides art education. The art docents even get stopped by kids in the halls and asked, "Why aren't you teaching my class?"

Heuston said, "Artitudes is honored to have won this prestigious award and to be among other women who are also passionate about the betterment of their companies, employees and communities."

Quast and Career Women's blog, "Career Memos," won for "Blog of the Year - Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations" as it reaches over 100,000 views per month. The blog connects with readers through timely topics that present through Quast's unique viewpoint as a former executive and current entrepreneur. Quast stated, "I am incredibly honored to be recognized as the winner for this award and I am humbled by the sheer power that blogs have to educate, empower, and inspire women around world."

Another Seattle area firm that took home an award was Nyhus Communications' Sally Poliak for "Best Executive - Service Businesses - up to 100 Employees - Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations".

The awards are for excellence in business and community. Heuston said it well, "At Artitudes, we believe every client, employee and child deserves to be treated with respect. This philosophy will help build better businesses and communities in the future."

Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of honorees are available at www.stevieawards.com/women.