by David Ball
Staff Writer
“This is such an honor. For me, this is the biggest honor I can think of at this point in my life,” said Leigh Fogle, owner of Fogle Fine Arts & Accessories, as she clutched her “Entrepreneur of the Year” award received at Wednesday’s Women in Business Awards Luncheon.
Fogle grabbed the top honor in front of hundreds of fellow businesswomen, and a few businessmen, along with the other winners: Franchisee of the Year Kathryn Murphy (absent); Corporate Leader of the Year Diane Raines; and Pioneer of the Year Pixie Larizza.
The awards, in their 22nd year, were presented by the Women’s Business Owners (WBO) of North Florida and the Professional Women’s Council. WBO President Suzi Lemen said her organization is adding 10 new members a month, and the awards have risen in importance in the Northeast Florida business community.
“We work all year for this event,” she said. “Women are forming businesses faster than any other demographic group, and this event is a testament to the support we get from the Jacksonville community.”
Fogle said that support is one of the main reasons why her business, which is located in St. Nicholas and offers gallery rentals, has become so successful.
“For someone who came here 15 years ago and didn’t know anyone to grow a business like this, it says a lot about this community,” said Fogle. “People here are so open and welcoming, and a lot of places aren’t like that.”
Keynote speaker V. Gail Warrior-Lawrence, who founded national modular construction and contracting firm The Warrior Group, spoke about the importance of building relationships, her motto of using OPM or “other people’s money,” and staying strong through adversity.
“People can be jealous that you had the courage to follow your dreams instead of just talking about it,” said Warrior-Lawrence. “You may stumble along the way, you may fall, heck, somebody may push you down...but you can’t give up.”
For Fogle, that belief rang true.
“Part of my success was that I didn’t really have anyone to back me up,” she said, adding she and her husband sold a car and worked odd jobs just to pay rent during the early years. “But the hungry, they figure it out.”
2008 Women in Business Award nominees:
Entrepreneur of the Year
• Leigh Fogle, Fogle Fine Arts & Accessories
• Mary B. Harvey, Agency a la Carte
• Ann Sabbag, Health Designs Inc.
Franchisee of the Year
• Kathryn Murphy, Comfort Keepers
• Dana Stallings, Kilwin’s Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream Shoppe
Pioneer of the Year
• Joanelle Mulrain, Mulrain Resource Group/Great Blue Heron Studios
• Martha Cesery Taylor, Southern Waterview Development Inc.
• Pixie Larizza, PixieGlas Elegance in Glasswork/HMT Inc.
• Annette Mears, Arlington Heavy Hauling Inc.
• Kerstin Chelius, Sandmark House Inc.
• Trudy Pascucci, Living Well Publications Inc.
Corporate Leader of the Year
• Diane Raines, Baptist Health
• Esther Bullard, Kelly Services
photo by David Ball