CityView Magazine

Special Promotional Section WomenBUSINESS G IN We've come a long way, baby. one are the days of shoulder-padded power suits and women having to act and think like men in order to succeed in the workplace. These days women in business are powerhouses in their own rights. In fact, according to the Center for Women's Business Research, more than 10 million firms in the United States are female-owned, generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008. On average, women-owned businesses grow at a rate two times faster than all firms and the number of women-owned businesses in the United States increased by 20 percent from 2002 to 2011, a time when male-owned businesses increased by just 5 percent. Businesses owned by women have affected the creation of more than 23 million new jobs and had an economic impact of about $3 trillion dollars and one in five American firms with revenues of $1 million or more are owned by women, with the largest percent (20.9) in professional, scientific and technical services fields. In other words, finding a strong woman at the helm of a top company is no longer an oddity in the workplace. And lest you think this pink-powered performance trend is happening only in big cities, Fayetteville has likewise enjoyed the benefits of a large number of women- owned businesses. One does not have to travel far to find multiple examples of female-owned and operated businesses here, often functioning side-by-side in the same building. Read on to discover some of the women here in our area who are transforming our business community. 48 | March/April • 2012 AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER 5407-A Ramsey Street (Across from Methodist University) Fayetteville, NC 28311 910.486.5323 www.anaffairtoremembernc.com Long time friends Kathy Jensen and Haroula Karmazyn launched their formal wear boutique, An Affair to Remember, six years ago in North Fayetteville. These savvy Greek business partners married into the military and met in 1992 while stationed in Germany. Featuring lovely gowns that are perfect for proms, pageants military balls and weddings, An Affair to Remember has quickly become Fayetteville's leading formal wear boutique. Customers who bring in an old prom dress to donate to Cinderella's Closet will receive a credit to apply towards the purchase of a new gown. An Affair to Remember also sells Pasion apparel, which raises money for the Cancer Center at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, participated in the November food drive and will host a "Go Red Fashion Show" for heart disease this year. Let Kathy and Haroula help you find the perfect frock for your next formal event! W O M E N IN B U S INE S S

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