Staff Writer
AUGUSTA — A local woman has been named a “Maine 2007 Women in Business Champion” by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Audrey Zimmerman of Amity received the award for her work as center coordinator and microenterprise trainer with the Maine Center for Women, Work & Community office in Houlton.
“Audrey’s desire to see women in Maine’s rural communities achieve their entrepreneurial dream makes her a true champion and deserving of this award,” said Charles Summer, New England SBA regional administrator.
Zimmerman, who has worked with Women, Work & Community for the past 18 years, was nominated for the award by U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine).
“Audrey can explain the complicated intricacies of business plans in a very factual, straight-forward manner. She is an asset to her community and the system in general,” said Rep. Michaud.
During an interview last week, Zimmerman said she felt honored to receive the recognition.
“I am pleased and honored to be recognized,” she said. “I’ve worked with a lot of wonderful people to support their dreams and it’s been a pleasure. … I still think that small business and micro-enterprise are key to revitalizing the economy in Maine.”
In addition to individual business planning assistance and tailored training sessions, Zimmerman has helped create networks for women entrepreneurs to help reach their market. Those efforts are all aimed at helping women achieve financial security and become community leaders by developing a career or following the path to self-employment.
Zimmerman’s leadership efforts afford women the opportunity to increase their income and achieve business success, stated the press release from the SBA.
Active in the community, Zimmerman has served on many boards including the Economic Development District Council of the Northern Maine Development Commission, the Aroostook Business Information Group, the Battered Women’s Project and the SAD 70 Board of Directors. She is also founder and president of the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project (SACAP) and a current committee member of the Maine Arts Commission.
Zimmerman recently accepted the position of executive director at SACAP where she will be putting her own entrepreneurial skills to work as she develops a business plan for the organization and mentors SACAP artists in development of their business and with the SACAP Visions shop as an outlet for their work.
“It’s an exciting time for the arts and for artists in greater Aroostook County,” she added.
Zimmerman and other award recipients will be honored at the SBA celebration in May.
