Most promising young woman entrepreneur of 2008

ECU senior Marie Watkins Reese was chosen by the Business and Professional Women's Network (BPWN) Awards Committee as the winner of the Most Promising Young Woman Entrepreneur of 2008 award at their April meeting this month. Reese, a member of various honors organizations at ECU, is a mentor and tutor to student athletes. She was chosen because of her managerial traits, financial responsibility and an overall strong business sense.

The committee included Lisa Wagner, regional sales manager for the Greenville Convention Center and BPWN's vice president, Tracy Dematteis, owner of Easy Living Blinds and Shutters and BPWN's secretary, and Sheila Pridgen, publisher of the Pitt County Women's Journal and BPWN's publicity person.

The recognition of the most promising young entrepreneur is a tradition that began in 1989 by the Women Business Owners (WBO). It is for ECU students who show exceptional promise, and was carried on by the BPWN. Michael Harris, director of the Small Business Institute at ECU and assistant professor in the department of management, selected three talented candidates before choosing a winner.

A cash award of $500 and plaque were issued to Reese. The runner-ups, Carla Olive and Paige Wagoner, received a cash award of $250. A separate plaque with the addition of the winner's name and noting all previous winners will be displayed in the Bate Building at ECU.

This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

(Photo noted left to right)

Carla Olive, Marie Watkins Reese, Paige Wagoner, and Michael Harris