Entrepreneur Magazine and OPEN from American Express® Name Katrina Markoff as 2007 Woman of the Year

Last week, Katrina Markoff, owner/chocolatier of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, was announced as the 2007 Entrepreneur magazine and OPEN from American Express® Woman of the Year. Markoff will accept her award and speak at the next "Women in Charge: Winning Strategies for Women Business Owners" conference, to be held in Miami Beach, Fl., on Jan. 29, 2008.

Entrepreneur's editorial staff and OPEN from American Express® chose Markoff for her creativity, solid business acumen and passion for her community. Markoff turned inspiration into a highly successful business by using her culinary passion to create an entirely new chocolate experience with Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

This Woman of the Year first discovered she had a passion for trying new flavor combinations while attending Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She later began experimenting with exotic ingredients for truffles like wasabi, anise and ancho chili powder, eventually leading her to start her gourmet chocolate company in 1998. The unusual flavors in her chocolates have helped her make her mark -- one worth almost $12 million in 2007 sales alone.

Markoff has made sure to grow her business with the environment in mind -- Vosges Haut-Chocolat's headquarters is run with 100 percent renewable energies. She's also planning to attain LEED platinum-level certification as well, a special recognition for sustainable green building and development practices with the U.S. Green Building Council.

"Katrina is the total embodiment of the creative, passionate and socially conscious entrepreneur," says Rieva Lesonsky, senior vice president and editorial director of Entrepreneur magazine. "She is a wonderful example of how entrepreneurial success can be achieved while maintaining a sense of connection to community and responsibility for the environment."

As the Woman of the Year, Markoff will share her insights with other women business owners during the luncheon portion of the Women in Charge conference, designed by Entrepreneur. This one-day, second-annual event will feature breakout sessions, speakers, giveaways and special opportunities for women entrepreneurs looking to start a business or make one grow.

"OPEN from American Express® is committed to supporting initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs," says Marcy Shinder, vice president, OPEN from American Express®. "We are proud to partner with Entrepreneur magazine to recognize and celebrate Katrina's success. She is among the growing number of women business owners across the country who are achieving their vision and making positive contributions to the economy and their communities."

Markoff is featured in the January 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine, on newsstands now. For more information on the Women in Charge conference and to register to attend for free, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/womenincharge.

About Entrepreneur Media Inc.
Entrepreneur Media Inc. is the premier content provider for and about entrepreneurs. Its products engage and inspire every day with the advice, solutions and resources that fuel the bold and independent way entrepreneurs think.

After 30 years, nobody reaches more growing businesses. As the original magazine for the small and midsize business community, Entrepreneur continues to be the definitive guide to all the diverse challenges of business ownership. Entrepreneur.com is the most widely used website by entrepreneurs and emerging businesses worldwide. Entrepreneur Press publishes the books that turn entrepreneurial skills into business success.

About OPEN from American Express®
OPEN from American Express® is dedicated exclusively to the success of small-business owners and their companies. OPEN supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business.

Specifically, business-owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings -- including charge and credit cards, business gift cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities, and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more information about OPEN®, visit OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.

GoodBiz113 ad partner American Express Company [http://www.americanexpress.com] is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

SOURCES: American Express, Entrepreneur Media Inc., For the Love of Chocolate [photo]
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OPEN from American Express® and SCORE® Partner to Create Mentorship Program and Workshop Series to Help Enhance Small-Business Growth

This morning, OPEN from American Express® announced a national partnership with SCORE® "Counselors to America's Small Business" to create the "Small Business Speed Coaching Test Drive," a multi-city seminar tour designed to support small-business growth, and trigger success through complimentary educational and mentorship programs.

The "Small Business Speed Coaching Test Drive" series offers small-business owners exclusive, 30-minute, one-on-one evaluation sessions with experienced business coaches from SCORE, and interactive workshops focused on areas that directly affect small-business growth -- including strategic business planning, effective marketing and business finances.

Growth is an important issue facing small businesses today, with more than one-third [37%] of small-business owners reporting growth of their business as their company's single most important priority over the next six months, according to the OPEN from American Express Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners conducted in Fall 2007. In addition, 70% of business owners believe their marketing investments are effective in promoting growth, but less than half report seeing a direct uptick in sales from their marketing efforts.

"For small-business owners, growth requires innovative thinking and a customized approach," said Marcy Shinder, vice president of OPEN from American Express. "OPEN is proud to partner with SCORE to provide small-business owners across the country with individual counsel from seasoned experts with the ultimate goal of helping to identify new avenues of strategic growth."

"SCORE is bringing speed coaching to cities across America," says Ken Yancey, SCORE CEO. "Entrepreneurs can test drive our free services and discuss their greatest challenges with a seasoned business counselor.

"We are pleased to have the support of OPEN from American Express to host this national speed coaching tour, starting in Orlando -- one of our nation's most vibrant communities."

More than 250 small-business owners are expected to attend the seminar kick-off in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Walt Disney World® Swan Hotel. Complimentary parking will be provided. In 2008, additional seminars will take place in Phoenix, Ariz.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Chicago, Ill.

Featured topics and speakers of the series include:

* "Building a Business Plan for Growth" by Skip Honigstein, SCORE assistant district director. Honigstein held high-ranking leadership positions in the health-care services industry during his 28-year career, which focused on strategic and financial planning, operations, budgets and turnarounds.

* "Marketing Your Business" by Jerry Ross, Disney National Entrepreneur Center executive director. Ross is an entrepreneur and business executive, whose two decades of experience include leadership positions with major corporations and ownership of several successful companies in Central Florida.

* "Success Stories," a Q&A-style workshop with established business owners.

* "Following the Money" by Jennifer Wybraniec, OPEN from American Express

* Luncheon keynote speaker: Jacob Stuart, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce president. During his 20 years as president, Stuart has guided the chamber to a prestigious five-star accreditation from the Accrediting Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He has worked to provide lifelong learning opportunities for business and community leaders in Orlando.

In addition to meeting with a SCORE counselor at the event, attendees will learn about local SCORE chapter resources and can continue counseling sessions in the future.

More information about the workshop is online at www.score.org/OPEN_events.html.

Registration is free and available on a first-come, first-serve basis at www.bmmreg.com/amex. A maximum of two people per company may attend the event. Limit one coaching session per business. All attendees are eligible to participate in the coaching, workshops and luncheon.

About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" has helped more than 7.7 million aspiring entrepreneurs and small-business owners through counseling and business workshops. More than 10,500 volunteer business counselors in 389 chapters serve their communities through entrepreneur education dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800-634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE on the Web at http://www.score.org/.

About OPEN from American Express
OPEN from American Express, one of GoodBiz113's premier ad partners, is dedicated exclusively to the success of small-business owners and their companies. OPEN supports business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and rewards to help customers run their business.

Specifically, business owner customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and savings -- including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working capital, robust online account management capabilities, and savings on business services from an expanded lineup of partners.

For more information about OPEN[SM], visit OPEN.com; or, call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.

Source: OPEN from American Express
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