The GWiB Golden Gems Awards
Each year, Golden Women in Business invites its members to nominate other influential GWiB members for the GWiB Golden Gems Awards.
The two awards available each year are the Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership and Helen Ferrell Berthoud Community Service Award. Additionally Lora Engesser, the founder of GWiB, is giving out a Founders Award.
Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership Award
The Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership Award is given to a woman who demonstrates exceptional and impactful leadership in the Golden community. This woman:
Develops trust and respect in the community through open communication and relationship building.
Positively influences and builds consensus in the community or internally among co-workers, community members and/or GWIB members.
Manages or champions effectively through formal and informal leadership.
Serves as a role model with high levels of integrity.
Demonstrates transformative and innovative leadership skills by empowering groups and fostering effective change to contribute to the success.
About Eliza Boyd West (1843-1920)
Eliza was known for her lovable character and cheerful personality. Her father, Judge TP Boyd, one of Golden’s founders, built one of the first three homes in Golden. She married founding father of Golden, George West, 17 years her senior, who she met over an apple pie prank which George made with unbaked apples and Jamaica ginger seasoning, offering her a piece with a smirk. She fell in love with his wit and humor and felt that this man needed someone to care for him. She traveled and served the Union army with George as a nurse and caretaker to the sick and wounded soldiers. Along with their three children, she worked tirelessly with him on his beloved Golden Transcript. Eliza was a member of The Colorado Press Club and became a talented journalist herself, selling her stories to newspapers to supplement the family income. Her pen name was Kate Warrenton. The Golden Transcript was not a money maker, so Eliza & George also became sale agents for the elliptic hook stitch sewing machine product.
As town founders, the Wests hosted many social gatherings and Buffalo Bill was often a guest. Ever the hostess, Eliza’s home was a daily gathering place for townspeople and friends.
Eliza was a lifter in the community and the town leaned on her leadership as well. She was a true pioneer woman who faced the hardships of Colorado’s early days and helped build up Golden to be the Gem it is today. We owe a lot to this generous pioneer lady who brought energy, courage, zest, hospitality, and enthusiasm to lay the foundation for those to come.
The winner of the 2024 GWiB Golden Gem Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership Award is Wendy Renee.
Wendy is a true leader and gives in so many ways in our community. She donates her time to many people and organizations. She has held numerous positions with the Golden Lions Club, including Past President, Current Membership & Program Chair and the Co-chair Annual Fourth of July and Chair for the Buffalo Bill Days Vendors.
Wendy saw a need to support new members of the community by starting two Meetups: Boulder New Locals and Golden New Locals. She’s involved in many organizations, including the Golden Rotary Club, BNI of the Applewood Chapter, and Leadership Golden Glass of 2024. She spends countless hours as a DABC Advanced Tax Volunteer. She supports where she lives as an ambassador of the Golden and West Metro Chambers. She contributes to Golden Living Magazine’s Mortgage Expert as a Mortgage Pro with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.
Wendy actively advocates for GWIB, attends many events, and is the new coordinator of the Home Services Circle. She is a fantastic person, whether working on a team or individually. She exudes positivity, a sense of calmness, and kindness and listens intently. One of her nominees said, “She is truly a soul”.
The winner of the 2023 GWiB Golden Gem Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership Award was Mara Prendergast, owner of Unite Fitness.
Mara builds community among business owners by bringing them together with constant collaborations. She understands that we are all most successful when we work together, and she is a connector in our community. Mara facilitates endless events within the community that bring people together and champion other women in business: from health expos, to social media campaigns, photo shoots, fundraisers, fitness challenges & certifications, community celebrations, and keg conditioning classes. She has built and operates multiple businesses and excels at entrepreneurship.
Not only does Mara help grow others in business, she is a steadfast friend who is always diving deeper to be the best mother, partner, friend, and human being that she can be. She walks her talk and is always truly building herself and building her community.
The winner of the 2022 GWiB Golden Gem Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership Award was Annie Hammond, business banker at Sunflower Bank.
Annie is all about relationship-building. She will always try to put you in touch with someone who can help you, or point you to a useful resource. As part of a small community bank, she provides a valuable resource to local businesses and takes that mentality into her personal as well as professional life. She is a force of nature and acts as a good role model for women in the community, showing how they can help others throughout their lives.
Also, she is all about the community. Her nickname is the "connector". She laughingly says "I know a lot of people so just tell me what you need and I'll have a name. Need a realtor? insurance agent? a podiatrist?--I'm sure I know someone." She has served on many Boards throughout the years. In the past she served as President of Westside Business Builders, she just finished as President of Applewood Business Association and others. She was just asked to be on the American Heart Association Board. As a banker at Sunflower Bank she has expertise in the SBA loan arena - so ask her about that next time you see her.
The winner of the 2021 GWiB Golden Gem Eliza Boyd West Community Leadership Award was Kim Mangle, owner of Kim Mangle Consulting, a non-profit consulting agency and 5280 Masks.
Kim supports and strengthens Golden non-profits in various ways. She founded the ED Roundtable, where non-profits can collaborate and receive training and support. She has been a part of various strategic planning efforts for very well-loved non-profits such as BGoldN. When the pandemic began she looked to her love of sewing and formed 5280 Masks, where she still is providing masks in various retail locations around Golden. She is a kind and gracious person that is willing to step in and lend a hand where needed. She is currently supporting the efforts of the Coors family while they gather community feedback for what will be built on the Porcelain Plant land.
Helen Ferrell Berthoud Community Service Award
The Helen Ferrell Berthoud Community Service Award is given to a woman whose service to the community of Golden has created a positive and lasting impact. This woman:
Assists others in improving their community through volunteer programs, social groups, outreach centers, sports programs or after school groups.
Has made a lasting impact on the Golden community through their involvement in the aforementioned programs.
Serves as a role model with high levels of integrity.
About Helen Ferrell Berthoud (1830-1887)
Helen was known for her educational pursuits and service to others. Her father, John Ferrell, was part of one of the first families to settle in Golden in 1859. He built the first bridge across Clear Creek for the gold rushers, which is the same spot as the bridge today on Washington Ave. He owned the Miners hotel in Golden where the family all also lived. Helen married the famous surveyor Edward Berthoud, who also served as Mayor of Golden and was the County Superintendent of Schools. Yes, he “discovered” Berthoud Pass in 1861. And yes, he is the same man who founded Colorado School of Mines. Helen worked alongside her husband in all his endeavors. Helen traveled to war with her husband and served the soldiers under his Union command. She was instrumental in founding The Grand Army of the Republic and the Woman’s Relief Corps along with other branches of charity and fraternity. She and her husband also founded the Overland Hotel. She was one of the most active and faithful leaders of the community. When she and her husband saw poor children admiring toys in the windows of shops, they bought those toys and gave them as Christmas gifts to make sure the children awoke on Christmas day with gifts under the tree. When it came to social matters, Helen was at the forefront of the happenings, often entertaining the legislature when it was in session. She was held in the highest esteem and respect. Her kindness and graciousness left Golden a much better place.
The winner of the 2024 GWiB Golden Gem Helen Ferrell Berthoud Community Service Award is Carrie Preister.
Carrie always has such a great attitude and is a strong member of the community as well as the City of Golden. She’s a person you can always count on if you need help. She has many talents and puts tremendous energy into anything she manages. Over the years, she has been a strong supporter of several local businesses and events within the community.
Carrie volunteers regularly with the Chamber of Commerce and the Golden Civic Foundation. She organized the Golden High School’s After Prom and the Golden Talent Mine. She owns Minx Show and is also a Managing Director at Westar Real Property Management.
Carrie has really grown her involvement in GWIB over the past couple of years by helping out with several events and lately being the GWIB’s Happy Hour Coordinator.
She is a single Mom with 3 children, and we admire her spirit, enthusiasm and roll-up-your-sleeve and get-it-done attitude!
The winner of the 2023 GWiB Golden Gem Helen Berthoud Community Service Award was Nadine Wilson, owner of Truly BoHotique.
You might know Nadine as the owner of Truly BoHotique. Not many know that she is also a the owner of Moxie Consulting, a marketing consulting company focused on real estate agents. Nadine integrates her values of empowering women in everything she does both personally and professionally.
She is sponsoring GWiB and also gives back through her business to the community in multiple ways. One of the most fabulous community outreaches to young women in Golden was born and fostered by Nadine. Each fall, Nadine outfits hundreds of young women from The Colorado School of Mines to be interview and business ready. The Mines Dress for Success Event is a Business attire clothing drive for about 300 Mines women for career day and job interviews. The clothing is donated by our community, then a try on event is held at Truly and Truly also donates items. Each woman gets about 2 outfits to take home with them.
She hosts & sponsors community events, such as International Women’s Day conferences and offers deep discounts and giveaways on the annual day.
During the Boulder County wildfire Nadine spearheaded the creation of a Facebook page and rallied several local businesses together to give a percentage of their sales to raise over $43,000, which went to the Boulder County Wildfire Funds.
The winner of the 2022 GWiB Golden Gem Helen Ferrell Berthoud Community Service Award was Stacy Fowler, owner of The Golden Hayride.
Stacy is part of the glue that holds the Golden community together. She has great energy, is active and present and helps everyone in her path. She is serious about helping the women of Golden live their best lives physically and her free hula hoop exercise classes at the Eddy are just the latest example of her constant innovation and drive to help her community. Through her non-profit “We Play It Forward”, Stacy raises funds to help ease the fee barriers of organized sports. Her love of nature led her to launch Camp GO, connecting kids and families to the outdoors. She brings joy to so many young and old every holiday season with the Elf Academy teaching young children how to be an Elf. She helped get International Women’s Day created in Jefferson County. Together with Cheryl Jordan, she organized the Goosetown Fun Run in 2019 as a fundraiser for the Golden Fire Station. There are countless other things she has done to give back to our community and we cannot list all of it here. When you meet her, ask her about her time as a Fitness coach to the celebrities or her features on TV, radio and print for famous programs such as Good Morning America and Shape Magazine.
You might see Stacy having fun with the Golden Beer Tours, where she is showing tourists around Golden on the Golden Hayride.
The winner of the 2021 GWiB Golden Gem Helen Ferrell Berthoud Community Service Award was Deb Starkey, owner of Deb Starkey Coaching, a life-coaching agency and Independent Director of Mary Kay Cosmetics.
Deb Starkey has her hands in so many community endeavors a paragraph would not do it justice. From being on the board of Golden Women in Business, Jeffco International Woman's Day Board to her Mary Kay and Life coaching she has been a positive impact to so many in her community. Deb Starkey is a Rock Star Volunteer when it comes to community service in her hometown. Just the kind of of woman Helen would be so proud of in her community. Her smile can light up a room and her heart is as big as - well its huge! Always the cheerleader wherever she goes she spreads cheer and lights up the room. Always willing to roll up her sleeves and help her fellow team members and friends she loves to make others shine. Her energy is contagious and her positive attitude is so refreshing at a time the world is a mess. She is a friend to many and our GWIB community is stronger because of her tireless efforts.
Founders Award
Additionally, Lora Engesser, the founder of GWiB, is giving out a The Founders Award. The award honors someone in GWiB that exemplifies the spirit of building our community and the characteristics of GWiB. The person needs to be a GWiB member for at least 2 years, dedicated to GWiB running efficiently and encouraging the longevity of the group.
The 2024 recipient of the Founders Award is Georgina Miller from Crabapple Communications.
Georgina became a GWiB member not long after moving to Golden. She didn’t hesitate to join our board as the Book Club coordinator and soon volunteered to support GWiBs growing needs using her expertise in marketing and brand strategies as a board member. She dedicated herself to collaborating to streamline GWiB messaging, aligning our branding across all platforms. She spearheaded the creation of our board governance documents to refine our structure and processes. Georgina used her knowledge of marketing strategies, content creation and digital marketing to contribute to the growth of GWiB. Georgina’s willingness to take on any task, supporting others in GWiB and our board has been instrumental to our success. Her leadership of the GWiB book club and co-charing the quarterly New Member Mixer has fostered a sense of community and intellectual curiosity among our members. She is from the UK and fluent in French and German, but even as a globetrotter who enjoys far-away vacations and who has lived in other countries, it has not deterred her from embracing our little Golden Community with open arms.
The 2023 recipient of the Founders Award was Danette Rockwell, or for many known as DD, a musician and a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Colorado Real Estate.
Within GWIB our CIRCLES have shaped a space for women to share and grow about their specific industry. Whether you have chosen to join a CIRCLE or not quite yet, We are so fortunate to have all of you in our CIRCLE of friends, business owners and life.
DD in our community who exemplifies this CIRCLE - a women who does it all, balances their family life, business life, hobbies such as a musician, mountain biker, a teacher; seeking out new things for themselves to create joy and meaning, all while truly caring for the things they hold special in their heart. We all know that ‘doing it all’ can bring about spreading oneself to thin…or negatively affecting one important aspect to take care of another. That being said this person has had the inner strength, the willpower, the direction, the perseverance… to keep forging ahead, plotting new trails for herself which directly affect those around her, both within her inner CIRCLE rippling her CIRCLE connection to Golden and beyond.
The 2022 recipient of the Founders Award was Ursula Webhofer, owner of Ur Web Marketing.
Ursula has been an integral part of Golden Women in Business since the beginning! Since 2015, Ursula has propelled GWIB by creating and maintaining our website. She is the keeper and organizer of many documents and files that keep track of our members, our events, and our successes!
Going above and beyond for the good of our group, Ursula truly emulates dedication, loyalty and friendship. We would not be where we are today, without all of her steadfast work to keep us navigated towards the future!
Besides helping small/medium size businesses and non-profits with marketing projects with her marketing agency called Ur Web Marketing, she also works as a linguistic and functional software tester and volunteers for Bell Middle School PTA, Golden High School PTA, Golden High School Mountain Bike Team, Golden Schools Foundation, Act Locally Golden as well as WeeCycle Colorado. She also sells her Grandma’s greeting cards under Mimi’s Vintage Art.
The 2021 recipient of the Founders Award was Jen Thoemke, owner of Cafe 13 and Connects Workspace and Gold Mine Cupcakes.
Jen took over the leadership of GWiB in 2016 and was the driving force to creating a board of directors and a mission.
Jen is the Chief Connector and Creator for Connects Workspace, Managing Member of Cafe 13 and owner of Gold Mine Cupcakes. She is a Colorado native with over 25 years of leadership experience ranging from non-profit, small business and Corporate America. In June 2015, she opened Connects Workspace, a 3000 square foot coworking space in Golden, Colorado and has since expanded to 15,000 square foot of coworking space and over 200 members. Connects Workspace has been a staple in the business community of Golden and won 2019 Business of the Year for the Golden Chamber of Commerce. In June 2018, Jen purchased Cafe 13, neighbor to Connects Workspace and May 2021 purchased Gold Mine Cupcakes. Through these opportunity she has been able to bring the love of creating community to Golden as a whole.