Each year the Great Falls Development Alliance and community partners celebrate women in business through the Fire Within Celebration! The program is comprised of two recognition categories, women business owners who Inspire (in business over five years) and those that Aspire (those in business under five years). For several years we awarded one award in each category, but in 2023 we completely changed the program from awards to celebrating all women business owners.
Since its inception 16 years ago GFDA has given the Fire Within Award to 136 woman business owners. We welcome nominations from the 13 county region we serve.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of an annual event held at The Newberry in Great Falls that celebrates the power, resilience, and innovation of female entrepreneurs in our region. Let’s fan the flames of success together at “Fire Within”!
Aspire Award
This award celebrates Woman Business Owners in operation 1-5 years who have recently realized their dream by starting a new venture. Her early success and accomplishments show her creativity, passion, and drive.
Inspire Award
This is a celebration of Woman Business Owners in operation for 5+ years in an established business who have made significant personal contributions to its success, growth or expansion.
We are looking for a business savvy woman who has helped or is helping other business owners or budding entrepreneurs.
The Fire Within 2026
Check out photos from the past Fire Within events:
Sara Niccum
Food & Ag Development Center Director/Business Development Officer
Questions about the Fire Within? Contact our team!
ASPIRE AWARDS
2026
- Carly Byung-Ho, Okii Eats
- Amy Behrendsen, P15 Ventures, LLC (DBA MX2 Energy Solutions)
- Ellyse Kieliszewski, Ellyse’s Studio Arts
- Carrie Hayes, Life In Bloom
- Dawn Bushard, Bushard Water
- Becky Younkin (Yunkin), Whispering Petals
- Monti Pavatea – Gilham, MPG Construction, LLC
- Tressa Street, Wild Sage Creative
- Amy Beernink, Mako Painting and Construction
- Rebecca Liggett, Growing Pines Handmade
- Rachel Laubach, K&H Littlehart Designs L.L.C.
- Jamie Hauer Walker, LMFT
- Heather Whitley, MetalGardenMarkers.com
- Myra Blonde, Blonde Farms of Montana LLC
- Fonda Redfox, Tribal Legends Healthcare, LLC
- Suzette Vandenbos, VBOS Rootin Tootin Poopers, LLC
- Cathy Lockard, Headwaters Livestock Consulting
- Myka Smith, Electric ISR
- Jamie Stark, Jake’s Bakes
- Susan Rasmussen, Harmony in the Falls Yoga Studio
- Kristina Hoeg, Fit Fox Nutrition
- Dr. Heather Moore, Homegrown Dental
- Shannon Newth, Clear Source Communications
- Jori Bradford, Ever Westward Farm
- Juli Seaman, The Cage Batting Club
- Kaylene Tinsley, Tinsley’s Moving LLC
- Renee D Miller, Bodacious Beauty Bar
2025
- Lexi Andre, Shindig Rental
- Jen Barnett, The Front Agency
- Erica Ferrin, GRAE + Co.
- Shauna Green, Rocky Mountain Interventions, LLC
- Julia Gremaux, Juila Gremaux Photography
- Heather Harpring, Illuination Recovery
- Jessi Hough, Wellness in the Falls
- Tobi Hlavnicka, Aquasource Drilling, LLC
- Toni Hufford, Whispers Zen Spa
- Cheriene Johnson, PowerUp, LLC
- Kitty Kennerly, Polished to Perfection
- Emily Lindquist, Volta Athletics
- Nicole Marchion, The GF Edit + Intentionaire Marketing
- Kristin McComb, Crystals & Sage Candle Co.
- Chelsie Morasko, Big Sky Dental
- Madalyn Morris, Sunriver Health Care
- Deana Moler, Signature Med Spa
- Julie Seaman, The Cage
- Hillary Shepher, The Montana Shepherd
- Kelly Stephens, Reptile Garden
- Kaylene Stewart, Mmkay Cleaning Services, LLC
- Tia Stiles, Studio Stile
- Angela Stringer, Times Square Plaza
- Jill Tranmer, Tranmer Toolbox, LLC
- Jennifer Renaud, Thrive Cycle
- Brianna Rhoten, Rhoten Studios
- Carly Webber, MT Dirt & Construction, LLC
2024
- Kari Aguayo, Cultivating Wild Roots
- Jennifer Benski, HomeCo Realty
- Lyla Brown, Magpie
- Kari Ceaicovschi, One Fat Lamb
- Jaymie Christian, UPS Store
- Lindsey Godwin, REP Space
- Shauna Green, Green Apple Counseling
- Jamie Gregoire, Dahl House
- Sylvia Hastanan, Greater Good Health
- Rebekah Jarvey, Rebekah Jarvey Sewist
- Lani McCarthy, Rise Athletics
- Ajiah Ross, Simplicity Studio
- Christy Tatsey, Parallel Connections
2023
- Trisha Heck; Wild Honey Salon
- Katie Scollin; Scollin Design
- Laura Ewalt; Honey Hippo Café
- Shelbi Frieling & Nicole Frieling; Montana Apothecary & Compounding
- Ashley Friesen; Threshold Real Estate
- Holly Kopekin; Omni Marketing & Design
- Karen Beeler; Life in Bloom
- Rylie Carmichael; White Bear Baking Co.
2011-2022
- 2022: Brita Lee, Decorating House; Veronica Van Voast, The Refinery; Molly McGonigal, 406 Cookies; Lorie Jean Schult, Good Deeds Real Estate; Jade Heather Hinman, Hinman Coffee House; Jenn Rowell, The Electric; Lyndsay Guiterrez, Nourish; Darby Bogden, Colored Snow; Kate Stephens, Farm Ag Fashion; Ashlee Anderson, BRB Preschool; Paulette Wright, Mrs. Wright’s Pasty’s; Cassie Campbell, Spices N’ Spurs; Heather Kunz, Broadwater Coffee Brewing Company; Carie Bates, All The Things Charcuterie; and Melissa McQuillen, All The Things Charcuterie
- 2020: Ashley Wilkinson, Fetch Pet Boutique; Candice English, The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers; Hallie Thompson, Wholesome Hal’s; Melissa Dascoulias, Dascoulias Realty Group; Tara Beam, Roadhouse Diner; Vanessa Bucklin, Pondera County Insurance
- 2019: Susan Crocker, The Good Wood Guys
- 2018: Yve Bardwell and Maggie Carr, Dropstone Outfitting
- 2017: Kattie Meyer, Motifs
- 2016: Heidi Reiste, Electric City Coffee
- 2015: Amber Fern, Fern Photography
- 2014: Janet Neil, Bert and Ernie’s
- 2013: Tracy Perry, The Blue Rose
- 2012: Kari Lane Johnson, My Viola Floral Studio
- 2011: Cindy Ceiluch, Cindy Ceiluch Photography
INSPIRE AWARDS
2026
- Holly Hamilton, Stillpoint Wellness
- Christina Flammond, C+C Meats
- Shaylee Lewis, Lewis Heating and A/C, LLC
- Yve Bardwell, Magge Carr, Dropstone Outfitting
- Katie Boedecker, Showdown
- Judy Cornell, Conservation Grains
- Kim Blaine, Blaine Train Realty
- Amanda Hennessey, Treasure State Performance
- Julie Phelan, Swensen, Phelan, and Assoc.
- Dr. Loy Anderson, Thriven Functional Medicine
- Myrna Haugen, D & M Haugen Farms, Inc.
- Laura Huston, Sapphire Technical Services, LLC
- Bryanna Deschamps, Millennium Real Estate and Mgmt LLC
- Kelly Speidel, The Paard Yard Horse Resort
- Lexie Julian, Savor + Graze
- Nicole Edwards, Rising Wolf Outfitters
- Renee Rummans, Stone City Consulting
- Valerie Smelser, Mountain Title Company
- Kelli Campbell, Campbell Training
- Teri Hensley, Aspenwood Resort
- Katrina Heffernan, Diamond in the Ruff
- Tianna Ford, Enbar Hospitality
- DeeAnna Corn, Studio Montage
- Heather Dilworth, Big Sandy Organics
2025
- Jayde Annau, Jayde Annau Floral Design
- Raean Bilbrey, All State Sign Group, LLC
- Michaela Bonilla, Rock N’ Chalk Gymnastics
- Lisa Botti, Whispering Creek Pottery
- Inge Bucholz, Inge’s Fashions
- Brittney Brokl, Absolute Spa
- Ashlee Brown, BRB Preschool
- Inge Bucholz, Inge’s Fashions
- Sandy Chevalier, Azalea Place
- Blanca Corbett, Rocky Mountain Registered Importers
- Mckenzie Cox and Kimberly Heck, Allure Aesthetics
- Victoria Davenport-Burgos, Enlightening Minds + The Gyst House’s
- Beth Evenson, Planet Earth
- Lindsay Hager and Leah McCloskey, Crooked Tree Coffee
- Debbie Haney, Rocky Mountain Carriers
- Mary Keeler, Big Sky Kreations
- Britta Lee, The Decorating House
- Ann Rambo, Total Construction
- Veronica Ronnau, Pizazz
- Kathleen Royt, Great Falls Interpreting Services
- Shawna Rothwell and Leighanne Bailey, S & L Development
- Jill Simmons, Big Sky Billing
- Katie Scollin, Scollin Design
- Sidney Stanley, Cloud 9 Massage
- Tianta Stevens, Escape the Falls
- Kim Woloszyn, The Gittin Store
- Wendy Weissman, Wendy J. Weissman, CPA
2024
- Keely Baker, Studio Barre
- Denise Berg, Linda Michaels
- Deena Birdwell, Simple Style and Then Some
- Raegen Breeden, Play N Learn
- Victoria Davenport, Enlightening Minds
- Amy Eisenzimer, Parker’s Hangover Tonic
- Bobbie Floerchinger, MyDirndl.com
- Melissa Gaspar, Gentle Beginnings Family Care and Birth Center
- Gena Gremaux, Ridgeline Real Estate
- Christa Heisler-Liscum, Black Eagle Brewery
- Andrea Johnson, Advanced Practice Physical Therapy
- Amber Kenner, Amber Kenner Photography
- Wendy Newman, Associated Veterinary Services
- Pamela Purdy, Rocky Mountain Portables/Double G Engraving
- Jenn Rowell, The Electric
- Colette Tihista-Longin, Grand Union
- Erin Townsend, Hempl’s Bakery
- Tara Tronson, 5th and Wine
2023
- Brandi Cundiff; Firefly Salon & Spa
- Gretchen Swift; Floors & More
- Tammy Stubs; Allstate Insurance – The Quintrell Agency
- Shirstie Gaylord; Hometana
- Nicole Wiegand; Downtown Dice & Games
- Linda Geranios; Geranios Enterprises Inc.
- Theresa Ormseth; Shortgrass Web
- Morgan Tweet; IND Hemp
- Julie Argabright Demarais; Ala Care
- Melissa Dascoulias; Dascoulias Realty group
- Heidi Reiste; Electric City Coffee
- Tara Beam; Roadhouse Diner
- Tracy Perry; The Blue Rose
- Candice English; Farmer’s Daughter’s Fibers
- Susan Crocker; The Good Wood Guys
- Ashley Wilkinson; Fetch Boutique
2011-2022
- 2022: Robin Miller,Decorating House; Angela Smith, Daydream Boutique; Joanie Agamenoni, Agamenoni & Frank Reporting; Bonnie Beuning, Century 21-Northwest Realty; Corinna Dahlin, Corinna Dahlin Photography; DeAnna Murphy, Studio Montage; Becky Rammel, Golden Triangle Gym; Lola Sheldon-Galloway, Dairy Queen and Great Falls lumber; Sophia Sparklin, BSpark Architecture; Beth Olson, TLC Daycare; Amy Roberts, Amy’s Morning Perk; Jennifer Klinker Lea, Ox & Son Towing; Bethany Benedict, Prairie Kraft Specialties; Leslie Vassar, Penthouse Salon; Tianna Ford, Two Dot Press; Kasey Lorang, Adventurous Learning Space; and Sara Calhoun, Red Ants Pants
- 2020: Amber Hofstad, Windrift Hill; Erin Merchant, Schermele Films
- 2019: Kari Lane Johnson, My Viola Floral Studio
- 2018: Dianne Meinhardt, Cogswell Insurance/MAA
- 2017: Beth Leathem, Bighorn Outdoor Specialists
- 2016: Katy Duncan, Happy Tails Lodge
- 2015: Linda McPherson, Montana Academy of Salons
- 2014: Penny Rubner, Penny’s Gourmet to Go
- 2013: Alison Fried, Dragonfly Dry Goods
- 2012: Sandra Johnson-Thares, O’Haire Motor Inn
- 2011: Cari Yturri, Bennett Motors