The Fire Within


We celebrated 26 Inspire and Aspire Award winners at the annual Fire Within in Great Falls. The Haute Hive was packed with outstanding women in business and over 160 people who came to support their achievements; see KRTV.
Each year the Great Falls Development Authority and community partners honor exemplary women in business.
Inspire Award
This award will go to a Woman Business Owner in operation for 5+ years in an established business that has made a significant personal contribution 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 winner will have: five plus successful years in business and mentored at least one other entrepreneur.
Aspire Award
This award will go to a Woman Business Owner in operation 1-5 years who has recently realized her dream by starting a new venture. Her early success and accomplishments show her creativity, passion and drive.
2023 Aspire Award Winners
Kalen McKelvey; Sunshine Stables
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.
2022 Inspire Winners
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
Sara Calhoun, Red Ants Pants
2023 Inspire Award Winners
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
2022 Aspire Winners
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
Melissa McQuillen, All The Things Charcuterie<span>
INSPIRE Award Hall of Fame
2011: Cari Yturri, Bennett Motors
2012: Sandra Johnson-Thares, O’Haire Motor Inn
2013: Alison Fried, Dragonfly Dry Goods
2014: Penny Rubner, Penny’s Gourmet to Go
2015: Linda McPherson, Montana Academy of Salons
2016: Katy Duncan, Happy Tails Lodge
2017: Beth Leathem, Bighorn Outdoor Specialists
2018: Dianne Meinhardt, Cogswell Insurance/MAA
2019: Kari Lane Johnson, My Viola Floral Studio
2020: Amber Hofstad, Windrift Hill; Erin Merchant, Schermele Films
ASPIRE Award Hall of Fame
2011: Cindy Ceiluch, Cindy Ceiluch Photorgraphy
2012: Kari Lane Johnson, My Viola Floral Studio
2013: Tracy Perry, The Blue Rose
2014: Janet Neil, Bert and Ernie’s
2015: Amber Fern, Fern Photography
2016: Heidi Reiste, Electric City Coffee
2017: Kattie Meyer, Motifs
2018: Yve Bardwell and Maggie Carr, Dropstone Outfitting
2019: Susan Crocker, The Good Wood Guys
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