The Fire Within

The Fire Within Celebration

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 14 years ago GFDA has given the Fire Within Award to 84 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”!

Inspire Award

This is a celebration of Woman Business Owners 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 celebrates 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.

Fire Within 2025

Check out photos from the past  Fire Within events.

Aspire Awards

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 Photorgraphy

Inspire Awards

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