SEEKING CLARK COUNTY’S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN.

The Columbian B2B magazine project to identify Clark County’s Most Powerful Women has been fun, exciting as well as rewarding. There are plenty of fabulous women in our community leading top businesses and organizations. They make great contributions to the community and add energy and expertise to the complex issues facing us all here in Southwest Washington.

Our project began with the premise that we would seek out leaders, entrepreneurs and those involved in the community. The list is a long one.... 76 women who are on top of their game.

While our approach was light hearted, there’s a serious side to the issue of most powerful women. How did they get their jobs? Did they experience obstacles both personal and professional in achieving their goals? Will others follow in their footsteps?

Columbian business writer Jonathan Nelson explores those and other issues with several of our most powerful women. Their answers in our B2B cover story are candid, thought-provoking and diverse and for all that, we thank them.

Here’s what we know about Clark County’s work force from recent census data. Of the more than 15,000 businesses here, about 30 percent are owned by women. By comparison, nationally, about 21 percent of businesses are womanowned.

Some local enterprises are home-based one-woman operations while others are large and growing such as Alling Henning & Associates, (AHA!), owned by Brenda Alling and Betsey Henning, a marketing and communications business employing a staff of nearly 30 writers, public relations consultants, journalists and editors in downtown Vancouver.

The fact is that nine out of ten women in the U.S. work for pay at some time during their lives. Eight out of ten women between the ages of 20 and 44 are working. Women are playing a huge role in the economic expansion of our economy, making a difference for their families and communities.

It is with pride that we present the first-ever list of Clark County’s Most Powerful Women.

Sincerely, Julia Anderson
COLUMBIAN BUSINESS EDITOR
julia.anderson@columbian.com