Awards

Wisconsin's

Governor's Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business 

A Wisconsin Women's Council Program
Established 2007

Award Programs and Recipients

 2007 | 2009 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018| Next: 2020


 Award Categories 

Pioneer
Thrive
Torchbearer
Forward
Special Recognition


 Award Eligibility 

The Trailblazer Awards are open to women business owners of companies: 

  1. with sole or majority (51% or more) ownership held by one woman, two or more women, or a series of women consecutively over the period, of the same company; 

  2. headquartered and registered in the State of Wisconsin;
     
  3. in compliance and good-standing with all applicable government legal, regulatory and program requirements; and 

  4. that meet criteria 1 through 3, plus meet the specific period required for a Pioneer or Thrive Award, or the generational component required for a Torchbearer Award, or "number of employees" component for Forward Award: 

    • Pioneer Award:  majority woman-owned, by one or more women or a series of women, continuously for the past 25 years or more
    • Thrive Award: as above, for the past 50 years or more 
    • Torchbearer Award: currently 3rd generation or more, family-owned business, now majority woman-owned by a female relative of the founder
    • Forward Award: 100 or more full-time equivalent employees

  5. Special Recognition Awards are nominated through a partnership with the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC).
 
 Who can nominate a business owner? 

Individuals and organizations, including business and professional associations, chambers of commerce, elected officials, employees and other friends or colleagues are all invited to a business owner for Wisconsin's Governor’s Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business.  

Business owners are also invited to self-nominate.



 How to nominate a business owner. 

Open Nomination period for the 2020 Trailblazer Awards will run from September to December 2019. Watch this space for details.

Have a suggestion or tip you want to share? Contact: christine.lidbury@wi.gov

An online nomination form will be available during the Open Nomination period. 


 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 


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@WIWomen
#WITrailblazer

Trailblazer Sponsors

BMO Logo.jpg 

BMO Harris Bank is the lead corporate sponsor for the Governor's Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business & host of the Governor's Trailblazer Awards Reception


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The Governor's Trailblazer Awards are a program of the Wisconsin Women's Council,

in partnership with the Offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.