Sowing the Seeds of Love, Labor and Recognition

“Enterprising Women” magazine is giving honorable mention to Kate Wright, owner and creator of  Mableton's Bloom'n Gardens Landscape, at their 2011 Enterprising Woman of the Year Award Ceremony in Boca Raton, Fla. on March 11.

The Enterprising Women of the Year Award, which received hundreds of global, self-nominations from women business owners, has released the names of 50 award winners as well as a list of women receiving honorable mention at the ceremony. These honorable mentions will be presented an award on stage to recognize their accomplishments, explains Monica Smiley, publisher and CEO of “Enterprising Women” magazine.

Wright's business, Bloom'n Gardens Landscape, is a landscape contracting firm offering services in design, installation and landscape maintenance. A wife, mother and CEO, Wright has worked to balance all aspects of her life harmoniously together. A juggler, Wright is able to work in the early mornings, be home to cook and spend time with her family in the afternoon and evenings, handle her family's financing tasks and tie up any loose ends before bed.

A master's in botany from the University of Maine, and working in the landscaping field since 1996, Wright had run the gamut in the industry, doing everything from being a worker in the field, to a manager of multi-million dollar projects. Eventually, it was her husband's idea for Wright to open her own business.

Because of her experience, Wright says it wasn't too difficult to get the business started. She didn't experience any hardships being a women and starting a company. Wright says the hardest part was the first eight months, before she could afford to hire other workers. “Being in my mid-30's and doing all the physical labor was difficult,” says Wright.

Since then, Bloom'n Garden Landscape has grown, with regular clients and crew members. Wright takes their work very seriously, explaining that they are not just a company providing a service, they're “providing a product – a landscape.

Wright says she wasn't expecting the honorable mention before getting the news a few weeks ago. After receiving word of the application and feeling like her business was in “a good place,” she filled out the paperwork without any expectations, Wright explained.

According to the magazine's website, women picked for the Award, or honorable mention, are based on the criteria of business revenue growth, community and women organization involvement, as well as a notable desire to help other women achieve business goals.

Smiley takes the honor of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award very seriously.

“It is an opportunity for us to shine the spotlight on a very deserving group of outstanding women entrepreneurs. Enterprising Women is the voice of women entrepreneurs and we want to see more women recognized for building strong businesses, mentoring and giving back to help other women succeed in business, and showing leadership in their communities,” says Smiley.  

Wright also spoke about the importance of events like this for female business owners in terms of confidence.

“You're not so expected to be an entrepreneur when you're a woman... Some people don't think that we can do it on our own so having the opportunity to be recognized shows that it can be done,” says Wright.

Wright joined the Army during the Gulf conflict and was stationed in El Paso, Texas. Though she was never sent overseas to fight, she says she owes a lot to the military service, especially in terms of her self-sufficiency.

Wright also spoke about how her business is unique because of its female-owned operation.

“It's a rough business to be in and business is different being run by a woman. I have a lot more emotions than a man... I truly care about our customers and employees and I strive as an owner to deliver a good place to work and a quality product.”

Wright says she believes the entrepreneurial spirit “fits a woman well” and encourages other women to try it, as she does with her own daughter. She also recommends it to family-women as you have more options to schedule your time. Personally, Wright says she is able to handle it all because she and her husband have a perfect partnership. They have always split responsibilities and shared parenting.

The Enterprising Woman of the Year Award Ceremony, for first time in its nine years, will be open to other female entrepreneurs to attend the "Enterprising Women 2011 Connect, Inspire & Grow" workshops on March 10. “Enterprising Women's” website states, it will be geared towards three levels of entrepreneurial experience, “emerging women entrepreneurs, seasoned women entrepreneurs, and global women entrepreneurs.” Smiley adds that “they will be fully interactive workshops that will help all those involved gain new insights to propel their businesses to the next level.”

If interested in Kate Wright's work, you can see her display at the 2011 Southeastern Flower Show at the Cobb Galleria Mall February 25-27.