SwimKids announced Tuesday that their CEO and Cofounder Cindy Tonnesen received a Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year for Consumer Services in the annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.
The Stevie Awards for Women honor the world's top female entrepreneurs and executives as well as the successful businesses they have founded and/or operate.
"We are extremely proud of Cindy’s accomplishments and her recognition by the 2012 Stevie Awards," said SwimKids Co-founder, Cindy's husband, Dave Tonnesen. "It has been an exciting year of growth and innovation for SwimKids, and her leadership and pursuit of excellence have helped pave the way."
The Tonnesens started SwimKids 15 years ago in the backyard of their home in Woodbridge, but today they own four professional swim schools with locations in Gainesville, Woodbridge, Leesburg and Fredericksburg. They also host Stealth, a registered, year-round competitive swim team.
This year, the Stevie Awards received over 1200 entries from 17 nations and territories; the contestants were judged by more than 200 executives worldwide. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to enter, regardless if their businesses are public or private, for profit or non-profit.
"This year's Stevie award-winning women are the most accomplished, impressive group we've ever had,” said President and Founder of the Stevie Awards, Michael Gallagher. “Their stories of success will be an inspiration to women around the globe who dream of starting and growing a business and making a difference in the world,”
This award is the latest of seven awards SwimKids has received this year that also include a prestigious ranking on the 2012 Inc. 5000 list (#28 in Education), Best Facility in the United States Swim School Association, Best Swimming Pool, Best Place to Go Swimming, Best Summer Camp and recognition by the National Association of Women Business Owners as a Woman of Distinction Honoree.
"I'm very pleased that we were able to conclude our tenth year of organizing Stevie Awards programs with a very successful Women in Business event," said Gallagher.
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!