U.S. Small Business Administration Names NAWBO member as the 2010 National Women in Business Champion

Carolyn Brown, CEO of The Accountant’s Office and charter member and past president of NAWBO Phoenix was selected as this year’s National Women in Business Champion. Small Business Champion awards are given to individuals or organizations dedicated to supporting small businesses. These awards are given on the district, state and national level.

“It seems funny to be awarded for something that comes so naturally,” says Carolyn, who was a charter member of NAWBO Phoenix, chapter president and member of the chapter’s mentorship program. “I think women look at their businesses differently than men do—we have a tendency to reach out and ask for help, to realize what we’re good at and look for assistance to fill in that void.”

Carolyn founded The Accountant’s Office in 2001. The Accountant’s Office is known for outstanding customer service and a team that includes both CPAs and degreed accountants. Her organization helps solo entrepreneurs grow to multi-million-dollar businesses. “I have a heart to help business owners do what they’re good at and what they wanted to do when they first started their business,” she says. “My passion is accounting. I want to be the trusted financial advisor and take care of that aspect of the business for our clients.”

The National Women in Business Champion award not only recognizes women as small business owner, but also for their advocacy for the women business community as a whole and for their work in public policy and legislation. “I attended NAWBO’s Public Policy Days in Washington D.C.—regulatory action is one of the areas where NAWBO really shines. I didn’t realize until that trip how much the regulations built into so many laws impact small businesses,” Carolyn explains. The trip inspired her to plan NAWBO Day for the Arizona chapters during her term as chapter president. During this event, more than 100 NAWBO members and guests visited the state Senate and House, met with Governor Janet Napolitano, voted on the design Arizona state quarter and attended a seminar on how a bill becomes a law.

Donna Davis, the CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association and a fellow NAWBO member, nominated Carolyn for this award. As she prepares to travel to the event, she’ll be reaching out to her mentor, Patricia Drain, another NAWBO member who Carolyn says coaches her in business and in life. The awards will be presented during National Small Business Week 2010, May 23-25, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C.