Kristy Carruthers, owner of Proforma Inspired Promotions in Kelowna, British Columbia, received a Bronze award at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in the category Female Entrepreneur of the Year - Business Products - 10 or Less Employees. The Stevie Award honors and generates public recognition of the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs and the organizations they operate.

“It’s an honor to take home a Bronze award and be recognized by the Stevie Awards for Women in Business,” says Carruthers. “This award represents my family, friends and colleagues who have dedicated their time and hard work to help me build Proforma Inspired Promotions to what it is today.”

Nominations for the awards were judged by five juries made up of more than 200 senior-level executives and other successful businesswomen from around the world. The judges named Carruthers a Bronze winner for her commitment to her business and family.

Starting Proforma Inspired Promotions in 2016, Carruthers built her business from the ground up and has since increased her total sales by 450 percent. This year, sheis on track this year to break $1 million in sales. Carruthers has earned two Proforma Centurion Awards, which are given to owners who grow their sales from year to year by $100,000 or more, and in July 2017, she was featured as a keynote speaker at Proforma’s annual convention where she shared her inspirational story with fellow owners.

The 2018 Stevie Awards for Women in Business were presented on November 16 at the Sheraton New York Times Square hotel in New York City. Carruthers and her daughter joined more than 600 women and their guests at the ceremony to accept the award.