Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame

Eight legendary and inspirational women leaders will soon be added to a very elite group, when they are inducted into the Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame.

This year's honorees will include Nordic Ware's Dorothy Dalquist, who was almost single-handedly responsible for putting Bundt pans in kitchens across America, and a posthumous honor to pioneer restaurateur Leeann Chin.

The women will be inducted during a gala event to be held April 9 at Cargill World Headquarters. Collectively, at their peak, these women's businesses have generated nearly $350 million per year in revenue for the state of Minnesota, said organizer Jill Johnson, who has invested hundreds of hours researching candidates for consideration by the Selection Committee.

Nearly all of these women have earned multiple high honors throughout their careers. These are pioneers and trailblazers whose business and philanthropic accomplishments are worthy of historic acknowledgment. They represent nearly 100 years of Minnesota history.

The event's emcee will be WCCO's morning anchor Jamie Yuccas. This year's keynote speaker is Jenny Verner, president of Cargill's Specialty Seeds and Oils Business Unit. This year's honorees are: Maureen Steinwall, Steinwall, Inc., Coon Rapids. Dorothy Staugaard Dalquist, Nordic Ware, St. Louis Park. Pamela Smith Garrett, Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center (CRC). Kathleen Zurek, Diversified Adjustment Service, Inc., Coon Rapids. Esperanza Guerrero-Anderson, Guerrero-Anderson, Inc., Golden Valley. Angie Bastian, Angie's Artisan Treats, LLC, Mankato. Marie O'Brien Slawik, HarMar, Incorporated (posthumous). Leeann Chin, Leeann Chin Chinese Cuisine, (posthumous). Tickets to this year's Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame celebration are $95 each, and may be purchased at www.nawbo-mn.org.