Fifteen of the nation's top women entrepreneurs will be recognized for their business success at a special breakfast event during U.S. Small Business Administration Expo '04: Celebrating National Small Business Week, taking place May 19-21, 2004.

Celebrating Women in Business will honor the outstanding achievements of women in business May 20 at the Valencia Ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. SBA Deputy Administrator Melanie R. Sabelhaus, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings (R-Fla.), and other prominent national speakers will honor women who have launched successful ventures and achieved outstanding growth.

"SBA is proud to recognize the tremendous contributions women entrepreneurs have made to our nation," Sabelhaus said. "They are the economic powerhouse of the 21st century. What they have accomplished is absolutely amazing, and their dedication, drive and commitment is the reason that women-owned businesses are growing strong."

The "2004 Celebrating Women in Business Awards" will be presented at Thursday's breakfast, co-sponsored by HP. The honorary co-chairs for the event include U.S. senators and members of Congress, Florida elected officials, and many of the nation's leading women's business associations. Three thousand business owners and representatives from more than 100 women's business organizations are expected to attend the breakfast.

The 15 honorees represent varying areas of the country and all received help from the SBA. They represent the changing face of entrepreneurship and run the gamut from an air charter company to an ice tube maker.

The number of women-owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. businesses. Women are now owners of 10.6 million businesses in the country, generate $3.6 trillion in sales, and account for 55 percent of all new businesses.

Below is a complete list of the five national winners and 10 honorees.

List of 5 National Winners, in alphabetical order:

Christine Bierman
Colt Safety Fire & Rescue, St. Louis, Mo.

Millie Hernandez-Becker
Jet Equity, White Plains, N.Y.

Mary Ann Elliot
Arrrowhead Global Solutions, McLean, Va.

Mary Hamill
Global 5, Inc., Orlando, Fla.

Pamela Moore
Ice Tubes, Inc., Tallmadge, Ohio

List of 10 Honorees, in alphabetical order:

Cathy Dougherty
Dougherty Sprague, Dallas, Texas

Susan Giguere
Care & Comfort, Waterville, Maine

Lisa Hammond
Femail Creations, Las Vegas, Nev.

Linda Lewis
Plantworks, Inc., Las Vegas, Nev.

Alisa Lippincott
Brew Ha Ha!, Wilmington, Del.

Valerie Marie LittleChief
N'Genuity Enterprises, Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mary Norton
Moo Roo Handbags, Charleston, S.C.

Kamini Pahuja
Alloy Polymers, Richmond, Va.

Ella Williams
Aegir Systems, Oxnard, Calif.

Lisa Williams
3D Research Corp., Huntsville, Ala.