Focusing on Women In Business 

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, “9.1 Million Companies in the United States are woman-owned businesses. These 9.1 million companies employ 7.9 million employees and generate over 1.4 trillion in sales.” Locally, the Madisonville Hopkins County area has over 80 women-owned businesses. Therefore, we feel that women-owned businesses are very important in our community said, Ruthann Padgett, VP of Operations at the Madisonville Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation.

On April 26^th our event will begin with a luncheon and culminate with a keynote address.  Keynote speaker will be Julie Prairie, a native South Dakota and graduate of Boise State University. In 2010, Julie and her family returned to Sioux Falls and they have been enjoying all the Midwest has to offer.

Julie enjoyed her career at Wells Fargo’s Auto Finance Division as an Operations Analyst. That same year her life was turned upside down with the birth of premature triplets. After a few years at home she knew a return to corporate life was not the course she wanted to take and as entrepreneur-at-heart she knew business ownership was the direction she truly desired. Her inspiring journey will take you through the last decade of her life as she transitioned into the beautiful chaos of building and running two businesses.