Taina Burgos, owner of Avivage Massage, to receive Expanding Business Award
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — For 40 years, WomenVenture has been helping Twin Cities women start and grow sustainable and profitable businesses. Each year, nearly 1,000 business professionals, community leaders, and individuals come together to recognize these efforts and invest in the economic success of women at WomenVenture’s Women Mean Business Luncheon & Marketplace. This year’s event will be held on October 13 at The Depot Minneapolis and will feature a keynote address from Anne Hed, founder of Hed Cycling, whose innovative bike wheels have kept her rolling on an inspiring entrepreneurial journey. In addition, three local women-owned businesses will be honored with Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained awards in three categories: Emerging Business, Expanding Business, and Social Entrepreneur.
The Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained Expanding Business Award is presented to a WomenVenture client whose business has shown demonstrated growth in sales, market share, number of employees, and net worth. The selected business must also provide a unique product or service that has made a significant impact in the community they serve. This year’s recipient of the Expanding Business Award is Taina Burgos, owner of Avivage Massage, a safe and harmonious space that offers an array of therapeutic massage services for individuals and couples.
Taina Burgos has faced many challenges on her path to small business ownership. A former high school dropout, single mother, and breast cancer survivor, Taina became a massage therapist to provide a better life for her daughter. When the original owner of Avivage Massage offered to sell her the business in 2010, Taina was hesitant at first because she “knew nothing about business.” She took the risk and under her leadership, the business flourished, expanding from one massage suite to three. In late 2016, Taina received a loan from WomenVenture after her landlord doubled her studio rent. A last minute search enabled her to find a more affordable location and the loan helped her smoothly transition into the new space. WomenVenture also provided her with technical assistance in marketing and bookkeeping. Today, Avivage employs a team of 12 and continues to grow. “I fought pretty hard,” says Taina. “Having someone like WomenVenture believe in me means everything. It’s the difference between success and failure.”
“Taina’s tenacity and perseverance in overcoming obstacles to create a thriving business is truly inspiring,” says Elaine Wyatt, WomenVenture Executive Director. “Thanks to the generous supporters who come to Women Mean Business, WomenVenture is able to assist hundreds of women just like Taina as they work to build and grow their own profitable and sustainable small businesses.”
Guests at the event will learn how WomenVenture helps women entrepreneurs by providing them with the training, consulting and capital they need to be successful. They will also have the opportunity to support local, women-owned businesses by shopping and networking in a marketplace with over 40 vendor booths featuring unique products and services.
WomenVenture’s Women Mean Business Luncheon & Marketplace will be held October 13, 2017 at The Depot Minneapolis. The Marketplace will be open from 11:00 am – 12:15 pm for shopping and again from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. The pavilion will open at 12:00 pm and the Luncheon will take place from 12:30 – 2:00 pm. Well-known gospel singer Jearlyn Steele will emcee the event, which will feature a keynote address from Anne Hed, founder of Hed Cycling. Tickets for the Luncheon are $160 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.WomenVenture.org/WMB.
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About WomenVenture
WomenVenture is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit dedicated to helping women attain economic self-sufficiency through the creation and growth of profitable and sustainable businesses. For four decades, the organization has provided more than 100,000 women of all ages, cultures, races and income levels with the tools and resources to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Last year, WomenVenture helped start or expand 185 businesses that created and/or retained 1,050 jobs and paid an average wage of $27.49 per hour. These businesses generated $44.6 million in revenue and contributed $5.9 million in tax revenue to the state of MN. WomenVenture also distributed and facilitated $11,120,000 in capital to our clients.
WomenVenture client businesses are fueling Minnesota’s economy. They help communities grow by paying taxes, by supporting other local businesses, and by creating jobs that pay living wages. For more information about WomenVenture, visit www.WomenVenture.org.
