Nominations are now open, but closing soon, for the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame 2024 class of inductees. Founded in 2018, the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame honors North Carolina’s most successful female entrepreneurs and advocates who have made significant and enduring contributions for women’s entrepreneurial development in North Carolina.
Inductees to the NC Women Business Owners Hall of Fame must meet criteria including:
Consideration of potential inductees requires that their efforts, accomplishments and impact be documented and widely honored. A nomination form is available on the website here.
The nominations window will close on May 15, and the inductees will be honored at the 7th Annual Awards Gala in the Triangle, NC in October, which also marks National Women’s Small Business Month, when the SBA celebrates women-owned businesses and their lasting impact on the economy.
Past inductees to the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame in 20233 include:
Gabi Angelini, Denise Bennett (Advocacy Award), Cameron Cruse, Jan Davis, Judy Fourie, Carol Lilly (Advocacy Award), Teresa Spangler, Angelica Thacker and Amy Wright.
Selection for the North Carolina Women Business Owners Hall of Fame requires that the woman’s efforts, accomplishments and impact be documented and widely honored within the business community. Further, the criteria for induction into the Hall of Fame emphasizes the descriptors “significant”, “enduring contributions” and “impact” on women’s entrepreneurial development.
For more information, visit https://ncwbohalloffame.org/.
Brian and Staci Graybill opened their third business together, Market Square Pantry, in December 2025. Photo provided by Faith Hatton. For Fayetteville entrepreneurs Brian and Staci Graybill, building a business has often started when they were
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Brad and Kelley McLawhorn became business partners in 2001 when they first opened a restaurant on Reilly Road. Now, their highly praised catering company continues to impress community members with flexibility, quality and personalized service. Photo
