The HomeMaker’s Idea Company recently was named a finalist in the Best Customer Service Organization category in the third annual American Business Awards.
Nicknamed the Stevies™ for the Greek word “crowned,” winners were announced during presentations on Monday, June 6 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. More than 1,200 nominations from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories.
Among the 20 nominees in the Best Customer Service Organization category, HomeMaker’s joined such companies as Staples, KB Home and the United States Mint as finalists. This specific award category recognizes the efforts and achievements of an entire functional organization across a company in 2004. Specifically, HomeMaker’s award entry highlighted the exceptional job that our Customer Service Department and Representatives do on a daily basis to service our customers, but also included such recent “above and beyond” customer service initiatives such as our inTouch e-mail newsletter, Hostess e-mails and automated lead system.
“Our employees and more than 6,000 independent sales representatives always provide the best customer service possible and that’s why I am so pleased our efforts to cater to our customers are being lauded by the Stevies,” says Madolyn Johnson, HomeMaker's founder and president.
“The Stevie Award has quickly become the most coveted business honor in America,” says Michael Gallagher, founder and president of The Stevie Awards. “Being selected as a finalist is an important achievement, because it means that independent judges have agreed that the finalist is worthy of national recognition.”
HomeMaker’s Recognized as "Best in Business"
On April 26, Cari Christopher, HomeMaker’s vice president of marketing, accepted a 2005 Annual Award for Business Excellence from The Business Ledger, a leading suburban Chicago business publication, on behalf of the company during a special recognition luncheon attended by more than 300 local business leaders. The AABEs honor excellence in business management and growth. Companies are judged in 10 categories according to number of employees and industry types.
Fast Company's "25 Top Women Business Builders"
Madolyn Johnson, founder and president of The HomeMaker’s Idea Company, was recently honored as one of 25 women who are changing the game of business. Her innovative game plan for entrepreneurs has transformed thousands of lives by providing fun, flexible career choices that put family and personal priorities first. Johnson’s efforts also will be highlighted in a special feature, “25 Top Women Business Builders” in the May issue of Fast Company magazine.
“I saw a need 34 years ago for women to have the best of both worlds — a great career opportunity and the flexibility to balance family and work priorities,” says Johnson, who recently was honored by Fast Company and the Women Presidents' Organization during this group’s 2005 National Conference in Ontario. “When I founded The HomeMaker’s Idea Company, I knew I had to change the “game” for me and others who could only dream of achieving this life balance. I am proud to say that thousands of women’s lives have been enhanced because of the flexible career options we offer.”
HomeMaker's Is Chicago's 13th Largest Woman-Owned Firm
Crain's Chicago Business recently named The HomeMaker's Idea Company as the 13th Largest Woman-Owned Firm. The listing, which includes such prominent Chicago companies as Turtle Wax and Harpo Inc., Oprah Winfrey's company, appears in the Dec. 13, 2004 issue of this leading business publication. Thanks to the company's continued growth, HomeMaker's moved up from its No. 16 spot in 2003 to the No. 13 ranking in this annual listing of Crain's Largest Women-Owned Firms.
Stevie Award for Women Entrepreneurs
Congratulations to Founder and President Madolyn Johnson, who won a 2004 Stevie Award for Women Entrepreneurs in the Women Helping Women category. "Nothing can compare to reaching out to another person and watching them blossom and grow as an individual," Madolyn says. "As women, we wear so many hats. We're often not recognized for our own accomplishments. The greatest excitement for me is to recognize and help women as they personally grow and achieve their dreams. At the HomeMaker's Idea Company, they learn that they can dream and follow their dreams."
Cari Christopher, vice president of marketing, accepted the award on Madolyn's behalf during the Friday, Oct. 22, gala awards ceremony in New York City. The ceremony was hosted by Bill Rancic, winner of the hit television show "The Apprentice" and Rhonda Schaffler, the New York Stock Exchange Senior Correspondent for CNNfn and CNN Business News. "Of all the awards here tonight, I think this one fits Madolyn the best," said Cari upon accepting the award. "She has a passion for helping others — teaching women to dream, pursue their dreams and become successful."
More than 600 nominations from small companies in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration. Madolyn and The HomeMaker's Idea Company received a record four nominations, including Best Entrepreneur, Lifetime Achievement Award, Women Helping Women Award and Best Overall Company of the Year. The Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs, www.stevieawards.com/women, is a national awards competition recognizing the accomplishments of women small business owners in the United States. The awards are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards, hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post (Sept. 22, 2002) and exclusively sponsored by Advanta.
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) recently honored Founder and President Madolyn Johnson with its Woman of Achievement award — its highest honor. This award is given to a woman who has attained a high rank at her company and has used her position, stature and expertise to break down gender bias and effect positive change for women. The 2004 Women of Excellence Awards is a national awards program that celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of NAFE Members in their careers, businesses and communities. The nomination criteria include having vision and creativity, and helping other women succeed and grow.
American Business Awards Finalist
In April 2004, Founder and President Madolyn Johnson was named a Best Executive finalist in the 2004 American Business Awards. Nicknamed the Stevies, the American Business Awards honor companies of all types and sizes, and the people behind them. They are the first awards of their kind to recognize outstanding leadership, innovation, perseverance, creativity, teamwork, and integrity through more than 40 categories. The program is overseen by a board of distinguished judges and advisors, which includes leading business executives, authors and academics. Sponsors of the 2004 American Business Awards include the BusinessTalkRadio Network, Digipict, Hoover’s Online, Inc. magazine, Miller Heiman, the Professional Society for Sales and Marketing Training, Selling Power magazine, Speedera Networks, Ultimate Software, Webcast in a Box, and Wired magazine.
Winner 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year Award
In June of 2002, Madolyn was honored as the Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year in the retail category. Madolyn was one of nine winners selected from more than 100 nominees. This prestigious award program, founded and produced by Ernst & Young and sponsored by such well-known companies as USA Today, NASDAQ, CNN, LaSalle Bank, and KMZ Roseman, recognizes entrepreneurs in 43 different markets around the U.S. as well as 30 foreign countries. The Entrepreneur of the Year award program was created to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs whose achievements place them among the leaders in business.
Madolyn was honored in November, 2002, with the Influential Women in Business award from The Business Ledger. She was selected from more than 80 nominees for the award and she was among 25 women honored. The Business Ledger is a business newspaper for suburban Chicago and sponsors the award in partnership with the Chicago area chapter of the National Association of Women in Business Owners.
Madolyn accepted an Honorable Mention from the Better Business Bureau for their Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. This award specifically honors companies that are committed to fair and honest conduct in the marketplace. It represents acknowledgement by industry peers of a longstanding history/reputation of ethical practices in the marketplace and communities where they do business.
Madolyn and The HomeMaker's Idea Company are included in Working Woman magazine's list of "The Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses in the U.S." This prestigious list celebrates the powerful contribution women-owned businesses have made in our nation's economy. As a HomeMaker's Idea Company Representative, that honors you!
In December, 1999, The HomeMaker's Idea Company was selected as a runner-up for the 1999 Illinois Family Business of the Year Award. This special award honors the tremendous and positive contributions made by family-owned and operated companies. The chosen companies are recognized for their positive family/business linkage, multi-generational family business involvement, contributions to their industry and community, and innovative, strategic business practices. Madolyn and daugher, Cari, are pictured here.
Madolyn Johnson, founder and president of The HomeMaker's Idea Company®, was a 1999 Inductee into the Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes outstanding business owners in the Chicagoland area who exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit while providing a role model to all. Those inducted have demonstrated a determination to succeed, an unsurpassed commitment to excellence, and the rare ability to meet challenges and recognize opportunities through innovation, proactiveness and risk taking. The event was sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago and other area businesses.
What is your "vision for tomorrow"? Your hopes and dreams for your own business? For the past nine years, The HomeMaker's Idea Company® has shared our company's mission and vision with less fortunate individuals throughout the country.
Working with the charitable organization Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April®, we have brought together a group of volunteers made up of Representatives and Home Office staff. Teamwork and effort are combined to rehabilitate the homes of low-income families -- particularly the elderly and disabled.
Since 1997, The HomeMaker's Idea Company® has shared the holiday spirit by donating gifts to children in Chicagoland's "Grant A Wish" Program. Each year the company impacts about 50 lives, providing clothing and toys to needy, handicapped or abused children. In 2004, we began sponsoring a similar program for needy children right here in our hometown of Glendale Heights.
Because of this generous commitment of time and resources, The HomeMaker's Idea Company® was awarded the Direct Selling Association's prestigious Vision for Tomorrow Award. The DSA is internationally recognized as the governing body of the direct selling industry.
The Association bestows this honor on the organization that it feels has made the greatest positive contribution to a nationwide charitable program. In particular, its selection criteria is based on efforts that go beyond simply writing checks to charities. The HomeMaker's Idea Company® was cited for its extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and commitment.
During the past nine years, the company has impacted more than 8,500 homes in 865 U.S. cities. The HomeMaker's Idea Company® is making difference -- one home at a time. By joining us, you can too.
On April 26, Cari Christopher, HomeMaker’s vice president of marketing, accepted a 2005 Annual Award for Business Excellence from The Business Ledger, a leading suburban Chicago business publication, on behalf of the company during a special recognition luncheon attended by more than 300 local business leaders. The AABEs honor excellence in business management and growth. Companies are judged in 10 categories according to number of employees and industry types. 
Madolyn Johnson, founder and president of The HomeMaker’s Idea Company, was recently honored as one of 25 women who are changing the game of business. Her innovative game plan for entrepreneurs has transformed thousands of lives by providing fun, flexible career choices that put family and personal priorities first. Johnson’s efforts also will be highlighted in a special feature, “25 Top Women Business Builders” in the May issue of 
Congratulations to Founder and President Madolyn Johnson, who won a 2004 Stevie Award for Women Entrepreneurs in the Women Helping Women category. "Nothing can compare to reaching out to another person and watching them blossom and grow as an individual," Madolyn says. "As women, we wear so many hats. We're often not recognized for our own accomplishments. The greatest excitement for me is to recognize and help women as they personally grow and achieve their dreams. At the HomeMaker's Idea Company, they learn that they can dream and follow their dreams." 
In June of 2002, Madolyn was honored as the Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year in the retail category. Madolyn was one of nine winners selected from more than 100 nominees. This prestigious award program, founded and produced by Ernst & Young and sponsored by such well-known companies as USA Today, NASDAQ, CNN, LaSalle Bank, and KMZ Roseman, recognizes entrepreneurs in 43 different markets around the U.S. as well as 30 foreign countries. The Entrepreneur of the Year award program was created to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs whose achievements place them among the leaders in business. 
Madolyn was honored in November, 2002, with the Influential Women in Business award from The Business Ledger. She was selected from more than 80 nominees for the award and she was among 25 women honored. The Business Ledger is a business newspaper for suburban Chicago and sponsors the award in partnership with the Chicago area chapter of the National Association of Women in Business Owners. 
Madolyn and The HomeMaker's Idea Company are included in Working Woman magazine's list of "The Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses in the U.S." This prestigious list celebrates the powerful contribution women-owned businesses have made in our nation's economy. As a HomeMaker's Idea Company Representative, that honors you! 
In December, 1999, The HomeMaker's Idea Company was selected as a runner-up for the 1999 Illinois Family Business of the Year Award. This special award honors the tremendous and positive contributions made by family-owned and operated companies.
The chosen companies are recognized for their positive family/business linkage, multi-generational family business involvement, contributions to their industry and community, and innovative, strategic business practices. Madolyn and daugher, Cari, are pictured here. 
Because of this generous commitment of time and resources, The HomeMaker's Idea Company® was awarded the Direct Selling Association's prestigious Vision for Tomorrow Award. The DSA is internationally recognized as the governing body of the direct selling industry.