Rockville, Maryland (April 5, 2004)- Four winning finalists in a region-wide business plan competition for women entrepreneurs were announced at the fifth annual Women in Business Conference and Tradeshow on April 1, 2004 at Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland. The competition was open to businesses that are at least 51% women-owned, active and in business for two years or less, and qualified to do business in Maryland, the District of Columbia or Virginia.

The first place recipient, Meena Tharmaratnam, received a cash prize of $2,000 for Bethesda-based Ibhana Creations, which retails women's clothing and accessories. The cash prize was sponsored by Applied Creative Technologies, and a business prize package provided by Staples was also awarded to the winning recipient.

Lifesteps, a women-owned financial services company in the Baltimore-Washington area, took second place. Lifesteps' principals Regina Forte and Dr. Christine Costello received $1,000 toward their company, which provides financial, legal and related services to women, families and employees. The award was sponsored by John Gage Tyner II, President of Taliesan Associates, a business management firm for small companies.

The two remaining semifinalists each received a cash prize of $500, sponsored by law firm Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, P.A. The prize was awarded to MasterClasses, a movement education studio directed by Andrea Higgins providing specially tailored lessons and workshops on learning healthier ways of using the body.

A $500 cash prize was also awarded to semifinalist Siren Digital Communications, a computer-based multimedia service providing digital narratives through websites, digital video, flash, animations and other new media. Siren Digital Communications is owned by Mary Shaffner and Will Weems.

The business plan competition was designed to accelerate the start-up process for women-owned businesses in the region and is a new feature to the Women in Business Conference, sponsored by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce.

The event featured business seminars, more than 60 exhibitors, a keynote luncheon, and networking sessions. The conference draws women business owners and professionals from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The event is designed to provide women professionals and entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and strategies for developing a successful business, while providing business women with an opportunity to interact with decision makers.

For further information email at Rockville@rockvillechamber.org, visit www.women-in-business.org or call (301) 424-9300,

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