More than one in four businesses in the Bend-Redmond area are woman-owned. With women comprising 51 percent of the population that may not seem significant. But it is enough for Bend-Redmond Metropolitan Statistical Area to rank 20th in the nation for woman-owned businesses, according to a recent study by consumer advocacy site NerdWallet. In the top cityโSanta Fe, New Mexicoโabout one-third of businesses are owned by women.
The analysis found that locally, women-owned businesses are predominately solo enterprisesโfewer than one in five have paid employees. And yet, they bring in on average just over $100,000 in revenue each year.
Why does this matter? A 2014 study by David Newton and Mikhail Simutin published in Management Science found that the pay gap between women and men is greatest when the person signing the checks is a man.
Check out some of the women who are, or have been, helping lead local companies and organizations. (Note: This is not a comprehensive list.)
โข Amy Tykeson, former CEO, Bend Broadband
โข Patricia Moss, former CEO and President, Bank of the Cascades
โข Dr. Becky Johnson, Vice President, OSU-Cascades
โข Dr. Shirley Metcalf, President, COCC
โข Lisa Dobey, Executive Director, St. Charles Foundation
โข Jamie Danek and Michelle Mitchell, Co-owners, Humm Kombucha
โข Tammy Baney, County Commissioner, Deschutes County Commission
โข Sally Russell, Mayor Pro Tem, Bend City Council
โข Barb Campbell, City Councilor, Bend City Council and Owner, Wabi Sabi
โข Connie Worrell-Druliner, CEO and Owner, Bend’s Express Employment Professionals
โข Sandy Jones, Editor-in-Chief, Eagle Highway Magazine
โข Julie Hunter, Owner, Bend Pet Express
โข Pamela Hulse Andrews, CEO, Cascade Publications
โข Andi Buerger, Co-founder, Beulah’s Place
โข Janet Huerta, Executive Director, Saving Grace
โข Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director, Bethlehem Inn
Kecia Kubota, Executive Director, Camp Fire Central Oregon
This article appears in Apr 29 โ May 6, 2015.








Hey ladies! Let’s make this list comprehensive!
Bend Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award:
Emilie Cortes, President/Owner, Call of the Wild Adventures
Dear Source,
Perhaps next Women’s Issue you can include Judge Beth Bagley and (Presiding) Judge Alta Brady in your “Where the Women Are” section.
They are on the bench, is where they are.
Werner