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 city—Santa Fe, New Mexico—about one-third of businesses are owned by women.
The analysis found that locally, women-owned businesses are predominately solo enterprises—fewer 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.)
• Amy Tykeson, former CEO, Bend Broadband
• Patricia Moss, former CEO and President, Bank of the Cascades
• Dr. Becky Johnson, Vice President, OSU-Cascades
• Dr. Shirley Metcalf, President, COCC
• Lisa Dobey, Executive Director, St. Charles Foundation
• Jamie Danek and Michelle Mitchell, Co-owners, Humm Kombucha
• Tammy Baney, County Commissioner, Deschutes County Commission
• Sally Russell, Mayor Pro Tem, Bend City Council
• Barb Campbell, City Councilor, Bend City Council and Owner, Wabi Sabi
• Connie Worrell-Druliner, CEO and Owner, Bend's Express Employment Professionals
• Sandy Jones, Editor-in-Chief, Eagle Highway Magazine
• Julie Hunter, Owner, Bend Pet Express
• Pamela Hulse Andrews, CEO, Cascade Publications
• Andi Buerger, Co-founder, Beulah's Place
• Janet Huerta, Executive Director, Saving Grace
• Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director, Bethlehem Inn
Kecia Kubota, Executive Director, Camp Fire Central Oregon
