Monnic Smith
Monnic Smith, owner of JMS Communications, is the winner of the Phoenix Award, which recognizes a woman business owner who has overcome significant obstacles and is an inspiration to us all.

After a layoff from a downsizing communications company, Monnic developed the courage to start her own business. She began speaking to women and youth organizations about the power of effective communication.

About the time JMS was coming to life, her husband began to experiment with drugs and became abusive. Monnic’s world turned upside down and she fled to a shelter to keep herself and her children safe. She stayed with relatives until she could get on her feet. During that time, her children’s biological father died and she moved to Louisiana.

Monnic lost all her worldly possessions in Hurricane Katrina. It is a true miracle that she and her children were in Albuquerque visiting relatives when the hurricane hit. Monnic worked through her grief by praying, meditating, and group counseling. She slowly regained her strength and grew from each woman’s story in her group. Monnic boldly reopened JMS Communications and added the television show CelebratingWomen in 2005, now in its third year of production and in serving New Mexico’s women.

Monnic was presented with a crystal award at New Mexico WOMAN’s Top 25 Awards luncheon on March 28.

Anna Shawver, Apple Canyon Company Inc.
By Connie Thompson

Anna Shawver is co-owner of the Apple Canyon Company and winner of this year’s Atkinson Woman of Achievement Award. The award honors a woman business owner whose company has shown significant growth over the past 12 months.

A native of Albuquerque, Anna grew up with a love for New Mexican cooking and studied canning and food processing, receiving certification through the Department of Agriculture. She attributes her love of great recipes to watching her mother cooking in the kitchen when she was a young girl.

When Anna moved to Washington State, she found herself sending for chile from home and began introducing coworkers to the flavors of the Southwest. She wanted everyone to experience the taste of New Mexico. Soon, she was back in Albuquerque making her dream come true.

Anna began brokering small food companies, and started developing products herself. Holy Chipotle was her first acquisition. She has purchased many small brands since then, including Santa Fe Mixes. She loves to have people sample her company’s products. Apple Canyon is now building new offices in Albuquerque and is selling its brands throughout the United States and Germany. (web site www.Applecanyon.com)

Atkinson & Co. presented Anna with a crystal award at New Mexico WOMAN’s Top 25 Awards luncheon.