TOP WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES
$1.5 MILLION AND OVER
Ann Vidro & Menda Wright Co-owners Creative Studio Promotions $1.5 MILLION AND OVER
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ounded in 2012, Grand Rapids-based Creative Studio Promotions was named one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. in its short lifetime. The advertising and marketing company was named to Inc. magazine’s 2016 “500 | 5000” ranking, earning spot No. 447 out of 5,000 for 853 percent growth in the past three years. Creative Studio was one of 27 Michigan companies to appear on the list. Started by Ann Vidro and Menda Wright, Creative Studio helps clients develop and maintain brand strategies through screen-printed, embroidered and other promotional products. Vidro and Wright have more than 30 years of combined experience in the industry and emphasize eco-friendly and U.S.made products. They have supplied branded merchan-
dise to clients such as Gun Lake Casino, Spectrum Health and Priority Health. Wright said their firm has a niche: It creates “e-stores” for its client companies, which allows them to order more branded giveaway merchandise online for immediate shipment. Rachel Taber, of Priority Health, said Wright and Vidro have been the health insurer’s longtime vendors. “I can’t say enough about how these ladies embody every good value as business owners, including exceeding expectations (and) excellent customer service,” she said. Creative Studio has been a Certified Women Owned Business from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council since 2013.
Elizabeth Rosario Owner Grand Rapids Law Group PLLC $1.5 MILLION AND OVER
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lizabeth Rosario is a woman who set her goals at an early age — because if she hadn’t, she likely wouldn’t own two businesses. Rosario dropped out of high school during her sophomore year when she learned she was pregnant. But rather than giving up, the birth of her daughter strengthened her resolve, pursuing and receiving her GED and at the age of 18, starting her first business, Unico Income Tax, a small tax preparation firm. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree while running the business as a full-time mother, growing Unico to 1,600 clients. With so much growth, Rosario realized her clients would need a lawyer — so she went to law school. She joined Grand Rapids Law Group PLLC in 2012 and, by 2014, was the lone 22 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL TOP WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES
practitioner remaining. But again, she worked to build her business. By 2015, she hired her first associate, and the next year, she hired her second. In September 2016, Rosario completed the accomplishment she’s “most proud of” — purchasing a 4,500-square-foot commercial building where she will merge both of her businesses under one roof. In addition to owning a pair of businesses of her own, Rosario also helps her husband run his restaurant — “Therefore, I feel like I run three businesses all at one time,” she said. “Elizabeth is a role model for all single mothers,” said Cascade Engineering’s Jose Ayala, who nominated Rosario for the Business Journal honor.