In the Lead: Best Women-Owned Businesses

In this feature, Virginia Business recognizes a stellar group of 28 majority women-owned, women-run businesses that employ at least four full-time employees and have been in business for at least four years.

Winners were selected from a pool of nominations from our readers and editors. Many of our winning CEOs, founders and presidents answered questions about how they beat the odds in attaining capital and keeping their companies going during difficult times, as well as the values they pass on to their employees. Often, these businesses represent pivots after long careers in the private and public sectors, sometimes after a layoff or a change in their personal lives. All these businesses — whether tech startups, government contractors, manufacturers or a Southern Virginia racetrack — are certainly worth knowing about and celebrating.

Congratulations to these varied businesses and the strong women owners and founders who have made them successes!

Amivero

Founder and CEO Olivia Trivisani Bowker, Reston

Amivero, a federal IT contractor started in 2018, won a $100 million prime federal contract with the Department of Homeland Security and increased its revenue by 21.5% in 2024. Bowker was named one of Inc.’s Female Founders 500 this year.

How I support women: Within Amivero, we maintain 50% female employment and prioritize internal advancement opportunities. I have mentored first-year female CEOs and speak at women’s leadership conferences.

Top accomplishments: We’ve built four proprietary technical frameworks while expanding into new markets. Our $100 million contract with DHS beat 26 bidders. We’ve secured three sole-source contracts, added the Department of Transportation to our client list and obtained $44 million in awards over 18 months.

AttainX

President and CEO Sheryll Manoj, Herndon

Launched in 2008, AttainX is a federal contractor that specializes in defense and civilian tech work, including cybersecurity, IT, artificial intelligence and business services. In December 2024, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that AttainX planned to invest $175,000 to expand its operations in Fairfax County and create 32 jobs, with the support of the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“With this support, we’re poised to attract and employ talent in Fairfax County, contributing to the economic and technological growth of Virginia,” Manoj said in a statement. Among AttainX’s customers are the Air Force, the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture, which awarded the company a $107 million contract in 2023 to modernize its farm loan programs.

ARDX

Founder and CEO Angela Reddix, Norfolk

Founded in 2006, ARDX provides health care management and IT solutions and employs more than 100 people. In 2022, Reddix sold the company to her employees through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), making it a 72% women-owned business. She remains its CEO.

How I support women: Through the ARDX Foundation, we’ve hosted the Women’s Wellness Celebration for about 15 years, serving 200-plus women annually with powerful educational sessions to make mental wellness a top priority.

Keys to success: An early investment in quality and continual improvement. We’ve created a safe space for reporting weaknesses. Our entire workforce is trained on how to identify and eliminate inefficiencies and waste.

Avanti

President and CEO Lynn Petrazzuolo, Alexandria

Founded in 1990, Avanti provides environmental science and engineering services to federal and state clients. It employs 30 people and reported $6.9 million in revenue last year.

Challenges I’ve faced: It took a while to get a seat at the table with the large, male-run companies in our field, and for male counterparts to deal directly with me. Even the banks wanted my husband involved in lending discussions.

Top accomplishments: Avanti had our largest growth year ever in 2024, with over 50% growth in staff and revenue. We successfully implemented an Environmental Protection Agency $3.5 million pilot project to help 20 communities find, inventory and secure funding for the replacement of lead drinking water lines.

C2 Technologies

CEO Dolly Oberoi, McLean

A tech business that provides online learning services for aerospace and defense clients, C2 is a prominent government contractor that has won several industry awards and secured more than 200 contracts worldwide. Oberoi herself was a regional finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011.

Founded in 1989, C2 employs more than 500 people and has operations in more than 37 locations around the globe. Clients include the Department of Defense, international military forces and other federal agencies.

Speaking with Virginia Business in 2023, Oberoi said, “If you are confident in your domain expertise and ability to lead, there shouldn’t be barriers.”

Creative

Owner and CEO Debbie Lennick, Ashland

A commercial furniture and tech solutions company, Creative was started in 1995 and employs 88 people. Keys to success: Surround yourself with smart, innovative people. Share your ideas and perspectives regularly and create that reciprocal relationship with those on your team. We are not built off the back of one person, but of many.

Do women founders receive enough support? I believe there is still significant opportunity for greater resources for female leaders. The value of mentorship, shared experienced and collaboration among female leaders is immense, but the space to foster those deep, meaningful connections often feels limited.

Electrosoft Services

CEO Sarbari Gupta, Reston

A cybersecurity firm with federal civilian and defense customers, Electrosoft was founded in 2001 by Gupta and recorded $55.1 million in revenue last year. Electrosoft employs 192 people.

How I support women: I’ve mentored women via the Women in Technology Mentor-Protégé program and students through the Girls in Technology mentorship program. I’ve served as a STEM and computer science teacher, volunteering for programs targeting children from low-income families.

Why I decided to start my business: My early career positioned me in leading technology companies founded by bold entrepreneurs. At that time, founding my own firm seemed like a pipe dream. Several years later, a voluntary but unplanned break in employment inspired me to establish a business. I gave myself two years to succeed.

Global Metal Finishing

President and CEO Tamea Franco, Roanoke

Specializing in aluminum anodizing and coating, Global Metal Finishing was started in 1987 and employs more than 40 people.

Keys to success: I’m a driver and a hard one at that. People who have worked with me see how important it is to make sound decisions and make them quickly.

Why I started my business: I devised an idea to anodize and color aluminum components, sheets, tubes, wire shapes and discs to sell to metal artists. I courted two leading distributors to present my product line, and they shot me down. East West DyeCom was born in my basement, and 15 years later, I redesigned the company to become a leading supplier to industries in the mid-Atlantic.

GuernseyTingle

Principal and Board Chairman Kristin Baum, Williamsburg

Started in 1983, GuernseyTingle is a top architecture and design firm in Hampton Roads, co-owned by seven principals that include four women.

What it means to lead a women-owned business: It is an opportunity to drive meaningful change in a historically male-dominated industry. It means fostering an inclusive culture where diverse voices are valued, and women have a clear path to leadership.

Top accomplishments: We earned Women-Owned SWaM certification in 2024. We’ve secured high-profile projects, won design awards and strengthened our legacy of community-focused architecture. Our revenue and client base continue to grow, and we’ve launched initiatives like GT Gives Back to further support nonprofits.

KlariVis

Founder and CEO Kim Snyder, Roanoke

A former Valley Bank chief financial officer, Snyder started KlariVis, a banking software company, in 2019. Noting that small community banks like the one where she worked “grapple with a daunting data dilemma, navigating through vast amounts of siloed data in disparate systems,” Snyder has raised $25 million in capital and hired more than 60 employees at her startup.

Speaking with Virginia Business last year, Snyder said, “Being a woman in fintech and banking requires creativity and resilience.”

Naborforce

Founder and CEO Paige Wilson, Richmond

In 2018, Wilson started Naborforce, a platform that connects seniors to “nabors” who can be hired for light tasks and companionship. It employs 11 full-time workers and 1,500 contractors.

Why I started my business: I launched Naborforce after my experience caring for my aging mother. Twelve years ago, she broke her hip and started needing little bits of help — simple things like getting to the beauty parlor. I started to look for backup, only to find there was a big gap.

Growth strategies: Our goal is to become a trusted national brand, and we are well on our way. We’ve built a highly scalable technology platform and have developed solid, repeatable processes.

Nightingale Ice Cream

President, CEO and Co-founder Hannah Pollack, Richmond

A gourmet ice cream sandwich company, Nightingale was co-founded in 2016 by Pollack and husband Xavier Meers, both chefs. Now their products are sold in Kroger nationwide.

What it means to lead a woman-owned business: I love this company and take immense pride in leading our incredible team with heart, purpose and passion every day. Being a woman at the helm allows me to champion inclusivity and empower others.

A business mistake I learned from: As we were planning our growth, an adviser gave bad advice that I took. I’ve learned to dream big, trust my gut and go after what I know this company can achieve.

Top accomplishments: We grew from $50,000 in sales our first year to $20 million this year, and from one employee to a team of 100. We’ve expanded nationwide, launched new product lines and exceeded growth goals year-over-year.

Oryx Dental Software

Founder and CEO Dr. Rania Saleh, McLean
Saleh is a dentist who founded her cloud-based dental practice management company in 2015, helping other dentists run their businesses with analytics and AI tools.

Why I started my business: I was a practice owner and dental surgeon when I became pregnant with twins, which put me on bed rest. During this time, I realized that the systems and workflow I had implemented weren’t being maintained during my leave. That’s when I envisioned Oryx, a system designed to keep practices running smoothly, even when you have to step away.

Challenges for women founders: Disparities in access to funding and resources compared to their male counterparts. To change this, there should be greater investment in women-led businesses, more inclusive networks and mentorship programs.

Poppy

Founder and CEO Cameron Hardesty, Charlottesville
A digital-first wedding florist business, Poppy was founded in 2019 by Hardesty and employs 25 people.

Challenges I’ve faced: Investors back problems they understand, and many women-led solutions aren’t obvious to them. For example, wedding planning is a major pain point, but if an investor hasn’t experienced it firsthand, they may overlook its market potential.

Top accomplishments: Since March 2021, we’ve grown bookings revenue 16.6 times and recently hit our biggest sales day ever with $320,000 in bookings. We’ve vetted 1,000-plus independent floral designers, expanding our network. Plus, we’ve significantly improved our gross margin year over year, nearly reaching our 2024 goal.

Procure Impact

Co-founder and CEO Lauren McCann, Falls Church

Started by McCann and two business partners, President Jen Collins and Managing Director Laura DeFrancesco Ross, Procure Impact is a B2B marketplace that lets hospitality businesses purchase responsibly made goods from vendors from underserved populations, including people with disabilities, trafficking survivors and veterans. Named one of Inc.’s Female Founders 500 in March, McCann has guided her company to 200% revenue increases year-over-year.

In partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Procure Impact launched the Dignity of Work Pledge to create shift work for people with barriers to employment. It also was named one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies in March.

Rand Construction

Founder and Executive Chairman Linda Rabbitt, Alexandria
Founded in 1989, Rand is a national general contractor with $608 million in revenue in 2024 and 356 employees. Rabbitt started the firm after co-founding a construction company in 1985.

Challenges I’ve faced: It took time for the industry to accept a woman who had two college degrees but none in a construction-related field. But nothing was more difficult than the tragic passing of our president, Jon Couch, 10 years ago, who was to be my successor.

Growth strategies: Our growth has always been a result of our drive to be the very best in each of our local markets, with an eye toward continued national expansion. Our ability to foster long-term partnerships is due to our culture of extraordinary client service.

RMT Construction & Development Group

President and Chief Financial Officer Starlena Thomas, Chesterfield County
RMT is a construction management and development firm that was started in 2007. It employs 25 people and reported $22 million in revenue in 2024.

Challenges I’ve faced: Earning trust in a male-dominated field means proving expertise through results, not assumptions. Access to key networks and opportunities requires persistence and strategic relationship-building.

Top accomplishments: RMT has achieved notable growth, completing 100-plus projects annually while expanding our team and increasing revenue every year. In 2022, we made national news for building Virginia’s first 3D-printed home, constructed in Richmond. In 2024, we partnered with Breeden Construction on a $40 million parking deck at U.Va.

RVA Hospitality

CEO Liz Kincaid, Richmond

Started in 2010, RVA Hospitality is a restaurant conglomerate that owns four Richmond-area restaurants and employs 180 people. In 2024, it reported $7.1 million in revenue.

How I support women: Whether it’s sharing real profit and loss numbers, owning up to performance gaps or just grabbing coffee with another woman founder, I believe in honest, ongoing connection.
Do women founders receive enough support? I don’t think they do. There are so many great programs out there now — from accelerators to SBA or SBSD business courses — but you have to know they exist and be willing to jump in. Joining a women-led group within your industry or seeking out peer networks can be a gamechanger.

SFS Tools and Safety

President Danielle Ropp, Harrisonburg
Founded in 1983 as Special Fleet Service, SFS tests protective rubber for commercial power line workers, as well as selling specialized tools for the electric utility industry. Ropp is the daughter of SFS’ original owner and bought the business in 2019.
A business mistake

I learned from: Using national companies for services. The best change we’ve made is to source all things locally. Small local businesses thrive when they support each other.

How I support women: Our company is made up of almost 50% women, most of whom are mothers. It’s important to me to give them a company that understands the challenges they face and helps them keep a successful career while being able to be a present mother.

Spurrier Group

Founder and CEO Donna Spurrier, Richmond
A media marketing business founded in 1996, Spurrier Group employs 20 people and recorded $6.9 million in revenue in 2024. It has twice been named to the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing businesses.

Why I started my business: I was the media director at an agency that invented and was handling all the Toyotathon business in the U.S. I went to the creative team and asked them what the motivation was for them to put a Toyota in their driveway. I was told to go back to my corner and buy the media. It was at that moment that I realized there was a better way — a way the creative and media could both benefit from a more collaborative approach.

STEMBoard

FOUNDER AND CEO Aisha Bowe, Arlington County
Bowe literally flew into the stratosphere in April as one of six female crew members on Blue Origin’s New Shepard spaceflight program. A Bahamian-

American entrepreneur and former NASA engineer, Bowe started STEMBoard, a tech company that advises federal agencies, in 2013. In 2020, it landed on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. In 2022, Bowe launched Lingo, a self-paced coding kit that’s used by more than 5,000 students in 10 countries.

In addition to its headquarters in Arlington, STEMBoard has operations in Maryland, Florida, New Mexico and Washington, D.C.

TECHnista

CEO Kelsey Robertson, Pittsylvania County
Started in 2021, TECHnista is a K-12 defense manufacturing curriculum developer that is establishing a national training and tech center in Southern Virginia, part of a five-year Department of Defense contract.

Top accomplishments: Over the past year, TECHnista has grown exponentially. The business went from operating out of a spare room in my home to a 12,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-time employees, with plans to continue to grow.

Why I started my business: I decided to start my business after leaving my teaching career to focus on my growing family. I realized there was an opportunity to combine my passion for education with a desire for more flexibility.

Top Guard Security

President Nicole Stuart, Norfolk
Started in 1996, Top Guard employs 1,000 security professionals and support staff. It has been recognized for hiring military veterans, and Stuart received a 2024 Virginia Women in Leadership Award from Virginia Business.

Top accomplishments: Surviving in an industry with only a few mammoth firms, breaching the 900- and then 1,000-staff member marks, and doing it all without having purchased or acquiring another firm.

Secret to finding good employees: Your immediate supervisor has the single greatest effect on how a person feels about their employment. Supporting leaders at all levels of the company is truly the single greatest factor in retaining wonderful staff.

Tribal Tech

Owner and Chairwoman Victoria Vasques, Alexandria
A Native American-owned small business, Tribal Tech provides professional services to federal, state, local, tribal and private sector businesses. It was founded in 2010 and employs 150 people.

Top accomplishments: A successful acquisition of Cowan & Associates in 2019. Cowan serves the national security and defense sectors. Since then, Tribal Tech has increased our staff, revenue and capabilities.

Keys to success: Our guiding principles are people, performance and partnership. We create an environment where our employees can thrive professionally, and our clients can fully benefit from our expertise and capabilities.

Velvet Suite

President and CEO Melissa Dawn Simkins, Reston
Started in 2006, Velvet Suite is a firm that advises clients on hiring and developing talented leaders. An Inc. 5000 honoree, it has four full-time employees and 10 contractors.

How I support women: I’m deeply committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders. Through our platform, She-Suite, we’ve supported the retention, development and advancement of thousands of women across more than 28 countries.

A turning point: Our first major breakthrough came when we partnered with the NFL to create the first-ever Player Brand University for NFL rookies. This program fused the mindset of elite athletes with the strategic insights of top business leaders — laying the foundation for a transformative approach to leadership development.

Virginia International Raceway

Co-owner and CEO Connie Nyholm, Alton
A Martinsville native, Nyholm helped resurrect the VIR racetrack in 1998 with business partner Harvey Siegel. Today, it’s one of the nation’s premier road courses and welcomed a record 350,000 fans last year.

What it means to lead a woman-owned business: Women-owned racetracks are nearly nonexistent, so it’s an honor to carry the flag. I get to create a space where everyone, regardless of gender, feels empowered to succeed.

Keys to success: Versatility is a major component to longevity when it comes to businesses. We will pass this grand lady to someone else one day, but I fully plan to continue my portion of VIR’s legacy and pass the torch when the time is right.

Warren Whitney

Co-founder, Owner and Director Katherine Whitney, Henrico County
A finance, accounting and HR firm, Warren Whitney was started in 1989 and employs 31 people. Whitney co-founded the company
with Scott Warren, whom she worked with at RSM.

Strategies for growth: We invest heavily in marketing and business development, and we look for talented professionals who want to build practices they enjoy.

Do women founders receive enough support? I believe that they do now, but that may be because my career in business started not very long after women were first allowed to take out a loan without having a man sign for her. I am forever grateful for the women who made my career possible and easier than theirs was.

xScion Solutions

Founder and CEO Alison Banziger, McLean
A company that has found customers by focusing on “regtech,” short for regulatory technology, xScion was started in 2002 after Banziger was laid off.

Today, the company has been named one of Virginia Business’ Best Places to Work for eight years running, and Banziger herself was a Virginia Business Women in Leadership Award winner in July 2024.

xScion specializes in agile, cloud and other IT products for clients in financial services, health care, associations and the public sector, and Banziger said in a 2024 interview with Virginia Business that the company set a goal of offering the value of Big 5 consultants without the price tag. ■