American Express OPEN

Stevens' company, Stevens Technologies, achieved the silver cufflinks year-over-year increase in gross annual revenue, growing 131% to reach $1,544,262. During this same time, the company also increased the number of employees who have health benefits, 401k packages and paid leave, from 12 employees in 2008 to 21 people in 2009. Revenue and employee growth are the two chief criteria for the highly spirited competition. Stevens Technologies creates reports on how to strengthen information security within organizations, especially with management and operations divisions. Her company serves as a subcontractor to Federal agencies like NASA, Langley Research Center.

In surpassing $1 million in annual revenue, Stevens demonstrated the hallmark of Make Mine a Million $ Business, an initiative launched by Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence and American Express OPEN to inspire and support one million women entrepreneurs growing million-dollar businesses. In addition to the prize money, Stevens will also receive a year of growth-focused resources such as marketing, advertising and media opportunities as part of the grand prize.

"Sarah's story of entrepreneurial achievement in the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is a testament to her as a leader as well as our collective will as a movement," said Nell Merlino, founder and CEO, Count Me In. "Together, the entrepreneurs of Make Mine a Million $ Business are helping to right the ship that is the U.S. economy by driving revenue and creating jobs on the way to economic recovery."

"The resources and contacts I made over the course of the M3RACE proved invaluable," said Stevens, who prevailed over the 1,543 competing entrepreneurs. "I could not be prouder to be associated with such an inspirational group of self-starters and resilient business owners."

Make Mine a Million $ Business is the only silver earrings initiative committed to helping post-start-up women entrepreneurs grow million-dollar enterprises. Since its inception in 2005, the movement has empowered women to grow their entrepreneurial ventures, providing more than 75,000 women entrepreneurs nationwide with vital business growth resources.

In 2009, Make Mine a Million $ Business brought its successful growth methodology to the Web through the M3RACE, a business growth marathon designed to support women entrepreneurs and help them realize their revenue goals while connecting them with like-minded women entrepreneurs. M3 Racers' progress was tracked online through a business growth platform developed specifically for the M3RACE. To help track the M3 Racer's progress, a national Leaderboard announced top performers each quarter. Leaders received business-boosting coaching and publicity consultation, all made possible by Count Me In and American Express OPEN.

"The conventional bootstrapping philosophy that you can go it alone no longer applies in the new normal created by the Great Recession," said Michelle Thompson-Dolberry of American Express OPEN. "All business owners, men and women, need to know the rules have changed, and to thrive in the post-recession economy, they need to employ the strategies and tactics that the Make Mine a Million $ Business preaches every day."

Regular counsel via weekly webinars with business experts in finance, strategy, marketing and human resources proved to be critical to Stevens' success. On the heels of Sarah's victory were two runner ups, each strong contenders who were named as second and third place winners in the 2009 M3RACE. silver key rings DeSantis, the second place finisher, is the owner of Gigi Hill in Yorba Linda, CA. Gabrielle's company designs bags that are high quality, stylish, and functional for a mom's everyday life. Participating in the M3RACE compelled DeSantis to internally track her financial goals and aspirations and in doing so, she took advantage of the Web blogs, videos and stories that were provided through the M3RACE platform.