Cheyenne, Wyoming – The Wyoming Council for Women (WCW) is pleased to announce that Angela Hartley-Drube has been awarded the 2023 Jan Torres Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Hartley-Drube opened Gillette-based Live 2 Dance in 2007, a studio that helps more than 250 young people per year experience fitness and music through dance.
The award will be given to Hartley-Drube by members of the WCW board in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Live 2 Dance studio at 2051 Sinclair Street in Gillette. The event is free and open to the public and media.
“The women of Wyoming are leaders and business owners, and the Jan Torres Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award allows us to honor those women who provide services in their communities that bring quality of life to the residents of Wyoming,” said WCW Board Chair Jennifer Wilmetti. “We are proud to recognize Angela Hartley-Drube for her continued success as a small business owner and as an active participant in the betterment of the Gillette community.”
The Jan Torres Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award was renamed this year to honor WCW board member Jan Torres, who was instrumental in creating and expanding this award. It recognizes woman-owned businesses in Wyoming and is designed to increase the attention to, and recognition of, the contribution female entrepreneurs make to Wyoming’s economy. All the Wyoming Woman Entrepreneur Award nominees, which were received from across the state, have been highlighted on the WCW Facebook page over the past few weeks.
”We had more nominations this year than ever before,” said Mary Ann Cummins, the chair of the WCW Entrepreneur committee. “I am encouraged every year by the nominations, and this year I was inspired even more by the number and quality of the applications. All those who were nominated should be proud of their achievements.”
A Gillette native, Hartley-Drube has a passion for sharing messages of strong self-esteem through dance. She shares her love of dance with people of all ages and abilities through her Live 2 Dance studio, and she continues to bring more opportunities to the community that instill confidence and promote healthy living.
“The benefits of establishing a business in Wyoming are offering more opportunities to the community, allowing growth in the community, and allowing myself personally to learn and grow as a staple in the community,” Hartley-Drube said. “The challenges are learning what the community wants or needs … In my opinion, the benefits of taking the risk to build your own business far exceed any challenges.”
The Woman Entrepreneur Award recognizes woman-owned businesses in Wyoming and is designed to increase the attention to, and recognition of, the contribution female entrepreneurs make to Wyoming’s economy. The Wyoming Women’s Business Center is a partnering sponsor of this year’s award.
For questions about the award, contact WCW Chair Jennifer Wilmetti at Jennifer.wilmetti@wyoboards.gov.