Entrepreneur Julie Savitt Winso Business Technology Makeover

CHICAGO, Illinois – Julie Savitt, owner of AMS Earth Movers, Inc., in Lake Bluff, Ill., has won the $35,000 business technology makeover, a competition sponsored by the Women’s Business Development Center(WBDC) in a collaborative partnership with corporate sponsors including Techcare, LLC, Market M, Synergistic Networks, Microsoft, Comcast, MXOTech, Directions Training Center, Chicago Office Technology Group, CDW.

Savitt was named the winner on January 7 at a reception held for aspiring entrepreneurs at the WBDC, 8 S. Michigan Av. Judges, who interviewed the five finalists just prior to the announcement, were representatives of the various sponsors. Nearly 100 women entered the competition billed as “A New Year, A New Makeover.”

AMS Earth Movers is a construction material hauling company whose primary service is the hauling of aggregate, brick, broken asphalt, soil, and contaminated soil to and from job sites in the greater Chicago area.

“The judges were moved by Julie’s compelling business start-up story as well as her incredible entrepreneurial spirit,” said Hedy Ratner, co-president with Carol Dougal of the WBDC. “She sees obstacles as opportunities and owns an already profitable company that could benefit immensely from the technology assistance.”

Held November 11-December 18, the competition was open to any woman-owned business in Illinois who had been in business for at least two year and had a minimum of two work stations. Applications were judged on the strength of the business or marketing plan, the financial strength of the company and the business owner’s explanation of how a business technology makeover would increase the business’s productivity.

The prize package includes: a server and network upgrade; web site design and development; Microsoft Small Business Server and five copies of Microsoft Office; two months free high-speed internet, e-mail, anti-virus protection, telephone and cable service; Microsoft Office classroom training for up to five people; Microsoft SharePoint portal; and a Xerox Phaser color network printer and supplies.