Start them young: award winner introduces young women to the wonderful world of business.

• Author: Lavrakas, Dimitra
• Position: SMALL BUSINESS: ABM Celebrates Small Business in Alaska

Eleanor Andrews' nomination for the Business Administration Alaska Division's Women in Business Champion of the Year Award came with high praise from Betsy Lawer, vice chair and COO of First National Bank Alaska.

Lawer wrote: "Andrews always seems to find an hour or two each week to give advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. However, more often than not, she admits that the women she helps do not have the skills or business models to succeed. That is why she has been a tireless supporter of business start-up programs like PowerLink and Camp Start-Up: to give the women the skills they need not only to survive, but to succeed in today's business world."

When reached at her winter home in Mexico, Andrews was enthusiastic about how the award can be used to advance women in business, and to her that means drawing teenage girls into business through entrepreneurship. She accomplishes that by being a mentor and supporting a camp that reveals to young women the potential for making their way in the world through business.

REVELATION

Her sudden awakening that she could have a meaningful impact occurred when she was given the 1995 Athena Society award. The nationwide organization is dedicated to creating leadership opportunities for women, and the award recognizes a man or a woman who champions women in business. The award is given based on the decision of a panel of past recipients

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"When I was given the Athena award, no one in Anchorage really knew what it was," said Andrews. "Then I went to San Diego to the ATHENA convention and I met wonderful women who wanted to be empowered.

"'Maybe we should start with girls, I thought.', I'd love to teach them how to make money and all the wonderful things they can do with it," she said.

Programs offered by the ATHENA Society include Camp Start-Up that offers teens, 14 to 18, a chance to highlight their entrepreneurial skills through a combination of fun but practical handson learning experience to bolster confidence and leadership skills.

Her greatest pleasure is to help fledgling businesses get off the ground, she said, and it's not uncommon for people to call her and say they have an idea they want to run by her.

STAYING AFLOAT

"I've been counseling women in business every since I went into business in 1987," she said "That year, our economy was in a tailspin, banks were failing, just a real tailspin."

In that climate, she found she couldn't get a job. Gutsy and determined--she...