Sue Martin was never one to duck a challenge.
Before moving to Salt Lake City in 1995, she spent 23 years in corporate communications at Amtrak's Washington, D.C., headquarters. Most recently, she served as the company's senior director of public affairs.
At Amtrak, Martin handled controversy and tragedy, and learned the value of effective communication and conflict resolution. When she moved to Salt Lake City, she could have picked up another gig with Amtrak. But she decided it was time for a change, that it was time she did it her own way.
Eight years later, Martin heads her own company, Communication Strategies, and on June 10 she'll receive the National Association of Women Business Owners-Salt Lake Chapter's Woman Business Owner of the Year Award.
"I'm very surprised and thrilled and extremely honored," Martin said. "I've been a member of NAWBO since 1996. I've seen the women who have received this award every year since then. To be in their ranks is quite an honor."
In the past eight years, Martin also has seen the business climate change — for the better, and none too soon.
"When I first came here and was looking for advice and support and networking opportunities, the only referrals I had, the only organizations that seemed to be there, were NAWBO and the Small Business Administration's SCORE program," she said. "Now, we have the Women's Business Center at the Salt Lake Chamber, the Small Business Development Center, and a whole bunch of organizations that are very supportive, both in helping women find opportunities and in providing training."
Communication Strategies isn't like some NAWBO award-winning businesses. There's no storefront, no tangible product. Just Sue Martin, a solid concept and a growing reputation for helping clients improve their communication skills or resolve communication issues. In addition to communication planning, Communication Strategies provides customized training, meeting facilitation and coaching.
"That's one of the reasons I was surprised at the award," Martin said. "My business is based on a different model. But when I thought about it, I realized there are a lot of NAWBO members who are just like me: women who work independently, who thrive on strategic partnerships, who have home offices. That's the way we like to do business, and we may measure our success in a slightly different way. And that's OK."
Martin may have been surprised at the award, but her partners and colleagues at NAWBO weren't.
"She's just an excellent person," said NAWBO-Salt Lake City's president, Hydee Willis. "She's been a driving force in NAWBO and in her own business."
Kate Reddy, co-president of McKinnon-Mulherin Inc., a Salt Lake-based information design firm, recalled doing volunteer work with Martin.
"She keeps her word," Reddy said. "That matters to me, because people will promise the world to you and deliver nothing. But she's persistent, and if she says she'll get something to you, she'll get it to you. In my world, that's huge."
Martin describes her company's growth as slow but steady. In the past year, Communication Strategies has brought on eight new clients. She shares an office with two cats, and counts as one of entrepreneurship's biggest perks the opportunity to balance work, family and outside interests.
"I wanted to be a role model for my sons," Martin said. "I wanted to do something that was really challenging, that meant something to me. I wanted to show them that a person can define success as they want to define it and can succeed by doing what they love doing."
Martin will receive her award at a reception June 10. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. The cost to attend is $40 for NAWBO members and $45 for guests. For more information or to RSVP, call 1-801-487-4600.
E-MAIL: jnii@desnews.com