Kathy Labbe Named Finalist in 14th Annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business

ELGIN, Ill. - Oct. 19, 2017 - PRLog -- Kathy Labbe, Owner of Proforma 4D Marketing, an Elgin-based marketing and branding company, was recently named a finalist in the "Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Services –10 or Less Employees" category in the 14th annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. Kathy will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award winner in the program.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run – worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world's premier business awards. Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners will be announced during a gala event at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Friday, November 17th.

"Every year we say that the current crop of Stevies for Women nominations couldn't be better, and the next year we're proven wrong," said Michael Gallagher, founder and president of the Stevie Awards. "The judges' scores and comments bear witness to the fact that this year we will honor a truly remarkable class of women and women-led organizations in New York on November 17th."

Despite being diagnosed with breast cancer nearly five years ago and undergoing grueling treatments, Labbe resolved to thrive in her business. She set a goal to achieve a million dollars in annual sales by her five-year cancer-free birthday. Her dedication was evident as she earned Centurion Awards from Proforma in 2014, 2015 and 2016 for increasing her sales by more than $100,000 over each previous year. In 2015, Proforma recognized Labbe with a Women's Leadership Award for her unwavering dedication and strength. Labbe also served on Proforma's Owner Advisory Council in 2013-2016, providing guidance to her peers, a selfless endeavor for the benefit of her fellow franchise Owners. In March of 2017, Labbe was presented with her Million Dollar Club Jacket and officially inducted into this prestigious club. She had accomplished her goal ahead of schedule, as she will be celebrating her five-year cancer-free birthday on October 22,^, 2017.

"I'm honored to be a finalist in the Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program," said Labbe. "The past five years have been an incredible journey full of obstacles and triumphs. I've leaned on the support of family, friends and fellow Proforma franchise owners for encouragement as I worked to achieve new success in my business. I poured my energy into my business and that is what kept me focused and motivated to keep fighting. The process has been truly empowering."

More than 1,500 entries were submitted this year for consideration in more than 90 categories. Finalists were chosen by more than 170 professionals worldwide serving on five specialized judging committees. Jurors' average scores will also determine the Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award placements from among the finalists. Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of finalists in all categories are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Women.

About Proforma

With over 35 years of experience and more than $500 million in sales, Proforma remains clearly focused on providing solutions to businesses worldwide for their graphic communications needs. A leading provider of promotional products, printing services, business documents, and eCommerce solutions, Proforma has received numerous awards and is recognized as one of the top five largest companies in our industry. Proforma serves approximately 60,000 clients through more than 750 member offices across the globe, backed by more than 160 Team Members in the Proforma Worldwide Support Center located in Cleveland, Ohio and Tampa, Florida. www.Proforma.com.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.