Indianapolis' Beverly Miller wins Woman Business Owner of the Year

Beverly Miller sold her first men’s and women’s restroom sign at a part-time college job.

“I had never sold anything in my life,” she said. “But I was a fast learner.”

Now, more than 23 years later, the Indianapolis chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners selected her as the 2010 Woman Business Owner of the Year at an awards ceremony on Dec. 14.

When Miller started her company, A Sign by Design, in 1988, she was the only female owner of a sign business in the Indianapolis area. She said she spent hours sitting in reception rooms and pounding on doors to find clients.

“Being in a male-predominate field, I had to convince them that I was a good decision and that a woman could do electrical signs,” Miller said.

Miller overcame the challenge of being a woman in a men-only field by turning just less than $2,000 of seed money into millions of dollars of revenue. In 2008, her company brought $5 million in revenue.

The Indianapolis chapter of NAWBO selected Miller for the award based on her excellence as a business owner, initiative, ability to overcome obstacles and support of other women business owners.

“It is an inspiring story,” Stacy Shew, executive director of the Indianapolis chapter of NAWBO said. “I feel Beverly Miller represents what women business owners can accomplish.”

Miller credits her customers and other loyal women in business for her continued success, especially during recessions.

“Especially in the past couple years, it’s important to bond with other professional women,” Miller said.

That sentiment led her to establish the Ladies Professional Partnership Alliance in 2009, whose motto is to “pay it forward,” to support other businesswomen.

“These are the women who are the shakers and bakers in Indiana,” Miller said of her Alliance’s members. “It has been really dynamic to go back to the roots and say, ‘what do these women mean and how can they help each other?’”

Miller said everyone in her company plays a role in its success, not just her.

“A company doesn’t maintain and strive without a good foundation and a lot of team members,” Miller said.

A Sign by Design employee Randy Olds said he has felt Miller’s appreciation and was excited she received the award.

“She definitely cares,” Olds said. “She never gives up.”