TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
GLEN OAKS COUNTRY CLUB
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NAWBO Iowa announces 2026 Celebration of Excellence honorees
Awards recognize three Iowa women building businesses, opening doors and expanding women’s influence
DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 31, 2026) — The Iowa chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners has named Blanca Plascencia, Kara Kelso and Mollie Frideres as its 2026 Celebration of Excellence honorees.
The three women will be recognized Nov. 17 during NAWBO Iowa’s annual Celebration of Excellence at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines.
“When leaders build something enduring, they choose who walks through the door with them. Blanca, Kara, and Mollie have consistently chosen to bring other women along, shifting real power in the process. Every business a woman starts, every career she enables, and every opportunity she holds open redefines who holds a seat at the table across our workplaces, industries, and communities.” said Rachel Formaro, president of NAWBO Iowa and founder and CEO of Collabry. “Working alongside leaders like these three amazing women is how we move forward. They are shaping an Iowa where more women own, lead, and take full ownership of the decisions that drive real results for their lives and our region.”
The 2026 honorees are:
Blanca Plascencia, NAWBO Iowa Hall of Fame Legacy Award
Plascencia is co-owner of El Fogon Mexican Restaurants, El Guacamole Patio & Cantina and the forthcoming SanMiguel Modern Mexican Eatery. After moving to the United States from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, at age 21, she built a career in the restaurant industry that took her from busser to manager to co-owner of multiple businesses.
Plascencia is also a founder and treasurer of the Iowa Latino Hospitality Council, which works to expand education, collaboration and leadership development within Iowa’s Latino hospitality community. Her community leadership has earned recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Iowa Restaurant Association, Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and Athene Black & Brown Business Summit.
Established in 2014, the Hall of Fame Legacy Award honors an Iowa woman business owner whose leadership and excellence across business, industry, community and volunteer service have created a lasting legacy.
Kara Kelso, Woman Business Owner of the Year
Kelso is an entrepreneur, commercial real estate consultant and civic leader whose work focuses on creating vibrant spaces where neighborhoods and local businesses can thrive. She and her husband, Drew, co-founded The Slow Down Coffee Co. in Des Moines’ Highland Park neighborhood in 2020, transforming a restored century-old building into a community gathering place.
Her community involvement also includes hosting the Northside Market, serving on the Des Moines Housing Services Board and partnering with local businesses and organizations throughout the neighborhood.
The Woman Business Owner of the Year Award recognizes a NAWBO Iowa member who has built a successful and sustainable business, generated economic impact, overcome obstacles through creativity and initiative, and demonstrated meaningful community involvement.
Mollie Frideres, Advocate of the Year
Frideres is the founder of MFS HR Solutions and has spent more than 25 years helping organizations strengthen their people, cultures and missions. As NAWBO Iowa’s former advocacy director and president, she created opportunities for women business owners to speak up, participate in public policy and make their experiences part of the decisions affecting Iowa businesses. Frideres continues to advance women’s leadership and civic engagement through her professional work, board service and nonprofit involvement.
The Advocate of the Year Award recognizes an individual or company that has created meaningful change by supporting women business owners and strengthening NAWBO Iowa’s voice and mission.
The honorees were selected through a nomination and review process, with recommendations approved by the NAWBO Iowa Board of Directors. They were introduced during a NAWBO Iowa Coffee and Conversations event in August.
The 2026 Celebration of Excellence will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Glen Oaks Country Club, 1401 Glen Oaks Drive, West Des Moines.
Highlights from past years
2025 CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
The 2025 Celebration of Excellence photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://nawboiowa.org/gallery.php?id=23
2024 CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
The 2024 Celebration of Excellence photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://nawboiowa.org/gallery.php?id=15
2023 CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
The 2023 Celebration of Excellence photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://nawboiowa.org/gallery.php?id=14
2022 CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
The 2022 Celebration of Excellence photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://nawboiowa.org/gallery.php?id=9
Many thanks to Ginnie Coleman, Ginnie Coleman Photography
2020 celebration highlights
Hall of Fame Legacy Honoree
Teresa VanVleet-Danos
President / Owner, VanVleet Inc.
Business Owner of the Year
Cassie Sampson
East Village Spa
Advocate of the Year
Mary Anne Kennedy
Primary Source, Inc.
Thank you Bing Bang LLC for these amazing videos!
Thank you Aspire Event Management and CLE Productions for the fantastic production of this event!
Thank you Amy Park of Gold Spark Design for all the beautiful event graphics!
2019 CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
The 2019 Celebration of Excellence photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://nawboiowa.org/gallery.php?id=7
Many thanks to Whitney Warne of Ivory House Photography
2018 CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS
The 2018 Celebration of Excellence photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://nawboiowa.org/gallery.php?id=6
Many thanks to Whitney Warne of Ivory House Photography
2017 Celebration Highlights
View the 2017 Celebration of Excellence Photo Gallery >>
Thank you to Ivory House Photography for our gallery of beautiful photos!
Watch Highlight Video of NAWBO Iowa's 2017 Celebration of Excellence >>
Thank you to Bing Bang LLC for this amazing video summary!
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THANK YOU!
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PARTNErs
*** 2025 NAWBO IOWA CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE: DECADES OF IMPACT! ***
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, NAWBO Iowa hosted an exceptional event celebrating Iowa's women business owners. Three awards were presented during this annual event to women business owners and advocates. In addition, activities highlighted the 50th anniversary of the founding of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), NAWBO Iowa’s parent organization in Washington D.C.
And to top it off, we launched our local celebration of the 40th anniversary of NAWBO Iowa happening in 2026.
Three prominent Iowa women were honored at the 2025 NAWBO Iowa Celebration of Excellence on Tuesday, December 2, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa.
NAWBO Iowa presented their annual business awards to three highly respected Iowa women business owners in recognition of their outstanding contribution to local business and community. Entering its 40th year in 2026, NAWBO Iowa propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social & political spheres of influence statewide. This event celebrates women business ownership and their impact on the Iowa economy.
The following were the 2025 honorees: Barb Kniff McCulla, founder of KLK Construction, as the 2025 NAWBO Iowa Legacy Award honoree; Riana LeJeune owner of Repinned and Renewabl, as the 2025 NAWBO Iowa Business Owner of the Year; and Karla Rendall, Senior VP – Commercial Banking Market Leader, as the 2025 NAWBO Iowa Advocate of the Year. Each honoree will speak briefly about their life and business experience at the celebration.
