Nelda Barton-Collings (Knox, b. 1929)
Barton-Collings owns nursing homes, banks, a pharmacy, and newspapers. An early successful Corbin business woman, she was also on the Republican National Committee for 27 years.

Jennie Benedict (Jefferson, 1860-1928)
Benedict created benedictine cheese, a favorite sandwich spread of Kentuckians. A successful business woman and writer who edited the Courier-Journal’s household section and published The Blue Ribbon Cookbook in 1902.

Nancye Blackburn (Pike, b. 1945)
Blackburn opened Ooten Construction Co. in 1978. She has been active in vying for state contracts for road preparation work.

Ruth Booe (Franklin, 1891-1973)
Booe and her partner, Rebecca Gooch (whom she later bought out) started Rebecca-Ruth Candy in Frankfort in 1919.
Rebecca-Ruth Candies has a Web site.

Catherine Spears Frye Carpenter (Casey, 1760-1848)
Carpenter was widowed twice, gave birth to 13 children, and lived through 4 wars. As an early businesswomen, she distilled whiskey and raised cattle on a large farm in Casey County. Visit the Carpenters of Carpenter's Station, Kentucky Web site to learn about the family history of Catherine Spears Frye Carpenter.

Julia Dinsmore (Boone, 1833-1926)
Ran a farm near Burlington for over 50 years. She kept a daily journal and was a published poet. The Dinsmore Homestead is still open to the public.

Laura Freeman (Clark, b. 1957)
The creator of Laura’s Lean Beef, which is low-fat meat that has not been exposed to pesticides or antibiotics. This Winchester entrepreneur believes in naturally raised foods and farming that benefits the environment.

Katherine Garrett (Caldwell, 1901-1984)
A woman before her time, an early businesswoman involved in real estate and investments. Her Princeton home, Adsmore Historic House, is open to the public today.

Lois Gray (Barren, b. 1920)
Gray’s achievements began when she joined the WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Service) during WWII. Since that time she has become one of Kentucky’s earliest businesswomen as president of Gray Construction Company.

Mary "Cissy" Peterson Gregg (Harrison, 1903-1966)
After graduating from the University of Kentucky with an agriculture and home economics degree, Gregg became one of the first nutritionists to suggest that American diets included too much meat and starch and not enough vegetables.

Susan Harkins (Bourbon, b. 1952)
As an entrepreneur Harkins is a role model for young farmers, making her living raising sheep, shrimp, and specialty vegetables.

Robin Hunt (Warren, b. 1951)
Owner and executive of H & W Plastics, a plastics molding company in Bowling Green. She has won many awards for her entrepreneur spirit and gives workshops on contracts and procurements for women-owned businesses.

Mattie Mack (Meade, b. 1937)
A tobacco farmer, activist, and spokesperson in Brandenburg; a foster mom to 38 children and mom to 4 children of her own; discussed tobacco prices with Pres. Bill Clinton on national TV and sang with Willie Nelson at the 1998 Farm Aid Show; writes farm column for newspaper.

Lucille Markey (Lewis, 1888-1982)
Inherited Calumet Farm from her first husband. Nine Kentucky Derby winning thoroughbreds were bred at Calumet. Markey gave $5.25 million to establish the Markey Cancer Center in Lexington.
Learn about the Lucille P. Markey Cancer Center.

Alice Jane Alka Mayo (Johnson, 1877-1961)
After her husband’s death, Mayo became director of the Mayo Companies, and created the Mrs. John C.C. Mayo Company as well as the John C.C. Mayo College, which is now Our Lady of the Mountains Parochial School.

Barclay McCoy (Hopkins, b. 1950)
McCoy is the president of McCoy & McCoy Engineering Company in Madisonville.

Capt. Mary Millicent Garretson Miller (Jefferson, 1846-1894)
Born in Portland, Miller was the first woman in the U.S. to become a licensed steamboat captain. Beginning in 1894, she navigated waters in the boat, Saline.

Elaine Musselman (Jefferson, b. 1943)
A magnet and mentor for women business owners; one of the earliest insurance agents/executives in Louisville; created Women 4 Women, a golf tournament that benefits women’s projects. To promote women in business, she helped start Committee of 200 Women in USA in 1981, and the worldwide International Women’s Forum.

Lena Madesin Phillips (Jessamine, 1881-1955)
Born in Nicholasville, graduated from University of KY Law School in 1917, and went on to help found the national Business & Professional Women’s organization.

Caroline Burnam Taylor (Warren, 1855-1917)
A pioneer business woman who owned and operated the Mrs. A. H. Taylor Co., a successful Bowling Green dress designing establishment.

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