The women were honored on May 20 with a reception at the governor's mansion in Harrisburg and an awards ceremony in Hershey.

This honor recognizes women who are shaping the economic future of Pennsylvania and is sponsored by the business journals of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development.

Since the program's inception in 1997, fifty women in business have been selected each year by an independent panel of 12 statewide business professionals. The selection criteria requires that the nominees be a business owner, partner, one of the main officers, board chairperson, or of senior executive management level for a profit business.

The judges select the top 50 business women in the state based upon 3 major categories of achievement: professional accomplishments, power and influence, and community involvement.

Ms. Mott was recognized for her achievements as the owner of a sales management consulting company and for achievements in her previous 17 years of executive management experience in the financial services sector.

While her business is in Mercer many of her clients are spread throughout the East Coast.

Her business focuses on assisting companies develop and deploy strategies for enhancing sales revenue and strengthening business development efforts.

She is a leader in a number of local organizations including co-chairperson of the Mercer County Strategic Planning Task Force for Business and Industry. She also is a member of a number of organizations including: Penn-Northwest Economic Development Corp., the Pennsylvania Economy League of Mercer County and the Mercer County Council of Republican Women.

Ms. Mott is serving on a steering committee for a Western Pennsylvania initiative entitled Women's Economic Development Outreach. The purpose of the program is to provide women business owners of Western Pennsylvania the resources for accelerating the growth of their business.