While there are some 276,000 women-owned businesses in North Carolina, few have risen as fast and as high as Penny Benkeser. As owner of both SERVPRO® of NW Charlotte and SERVPRO® of Lincoln and eastern Gaston Counties, she has grown her firm to 20 full-time employees in three years, and has recently earned the Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification by the National Women Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC). Penny’s company is one of only 64 which have been awarded in the state of North Carolina, and one of only 5,000 awarded in the nation. The WBE certification is the result of a rigorous national committee review of Penny Benkeser’s SERVPRO businesses and her business model, a four to six month process. Members review her application and follow-up with an on-site visit to meet with her and her team.