Kimberly Baeth
Kimberly Baeth is the founder and CEO of Golden Openings Inc. Baeth founded the company in 1997 and supports businesses in holding grand openings, ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, and key to the city events.[1]
Early life[edit]
Baeth, the daughter of LeRoy and Patti Morford (d. 2017),[2] grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, and graduated in 1989 from Marshalltown High School. Baeth was named Central Iowa Fair Queen in 1988.[3] She attended Iowa State University (1989–1993) where she majored in journalism/public relations and business communications.[4]
Career[edit]
After college graduation, Baeth was hired as membership services director at the North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce (MN).[5]
During this time, it was hard to find grand opening items like giant scissors and ribbon in one spot. Baeth saw an opportunity and left the chamber to establish Golden Openings, Inc.
She grew her business into a “one-stop-shop” for grand opening merchandise. In addition to the original giant shears, her company provides massive bows, keys to the city, gold and chrome shovels, hard goods for red carpet extravaganzas, plus hundreds of award and gift items for special events.[6]. She has written three event guidebooks to aid her industry[7]
Baeth’s company has grown steadily since its 1997 founding and relocated to Des Moines, Iowa in 2006.[8] Golden Openings also has franchises in California, Minnesota and New Jersey.
In late 2011, Baeth helped orchestrate a Guinness World Record event for the longest ribbon cutting (4.5 miles of continuous ribbon)[9] in Cutler Bay, FL. That record held until May 24, 2013,[10] with the ribbon cutting held for the re-opening of the Jersey Shore in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
Honors and awards[edit]
- 2018 – Woman Business Owner of the Year –National Enterprising Women Association.[11]
- 2018 – “17 in 17” People Making a Difference– Northwest Suburbs Business Journal.[12]
- 2017 – Small Business of the Year, Dream Big Award - U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[13]
- 2017 – Community Champion Award - U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[13]
- 2017 - National Association Women Business Owners – National Business Owner of the Year Finalist.[14]
- 2017/16 – Woman Business Owner of the Year - Metro Woman’s Connection.[15]
- 2016 – Top 100 Small Business Dream Big Award Recipient – US Chamber of Commerce.[16]
- 2016 – Business of the Year – Urbandale Chamber of Commerce.[17]
- 2014 - Business of the Year - Grimes Chamber of Commerce- February.[18]
- 2010 - Forty Under 40 recipient – Des Moines Business Record & Publications.[19]
- 2009 - The Jim Goodman Entrepreneur Spirit Award - East & South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.[20]
- 2009 - Best Kept Secret Award - Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Celebrate Business/Economic Impact.[21]
- 2008/09 - Fittest Executive Winner 2008/ Runner Up 2009 - DM Business Record & Publications.[22]
Personal life[edit]
Baeth met her husband, Kevin, at ISU, and they were married in 1996.[23] They have two daughters together.
Baeth is a frequent speaker who shares her story at conferences for entrepreneurs, women in business, and young professionals. She takes time to talk business in the classrooms of local schools and universities. She was the keynote speaker at the 2017 Kaplan University graduation and a speaker at the summit of the Central Iowa Chapter of the National Association of Woman Business and the Des Moines Area Community College’s Entrepreneur Fest. She also shares business insights on local radio talk shows.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Urbandale business wins national chamber awards - Business Record". Business Record. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ admin (1 February 2017). "Patricia". Legacy.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Central Iowa Fair Queen/Princess - Marshalltown, Iowa". centraliowafairgrounds.net. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Iowa State University Ivy College of Business, Ames, IA 2018". www.glunis.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Home - North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce, MN". www.nhachamber.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Welcome to goldenopenings.com - The Grand Opening Superstore". www.goldenopenings.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Ceremonial How To Books - Golden Openings". goldenopenings.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa on October 24, 2006 · Page 159". Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "cutlerbay.net- Cutler Bay News and Event Archive - 2009". www.cutlerbay.net. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Longest ribbon cutting". Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ Ray, Myra. "Enterprising Women of the Year Awards - Enterprising Women". Enterprising Women. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "17 in 2017 Nominations – Iowa Business Journals". iowabusinessjournals.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Urbandale business wins national chamber awards - Business Record". Business Record. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "NAWBO National Selects Woman Business Owner of the Year Finalists - NAWBO". www.nawbo.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "NAWBO Iowa - Public Announcements". nawboiowa.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Dream Big Award". U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Business of the Year 2016". businesses.uniquelyurbandale.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ globalreach.com, Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC - Ames, IA -. "Grimes Chamber & Economic Development Presents 2014 "Of the Year Awards"". grimesiowa.chambermaster.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "2010 Forty Under 40 Winner: Kimberly Baeth - Business Record". Business Record. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa on January 21, 2010 · Page 100". Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa on November 19, 2009 · Page 123". Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "Kimberly Baeth, President, Golden Openings Inc. - Business Record". Business Record. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ↑ "The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa on August 11, 1996 · Page 45". Retrieved 17 April 2018.
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