Professional Woman of the Year Awards
Friday, September 25, 2026
An evening honoring professional women of Whatcom County, held at beautiful Evergreen Gardens
Each autumn, Whatcom Women in Business proudly hosts an elegant celebration to present awards to esteemed women who are distinguished members of our community. This annual event honored the work of professional women in Whatcom County and draws attendees from a wide variety of industries. The evening included heavy appetizers, drinks for purchase, a raffle, and a presentation celebrating the achievements of the awardees.
WWIB recognizes the amazing accomplishments of 3-5 Professional Women of the Year each year who strive for and exemplify the areas that Whatcom Women in Business honors: Leadership, Professionalism, Business Acumen, Mentorship, and Community Involvement. We also give a Community Legacy Award in years when it is merited. If you know an outstanding woman in our community we encourage you to read below for more information on submitting a nomination to honor an influential woman deserving of these awards. Nominations are now closed 2026.
To be eligible for consideration for Professional Women of the Year, individuals must:
The Community Legacy Award (CLA) is a unique recognition opportunity, honoring a member of our community who stands out as having made a lifetime of exceptional contributions and a lasting impact on our community through decades of dedication.
If you know such a person, we encourage you to submit a nomination to honor an influential woman deserving of a Community Legacy Award (CLA).
All nominees will be invited to interview for consideration. The CLA recipient is selected by the Whatcom Women in Business Board of Directors and honored at the Awards Celebration in the year following the nominations.
To be eligible for consideration of the Community Legacy Award, individuals must meet the following qualifications:
Professional Woman of the Year Awards
Friday, September 25, 2026
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Celebration Venue: Evergreen Gardens
We are thrilled to host our event again at the beautiful Evergreen Gardens. An outdoor venue located in the beautiful Ferndale farming area, Evergreen Gardens is dedicated to providing a tranquil and sustainable event space for your event with friends and family. Our 4 acres of lush, landscaped grounds offer an escape beneath the trees for a quintessential Pacific Northwest celebration. All are welcome!
2025 Professional Women of the Year
Please join us in congratulating 2025's Recipients:
Alle Schene, Edie Hill, and Kena Greer Brashear, for being recognized as the Whatcom Women in Business Professional Women of the Year, along with Sarah Rothenbuhler, our Community Legacy Award recipient!
Meet our 2025 Community Legacy Award Winner!
Sarah Rothenbuhler is the CEO and Owner of Birch Equipment, now the 78th largest equipment rental companies in the United States. In the 90’s Birch was in freefall—losing money, market share & staff. Sarah returned to Birch & worked around the clock to restructure operations, stabilize finances, build infrastructure & morale. Over time, she transformed the company—expanding in WA & AK, growing fleet by 3000% & revenue by 1200%.
Today, Birch offers a $65 million rental fleet, 12+ year employee retention ave & has been awarded top 100 Washington State Best Places to Work every year since 2018 & top 100 Philanthropic Businesses. Sarah credits Birch’s success to her co-workers, Kaizen, & culture rooted in dependability, trust, ingenuity, humor & shared ownership.

With a career extending far beyond Birch, Sarah is also a developer, owner of Furnishings Now & she fully underwrites & runs the Birch Golf Classic one of the largest charity tournaments in the state, which has raised & contributed over $2.4 million for nonprofits serving vulnerable communities. Sarah’s story is one of grit, intelligence, generosity & the belief that being a person, family member, co-worker & business that people can depend on is one of the most important things we can do. She connects & lifts communities & builds great buildings, teams & lasting legacies in the process.








