The three women-owned businesses will be recognized at the 2025 National Small Business Week SBA Awards & Resource Expo at The Woodwinds in Branford on May 8.
STAMFORD, Conn. — Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) honors outstanding small businesses across the nation for their achievements, resilience, and contributions to the American economy. This year, the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is proud to share that three of the SBA’s award recipients from the Connecticut District are WBDC clients — a testament to the strength and impact of women-owned businesses in our state.
Michelle Nicholson, owner of The Flour Girl Bakery in Hebron, is the 2025 Small Business Person of the Year. Nicholson was a 2024 recipient of WBDC’s Ignite Grant, which she used to procure additional equipment needed to expand her operation.
Aimee Filipetti, owner of Never Enough Bakeshop in Mystic, is the 2025 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Filippetti was a 2023 Ignite Grant recipient, which she used to purchase new equipment as she transitioned from a home-based business to a full-service restaurant and bakery.
Goggin Safety Services, LLC in Plantsville, owned by Elizabeth Calvanese, is the 2025 Women-Owned Small Business of the Year. Calvanese was a 2024 recipient of WBDC’s Ignite Grant. She used the grant funds to purchase a marine vessel to be used as a safety boat.
“We are incredibly proud to see WBDC clients and grant recipients recognized among this year’s SBA Award winners,” said WBDC Founder and CEO Fran Pastore. “These women-owned businesses exemplify the strength, innovation, and resilience of Connecticut’s entrepreneurial community. The awards are not just individual achievements — they are a celebration of the collective impact women entrepreneurs have on our state’s economy. Their successes are proof of what’s possible when we invest in local talent and create pathways to opportunity.”
Each of the award winners will be recognized at the 2025 National Small Business Week SBA Awards & Resource Expo, which will be held on Thursday, May 8, at The Woodwinds in Branford.
Photos (Linked):
About the Women’s Business Development Council
The Women’s Business Development Council’s (WBDC) mission is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut. WBDC educates, motivates, and empowers women to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. Since 1997, WBDC has educated and trained nearly 21,000 clients in all of Connecticut’s 169 towns—helping women to launch, sustain, and scale over 15,730 businesses, create and maintain more than 39,300 jobs in Connecticut, and access almost $80 million in capital. Since 2020, WBDC has provided more than $18 million in grants to help fuel growth in small businesses throughout Connecticut. Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.