Women in Business 2026: Celebrating Her Success

Across the River Region, women are building companies, leading teams, growing careers and creating businesses that reflect their vision and values. They are entrepreneurs, attorneys, real estate professionals, executives and community leaders, and together they represent the energy, determination and diversity shaping our business scene.

This year’s Women in Business feature is a celebration of what they are building. Milestones don’t always arrive with a grand announcement, sometimes they look like a business reaching 20 years, a first closing, a growing team or a client who comes back year after year. And sometimes, the milestone is simply realizing how much has been built.

MILESTONES WORTH CELEBRATING

For Brittany Batrez of Absolute Termite & Pest Control, 2026 marks two decades in business. Throughout the year, Absolute celebrated with their team, loyal customers, friends and community at their October Give Bugs a Boot Bash.

“Reaching 20 years would not have been possible without them, so we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than bringing everyone together,” Batrez said.

The Junior League of Montgomery is marking a milestone of its own. 2026 marks 100 years of service to the River Region, with President Amerika Blair noting that the organization began its centennial year with a celebration at Ravello in January.

Throughout the year, general membership meetings have provided opportunities for members to connect, engage and celebrate. The League also hosted its inaugural Every Woman All Things event this spring, creating a platform focused on recognizing women’s accomplishments and supporting women as they work toward meaningful change.

Whether it spans a century or a single season, every milestone becomes part of a larger story.

Q: How do you make a point to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of other women in your workplace, industry or community?

“I always try to put myself back in their shoes. Do you remember who congratulated you on your firm promotion? Who encouraged you as you transitioned back to work after starting a family? Who celebrated your accomplishments and reminded you of your potential? I try to be that person for other women by offering encouragement, celebrating their wins and making sure their contributions are recognized,” Scott said.

CELEBRATING THE EVERYDAY WINS

Not every accomplishment comes with a headline. For Courtney Lowry of RE/MAX Cornerstone and RE/MAX Cornerstone Plus, some of the most important wins happen as part of the everyday rhythm of business.

“A new listing is a win. A first closing is a win. A repeat client is a win. A referral is a win. A difficult transaction that finally closes is a win,” she said.

Growth should also be celebrated. An agent might sell more homes than the year before, hire an assistant, step into a leadership role or accomplish something that once seemed out of reach.

“Those accomplishments deserve just as much attention as a big production number,” Lowry said.

That perspective reflects the many ways women are building businesses throughout the River Region, one relationship, client and accomplishment at a time.

Q: What if we spent as much time celebrating women’s wins as we do talking about the obstacles they face?

“We’d raise a generation of women who lead from confidence instead of scarcity. The obstacles are real, and we shouldn’t pretend they aren’t, but what we focus on grows. If we gave our solutions the same airtime we give our barriers, we’d remind each other of what’s actually possible, and possibility is contagious,” Carter said.

BUILDING SOMETHING THAT MATTERS

For Cassandra Crosby of CCI Stage Style Living recent wins have included successful closings, beautifully staged homes and satisfied clients. They may sound like everyday business milestones, but Crosby has become more intentional about recognizing them.

“Recently, I’ve become more intentional about celebrating, even the small wins,” she said. “Whether it’s a successful closing, a beautifully staged home, or a satisfied client, I’ve learned to pause and acknowledge those moments.”

For Crosby, the larger accomplishment is having the freedom to build a business that reflects what matters to her.

“Success today means having the freedom to define your own path. It’s not just about income; it’s about impact, flexibility, growth and building something that aligns with your purpose,” she said.

That same idea appears in different forms throughout this year’s Women in Business feature.

At RE/MAX Cornerstone and RE/MAX Cornerstone Plus, success is reflected in sustainable growth, trusted relationships and a reputation earned over time.

At Maximized Growth, LLC, Founder and CEO Tasha Carter looks beyond revenue and titles.

“A successful woman in business today is one who’s growing on purpose, bringing others with her and staying true to who she is while she does it,” Carter said.

RECOGNITION WORTH REMEMBERING

Some accomplishments arrive with a spotlight. This year, Brittney McCurry-Wingate of The Region HR Consulting Firm was selected from thousands of applicants for Cohort 10 of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women in Business program.

The opportunity will take McCurry-Wingate to New Jersey and New York for additional business education and development as she continues growing her company and strengthening the services she provides to her clients.

Rather than immediately turning her attention to the next goal, she paused to recognize the moment. “I paused and told myself for the first time how proud I was!” she said.

At Jackson Thornton, Chief Marketing Officer Cindy Scott shared how their recognition happens through the milestones that move a team forward: promotions, challenging engagements completed, new processes and team members growing into their roles.

“It’s easy to move from one deadline or responsibility to the next without pausing to recognize progress,” Scott said. “When women see other women being recognized for their leadership, expertise and resilience, they are more likely to imagine those possibilities for themselves. Celebrating women’s wins creates momentum, and it encourages all of us to keep opening doors for the women who come next.”

Those moments matter because progress can easily become invisible when the pace of business never slows down.

Q: What happens when women recognize not only their own accomplishments, but the accomplishments of the women around them?

“It creates a stronger team. Real estate can be competitive, but it doesn’t have to be adversarial. There is room for one woman’s success to encourage another woman to grow her business. When women celebrate each other’s milestones, it creates an environment where people want to see each other succeed, and that benefits the entire organization,” Lowry said.

CREATING A CULTURE THAT RECOGNIZES HER

For Jinks Crow, Managing Attorney Christy Crow believes recognition should be part of the workplace itself. The firm uses an internal recognition platform where team members can acknowledge one another for great work, extra effort, teamwork, leadership and the everyday contributions that help the firm succeed.

“It gives people a simple way to say, ‘I saw what you did, and it mattered,’” Crow said.

Crow also values women-led professional associations and community organizations because they create opportunities for women to connect, learn from one another, share resources and open doors for each other.

Batrez has found similar value through NAWIC Montgomery and the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association‘s Professional Women in Building Council, where women across construction and related industries come together for education, networking and professional development.

“I especially value that these organizations bring together women from every part of the industry, from the skilled trades and project management to marketing, administration and executive leadership,” Batrez said.

Q: What happens when women recognize not only their own accomplishments, but the accomplishments of the women around them?

“When women can truly celebrate themselves and others, we stop seeing each other as competition and start seeing each other as community. When one woman wins and another woman can genuinely celebrate her, it creates space for both of them to win. That kind of support can completely change what women believe is possible for themselves,” McCurry-Wingate said.

HER BUSINESS. HER DEFINITION. HER SUCCESS.

Perhaps one of the most defining characteristics of today’s women in business is that success does not look the same for everyone.

“Success isn’t just the revenue or the title,” Carter said. “It’s building something that reflects your values, serves people well and can stand without you having to carry it alone.”

Scott described success as: “Building a rewarding career while also making time for the people and activities that bring meaning to life. Success is not just professional achievement, it is being present for family, pursuing hobbies, prioritizing exercise and well-being, and doing work that is both challenging and fulfilling.”

The definition may change from woman to woman, but the opportunity to define it for yourself is part of the achievement.

CELEBRATING THE WOMEN OF THE RIVER REGION

From a century of community service to two decades in business, from national recognition to the everyday accomplishments that keep companies moving forward, the River Region has plenty of reasons to celebrate its women in business.

They are leading established organizations and launching new ventures. They are closing deals, serving clients, developing teams and investing in the communities they call home. Most importantly, they are making room to celebrate the people around them.

“There is plenty of room for all of us to win, and I want to be the woman cheering loudly when you do,” said Brittany Parrott, Commercial Account Manager at Long-Lewis Ford.

Not every accomplishment is measured by a title, a revenue number or a major award. Sometimes, it is a business that keeps growing, a client who keeps coming back, a team member who takes the next step, a reputation earned over years, a new opportunity created for someone else or simply the realization that something once imagined has become something real.

Q: What happens when women recognize not only their own accomplishments, but the accomplishments of the women around them?

“When one woman celebrates another, she helps make achievement more visible and leadership more attainable. Over time, that kind of encouragement can shape an entire workplace or, better yet, an entire profession. Women become more willing to speak up, take on challenges, mentor others, and celebrate progress together,” Crow said.