In its 25th year, the Small Business Forum and Leader Award (fondly SBFLA) program honors and recognizes leaders of small businesses who have achieved company success while contributing to the development of our community. We are grateful for the support of our Presenting Sponsor Commerce National Bank and Partner Business First, plus numerous sponsors who make this program possible. Each day before the 2009 Small Business Forum and Leader Award, we'll profile our finalists.

Finalist: Over $1 Million in Revenue - Kristen Harris & Catherine Lang-Cline, Portfolio Creative

In her career, Kristen Harris has held several positions but the one thing that never changes is her involvement, connection and passion for the Central Ohio creative community. Business Partner Catherine Lang-Cline offers diverse experience from her 20 years in the advertising and marketing industry. Bringing their creativity and expertise together in 2005, the two co-founded Portfolio Creative, a niche staffing and recruiting firm focused on the marketing, advertising and design fields.

Prior to Portfolio, Kristen held a number of creative positions in the Columbus area including design and art direction responsibilities at Express, Structure, Limited Too and Victoria’s Secret. Lang-Cline worked for advertising agencies in Chicago before working with such companies as Spiegel, Bath and Body Works,
and Limited Too.

Both women are Certified Staffing Professionals with the American Staffing Association and are active members of a number of organizations including Women Presidents’ Organization, Columbus Society of Communicating Arts, Advertising Federation of Columbus and the National Association of Women
Business Owners®.

Portfolio Creative was awarded Best Temporary Employment Agency from CEO Magazine in 2008 and 2009. It was also named to the Business First “Fast 50” List in 2008 and 2009. The agency is listed on the Inc. 500 list of Privately-Owned Businesses.

Harris and Lang-Cline founded Portfolio Creative with the goal of providing a better way of connecting creative talent with clients in the Central Ohio area. Client needs are filled on a freelance, contract or full time basis from a specialized network of top creative talent.

Award recipients will be announced at the 2009 Small Business Forum and Leader Awards on November 10, 2009.