church and others in the community. “My business has grown tremendously through word-of-mouth,” says Dashiell. People who sample her cakes at school and church functions call by phone to place orders for everything from sweet potato pound cake to apple pies. Dashiell has extended her product line by adding mini-cakes for individual snacking.
Once her baking business started to take hold, Dashiell improved her skills by obtaining a Food Handlers Certification license from Prince George’s Community College.
Dashiell learned the basics of business when she got involved with the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship program at Suitland High School in 2004. She earned first place in the organization’s In-Class Business Plan Competition and success has followed the aspiring college student ever since. In 2005, the Forestville, Maryland-based Honeecakes revenues reached $3,000.
In selecting the award nominees, a committee of BLACK ENTERPRISE editors and conference coordinators pored over hundreds of business plans and nomination forms. Once preliminary nominees were selected, be’s research department conducted further due diligence to determine the strongest candidates. For information on the 2006 Small Business Awards or to nominate a business or entrepreneur, go to blackenterprise.com