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Big Island woman gets recognized for green business in O, the Oprah Magazine

By Cindy Cha - bio | email

HONOLULU (KHNL) - Earlier this year, more than 3,000 women entered a national leadership project contest. Eighty winners were selected, including one local woman from the Big Island.

The nationwide contest called for business women with great ideas, who have already started a project, and wanted to take it to the next level. For one of those women, her vision not only benefits the Aloha State, but the overall environment.

As a green consultant and educator, Andrea Dean focuses on helping local businesses operate with sustainability in mind.

"In these times where resources are dwindling, energy costs are sky rocketing and businesses are really feeling that there are opportunities to go green and save money as well," said Dean.

Her business vision earned her an invitation to attend a three-day, high-powered leadership training seminar in New York, called Women Rule.

She was also featured in the November issue of O, the Oprah Magazine.

"The photo shoot was very glamorous, very cool," Dean said.  "Being photographed for the Oprah Magazine was really wonderful. They do your hair, they do your makeup, you got to strike a pose."

Aside from the glitz and glam, she says it was the high quality training from top businesswomen, that gave her the boost she needed, to move her business forward.

"Being chosen from such a large pool of women nationwide, helped confirm for me that I was on the right track and moving in the right direction," said Dean.  "It provided me with the confidence, it provided me with some tools, some new skills."

Now Andrea plans to use those skills to help the environment, one business at a time.

Andrea says even though she did not get to meet Oprah, she felt blessed by the Oprah presence.

The November issue of the Oprah Magazine is out on newsstands.