Agency Owner Wins Prestigious Award

Stokes+HERZOG co-owner Sarah Stokes has been awarded the 2016 Business Woman of the Year from the Western Dairyland Community Action Agency.

“As a working mom and entrepreneur, I want to encourage all women to design a situation that helps them enjoy their lives more. I never imagined that growing these businesses could be so exciting and help me evolve so much as a person,” said Sarah Stokes.

The Business Woman of the Year award goes to a business owner in northern Wisconsin with an established and thriving business, who also continues to be extensively involved with and supportive of the Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center’s mission to assist women in starting, expanding or growing a small business. The recipient of this honor is selected by peers from a vast pool of amazing, intelligent business women throughout the region. Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch was also on hand for the award presentation.

Stokes and her husband Chris Herzog bought Queen of the Castle Magazine in late 2013 and grew revenue and market share before selling it to a new management company in the spring of 2016. The two former WEAU television news anchors also started Stokes+HERZOG, an advertising and public relations agency in the summer of 2014. The agency assists local and regional clients with all of their advertising and marketing needs including video production, website development, public relations, graphic design, social media management and overall marketing and advertising strategy.

“Sarah was selected as the 2016 Business Woman of the Year due to her rapid business growth, her tenacity as a savvy business woman and her ability to sincerely and positively influence those around her. Sarah has the unique ability to bring out the best in other people – particularly when it comes to encouraging other women to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams”, said Karman Briggs, Director of Jobs and Business Development at Western Dairyland.

Sarah Stokes is a proud graduate of Drake University in Iowa. Prior to starting her businesses she was a television news producer, reporter and anchor in Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri and Wisconsin.