---
title: Smart Business 2023 Smart Women Award Honoree
description: Women Owned Business President CEO Culture Trust Empathy
image: https://redmondwaltz.com/hubfs/Jennifer%20Ake-Marriott%20Smart%20Women%202023%20ad.jpg
---

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# Smart Business 2023 Smart Women Award Honoree

![Picture of Lea Petty](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e)

[Lea Petty](https://redmondwaltz.com/news/author/lea-petty) Jul 06, 2023

[Company News](https://redmondwaltz.com/news/tag/company-news)

![Jennifer Ake-Marriott Smart Women 2023 ad](https://redmondwaltz.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jennifer%20Ake-Marriott%20Smart%20Women%202023%20ad.jpg?width=672&height=468&name=Jennifer%20Ake-Marriott%20Smart%20Women%202023%20ad.jpg)

 

# Meet the 2023 Smart Women Award honorees

By: Brooke Bilyj  June 30, 2023

 

 

**Jennifer Ake-Marriott, CEO, Redmond Waltz**

A resourceful and dedicated leader, Jennifer Ake-Marriott has built a culture of trust at Redmond Waltz since taking over as CEO of the industrial repair company in 2013. By demonstrating she is worthy of trust, she breathed new life into the fledgling business.

Redmond Waltz was sinking in debt and suffered from an unstable work environment, with distrust among the workers and vendors. Ake-Marriott’s intuition and insight gained from her experience at her family’s business, Ake-Environmental, made her aware that a failing company is not the result of one person or one thing. Rather than fire anyone or make immediate changes, she took a thoughtful approach to the job, bringing fresh ideas, compassion and courage to the role. Under her guidance, Redmond Waltz increased revenue, retired $1 million of debt and built a happy, united workforce. Last year, Crain’s Cleveland Business named Redmond Waltz as one of 2022’s Best Employers in Ohio.

With a belief that life is too short to hate your job, Ake-Marriott supports her employees, promotes women-based initiatives and provides opportunities for advancement. She carries out the behavior she wants her employees to aspire to, recognizing talent, making improvement when possible, embracing collaboration and independence, honoring accomplishment and showing empathy. ●

The full article can be found at:

[https://sbnonline.com/article/meet-the-2023-smart-women-award-honorees/](https://sbnonline.com/article/meet-the-2023-smart-women-award-honorees/)

 

Check out the full issue and past issues of Northeast Ohio Smart Business issues at

[http://www.smartbusinessemag.com/publication/?collection\_id=19](http://www.smartbusinessemag.com/publication/?collection_id=19)

 

 

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