Tara Murray
A Burnside mum of two said winning an AusMumpreneur award would be one of the biggest highlights of her career.
Mary Maksemos who runs Maksemos Group has been nominated for five awards, which celebrate and recognise Australian mums in business.
She has been nominated for the creative entrepreneur, business excellence, service business, AusMumpreneur of the year and business pivot awards.
Ms Maksemos said she was shocked to have been named as a finalist.
“I’m pretty excited,” she said. “I’ve worked my butt off the last two years.
“I didn’t even know about the awards, I’m always working and I hadn’t stopped to put my name forward. I’m the only designer in the building and construction field nominated, there aren’t many women in my field.
“Personally it would mean more than any design award, it meant I was being recognised as a businesswoman.”
Ms Maksemos stumbled into the industry many years ago and mass produced many kitchen designs for major companies.
With the COVID-19 she decided to set up her own company and help people’s house dreams come true that way.
“I’d just brought into a franchise when COVID hit and I thought what am I going to do now? That is when I realised going online was the answer.
“The online virtual store happened along with an augmented reality app which makes it easier for people to look at the kitchen in their house.
Ms Maksemos said it was pretty special to be a role model for her two children and she was a proud mum.
The award winners will be announced this month.
