Madolyn Johnson Founder, The Homemaker's Idea Company

Madolyn Johnson, with $1,500 of her own money, $600 out of a shoebox from her friend and neighbor, and a dream to give other stay-at-home moms the flexibility and income she enjoyed, founded The Homemaker's Idea Company ® in 1971.

Today, with more than 5,000 representatives nationwide, this leading direct-selling company has put Ms. Johnson in Working Woman magazine's list of "The Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses in the U.S." and the Chicago area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Ms. Johnson was named an Illinois Entrepreneur of the Year and was inducted into the Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame.

The Homemaker's Idea Company representatives sell directly to the consumer through home demonstrations, showing consumers how to make their homes a haven with A-Room-A-Therapy ® and their products. Their exclusive line of baskets and home accessories including florals, linens and other coordinating pieces in resin, wood and wrought iron, helps consumers create the home they've always wanted.

In 2002, Madolyn Johnson gave the first of an annual $10,000 gift to the Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship to support the Entrepreneur Internship Program. She has continued her support of the program in recent years.