A regional business organization has named Jeanette Betton of Dynamic Designs Jewelry in Kirkland one of seven finalists for businesswoman of the year award.

Women Business Owners supports women entrepreneurs through networking, online promotion, and strategic support and inspiration.

Since 1982, Women Business Owners has awarded the Nellie Cashman Woman Business Owner of the Year Award to Puget Sound area women who have made outstanding contributions to the status of women business owners through their leadership in business and the community.

Irish-born Nellie Cashman emigrated to the U.S. with her mother and sister. While working as a bellhop in a Boston hotel, Cashman encountered General Ulysses S. Grant, who encouraged her to “go west, as the west needs people like you.”

From Tucson and Tombstone, Arizona, to Nevada and the Klondike, she had a life of gold prospecting, mining and business ownership until her death in 1925, becoming as well known for her philanthropy as she was for being a woman succeeding in a male-dominated world.

This year, Betton is one of seven nominees. The Kirkland custom jewelry designer has been in business since 1984 and set up shop in Kirkland in 1992. She is active in several local business organizations including Rotary Club of Downtown Kirkland, Eastside Business Association, eWomen’s Network and Women Business Owners. She received Woman Business Owner of the Year recognition from Eastside Women in Business in 2009.

The Nellie award winner will be named and presented at the Nellie Cashman Gala on Oct. 3 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle.

Dynamic Designs creates custom jewelry, repairs, redesigns, and restores jewelry, and performs appraisal services. Betton is a direct diamond importer and buyer, traveling to Antwerp, Belgium to purchase hand-selected diamonds on behalf of clients. More information is at www.dynamicdesignsjewelry.com.