Mimi Oliver Wins Bronze Stevie® Award in 2025 Stevie Awards for Women in Business

As the third generation in a family of hospitality pioneers, Oliver’s vision for WaterWalk is both legacy-driven and future-facing. She carries the extended-stay leadership and innovation torch following her grandfather, Jack DeBoer, the late founder of WaterWalk, and known ‘pioneer of extended-stay.’ What started as a humble extended-stay model in Wichita, Kansas, has grown into an emerging franchise opportunity under Oliver’s leadership that offers today’s aspiring hotelier a chance to provide modern, upscale and flexible lodging options for both short- and long-term guests.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor the achievements of women executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the organizations they run – worldwide. The Stevie Award has been hailed as the world’s premier business award.

More than 1,500 entries from organizations and individuals in 48 nations and territories were submitted this year for consideration in more than 100 categories, including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women and Women-run Workplace of the Year, among many others. Oliver won in the Women in Family Business category.

“We are incredibly proud of Mimi and all she has accomplished as a leader,” said Jim Korroch, board member of WaterWalk Hospitality. “Her dedication to innovation, integrity and people-first leadership continues to shape the future of WaterWalk and inspire everyone around her. This recognition is a well-deserved celebration of her impact on our organization, the hospitality industry and her commitment to continuing the DeBoer legacy.”

Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 190 business professionals worldwide, serving across seven judging committee.

Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, said, “Now in its 22nd year, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business received its most varied and diverse body of nominations ever, and that’s reflected in the caliber of this year’s winning nominations. We are gratified by how meaningful it is to women to win a Stevie Award, and how impactful it can be on the futures of their careers and their organizations. We congratulate all of this year’s Grand, Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners for their achievements.”