Melissa Lewis: Owner, Melissa Lewis and Associates

Melissa Lewis started Melissa Lewis and Associates with a laptop, printer, cellphone and lobbying license.

“I’ve always had a pretty hardy work ethic – I’ve been an entrepreneur since age 7 when my brother and I started a lawn business,” she said. “I paid my way through college, and that’s a big part of who I am because from an early age I’ve had to pull myself up by the bootstraps and do it myself.”

The 39-year-old is the first person in her family to graduate from college, and she has staked a career in state and national politics. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in 2001, she got started working on former Sen. Max Baucus’ 2002 re-election campaign.