Elaine Helms, 51

From: Newark, NJ Business: Helms Medical Services

Working as a manager at the World Trade Center on the day of the 9/11 attacks, Elaine suffered injuries to her lungs, legs, and back, requiring multiple hospitalizations over a period of six years. Inspired by her doctors, she started Helms Medical Services with her life savings of $50,000 in 2012. Later, she received $145,000 in additional financing from the Newark-based community venture hub Rising Tide Capital, as well as a Small Business Administration loan for $250,000. Since then, Elaine has grown her business to employ six people and increased revenues by 20 percent over last year, while ensuring that her North Jersey community has access to quality internal medicine and primary-care services. She also launched the LGBT Rain Foundation, providing emergency shelter for young LGBT adults ages 18-24 in Essex County, and has raised over $370,000 for that organization, too. Elaine says: “My biggest struggle is knowing that I am responsible for other human beings and their families, knowing that they are buying into my vision, believing in me as a small-business owner, even though financially I am not able to offer them what bigger companies offer. But when you believe in yourself and others believe in you, it gives you the courage to carry on. People in my community respect me as an entrepreneur. They call me all the time, they ask me for advice on how to start their own businesses. I love being an entrepreneur. ”