Kimberly Baeth

She is an award-winning entrepreneur, business strategist, and motivational speaker with nearly three decades of experience building and scaling successful businesses. As the founder of Golden Openings, she transformed an innovative idea into a multi-million-dollar global company serving Fortune 500 organizations, government agencies, and international clients. Following the successful sale of the company, she founded Cutting Edge Success to help entrepreneurs and business owners accelerate growth through strategic consulting, leadership development, marketing, public speaking, and business innovation. Her career is distinguished by numerous national and international business awards, patented innovations, and a passion for empowering others to achieve lasting success. Kimberly Baeth grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa. She was the Central Iowa Fair Queen & spoke at her HS gradua tion. She attended Iowa State University where she double majored in Journalism/PR & Business Communications and received her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. She was in Chi Omega Sorority, Vice President of her chapter, External Public Relations Director for the Greek System and am ISU Football Recruiter. She was on ISU Homecom ing Court, named Greek Woman of the Year & General Motors Volunteer of the Year (1989-1993). She graduat ed in the top 5% of her class & was inducted into several honor societies. “Where on earth can I find giant scissors that really cut?” Kimberly was asked this question while working at the North Hennepin Chamber. Giant scissors that cut seemed like a simple idea - but it was a unique novelty at the time. She drew a pattern & asked her dad to construct big scissors for her 26th birthday. With a pair of oversized wooden scissors that cut (thanks to ingeniously placed razor blades), Golden Openings began in 1997 with the in tention of helping businesses with grand openings. Not even the unexpected 3-week EARLY arrival of her daughter, Stephanie, put a halt in her busy schedule. When it was time for Baeth, her husband & baby to leave the hospital, they had to stop at grand openings with hospital bracelets still on their wrists, before going home. From there Kimberly invented & patented the first & original giant stainless-steel scissors that really cut. As well as ceremonial shovels, keys to the city, giant bows and more! GO offered over 100 different styles & sizes of scissors & that could be customized in several ways. Her business specialized in Grand Openings, Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings, Keys to the City & Ceremonial Events. They had over 2,000 products including: wide custom ribbon, big bows, keys to the city, groundbreaking items, re-useable balloons, giant light switches, ceremonial props, outdoor visibility items, custom keepsakes & several unique awards & gifts for special events. Kimberly grew Golden Openings an average of 32% each year for 26 years in business & 84% in 2021. Baeth sold Golden Openings in September 2024, however, was she not ready to retire. She started Cutting Edge Success and now helps others grow their businesses & achieve their dreams, through public speaking & business growth consulting. Kimberly was a speaker at many places including but not limited to: The Women Mean Business Summit, The Na tional Special Event Show, The Times Square Today Show, DMACC’s Entrepreneur Fest, Great Day’s Show—Focus on Business Segment, The Better Business Bureau’s “Safe Business Tips TV Show” with Bobby Hansen, Kaplan University’s Graduation, Business Record’s Women of Influence Event, ISU’s Ivy School of Business, Pappa John’s Entrepreneur Center & The Women in Business Club & more! She has written four books. She has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX TV, has had articles in the NY TIMES, WASHINGTON POST & hundreds of other news publi cations, podcasts, magazines & websites. GO shipped out hundreds of packages each day to businesses & shipped to 6 of the 7 continents. She has worked with & done events for: The White House, Oprah, Disney, Lady Gaga, Apple, Google, Facebook Mi crosoft, many colleges, universities, professional sports teams, movies, Fortune 500 companies, TV shows, & more. She also helped orchestrate & set a World Record for the longest ribbon cutting (4.5 miles of continu ous ribbon). Over 7,000 Chambers & cities own her scissors. 1 Kimberly demonstrates exemplary levels of leadership & engagement, positively impacting the quality of life in her community. She offered paid internships to college & high school students & participated in school-to-work programs for Waukee HS as well as the School to Work Program for Special Education Students. She has participated in Career Shadowing, Mock Interviews & more with young professionals. She is also a CY MENTOR for the CYstarters ISU Entrepreneurs Club. Baeth served and continues to serve on several boards including: Urbandale Economic Development Board, YMCA, Campfire USA, Chi Omega Psi Beta, Girl Scouts, Grimes Condo Association. She currently serves on the Better Business Bureau and the National Associa tion Woman Business Owners Board of Directors. Her entrepreneurship, enthusiasm & a heart of gold has not gone unnoticed, as she & her company have received over 37 local, national, & international entrepreneur & business awards, a few are highlighted below: • Distinguished Alumni Award—Iowa State University, Greenlee School of Journalism, 2026 • Women of Influence—Business Woman Owner of the Year, Iowa Business Record, 2025 • SBA Iowa Small Businessperson of the Year Award, US Small Business Administration, 2022 • Ivy Women in Business Champion Award – Iowa State University, 2021 • The Inspiring Business for Women Designation Award – Girl Scouts of Greater IA, 2022 & 2021 • International Torch Award Winner for Excellence in Business Ethics – Better Business Bureau, 2020 • Iowa Torch Award Winner for Excellence in Business Ethics- Better Business Bureau, 2019 • Iowa’s Businesswoman of the Year - National Association Woman Business Owners, IA Chapter, 2018 • National Enterprising Woman of the Year Award - Enterprising Women Magazine, 2018 • 17 from 17 People Making a Difference – Des Moines Business Journal, 2018 • National Businesswoman of the Year – National Association Woman Business Owners, 2017 • Dream Big - Small Business of the Year for America – United States Chamber of Commerce, 2017 • Community Excellence Award for America – United States Chamber of Commerce, 2017 • Urbandale Business of the Year – Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, 2016 • Woman of the Year – Iowa Metro Woman’s Connection, 2016 • Top 100 Small Business of the Year in America—Dream Big Award Winner, United States Chamber, 2016 • Grimes Business of the Year - Grimes Chamber of Commerce, 2014 • Small Business Top Growth Award - Des Moines Area Community College, 2013 • Jim Goodman Entrepreneur Sprit Award – South & East Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, 2012 • Forty Under 40 – Iowa Business Record, 2012 • The Best Kept Secret Award – Celebrate Business Award/Economic Impact Awards - Greater Des Moines Chamber/Partnership, 2011 • Fittest Exec Award (two years) - Iowa Business Record, 2010 & 2011 • Woman to Watch – Minnesota Business Record, 2005 • Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year – Twin West Chamber of Commerce, 2001 Kimberly met her husband, Kevin, in college & they married in 1996. They have two daughters, Stephanie & Emily. She was heavily involved in her children's schools, sports programs & activities. Emily, swam for University of Ken tucky while receiving her master’s degree in four years in engineering. Kimberly is an avid triathlete & marathon run ner. She has run 6 marathons. In 2013, the year of the bombs, she ran in the Boston Marathon. She has completed four 1/2 Ironman’s & plans to finish a full Ironman. (An Ironman consists of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles of running 26.2 miles). Kimberly doesn’t tire & says, “THERE IS NO FINISH LINE” in work or play! She is an inspiring role model for people everywhere!