The Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Heather Horton as the recipient of the 2025 Kaye Lynne Webb Influential Woman in Business Award, recognizing her outstanding achievements as a business owner and driving force in the revitalization and growth of downtown Pittsburg, where her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to local business have inspired many.
A Crawford County native, Heather earned a bachelor’s degree in commercial art and a master’s degree in communication from Pittsburg State University. Her early experiences included helping her parents in a family restaurant and later assisting with her mother’s wedding cake business. It was this combination of aesthetic training (commercial art), culinary interest, and small-town connection that laid the groundwork for what came next. In 2007, Heather (together with her husband, Roger Horton) purchased a building in downtown Pittsburg, renovated it, and in 2009, launched Sweet Designs Cakery. Here, Heather’s cake design skills met her entrepreneurial ambitions—creating “works of art” cakes for weddings and special occasions. That business gave her not only a platform, but a sense of how to run a food business in a small downtown community.
In 2019, the Hortons opened TOAST in downtown Pittsburg. The restaurant occupies a restored historic building and embraces a mission of local sourcing, community connection, and culinary creativity. As co-owner of TOAST, Heather has demonstrated a remarkable ability to blend creativity, innovation, and community engagement — helping to shape a destination business that attracts both residents and visitors.
As a longtime advocate for workforce development in the hospitality field, Heather has long sought to hire and train students (including high school learners) in culinary arts and food business, providing opportunities that are less common in rural settings. The recent addition of an incubator kitchen inside the Hortons’ sister business, Pittsburg Bread Company, will further train the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Beyond her business success, Heather has been a tireless advocate for the continued development of Pittsburg’s downtown district. Her leadership, mentorship, and investment in the local economy have helped strengthen the heart of the city, fostering collaboration among business owners, and encouraging new opportunities for growth. She was a co-founder of the Pittsburg Artwalk and was instrumental in establishing one of the community’s most popular ongoing events. She is also one of the founders of the Pittsburg Arts Council and played a key role in helping make the Pittsburg Arts District a reality—now an official district recognized by the City of Pittsburg. These efforts have helped shape a vibrant and creative downtown community that continues to thrive today. In addition to her work in the arts, the Hortons recently launched the “Spread the L♥️af” program, which supplies bread to food pantries and underserved community members, and Heather was an early supporter of the Turkey Trot 5K, now one of downtown Pittsburg’s largest annual events drawing more than 1,000 runners each Thanksgiving morning.
“Heather exemplifies what it means to be an influential leader,” Dan Rank said, Chairman of the Board of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. “Her passion for Pittsburg, her entrepreneurial achievements, and her commitment to community make her a truly deserving recipient of this award. On behalf of the board, congratulations to Heather and to all the honorees.”
The Kaye Lynne Webb Influential Woman in Business Award honors women who have made significant contributions to the local business community through leadership, innovation, and service. Horton joins a distinguished group of past recipients who have helped shape the economic and cultural landscape of Pittsburg.
Heather will receive the award at this year’s “She Means Business” women’s conference on Dec. 5. The event will also serve to honor the 2026 Women of Distinction, an honor Horton received in 2017.
The “She Means Business” event serves to recognize, support, and inspire women throughout Southeast Kansas and will include a panel discussion with several local business and community leaders, along with a keynote address delivered by a special guest to be announced next week. The event begins at 9 a.m. in the PSU Overman Student Center. Tickets are only $50 and may be purchased at the chamber, 117 West Fourth Street, or online at www.pittsburgareachamber.com.