Ronda Barber

We are proud to announce Fortuna Bank as the recipient of the 2025 Publisher’s Award at the OhioMBE Awards. This recognition honors Fortuna Bank’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, advancing equity, and transforming access to financial opportunities in our community.

About Fortuna Bank
Fortuna Bank is a women-owned community bank based in Grandview Heights, Ohio. It was founded with a mission to lift women beyond barriers to financial success and to create a more inclusive banking experience. Fortuna offers personalized services designed to support small businesses, professionals, and individuals through every stage of their financial journey.

With more than 300 shareholders—over 75 percent of whom are women—Fortuna Bank represents a new generation of financial leadership that values connection, collaboration, and community. Under the leadership of President and CEO Ilaria Rawlins, the bank has become a model for mission-driven growth and financial inclusion.

Why We Honor Fortuna Bank
Fortuna Bank stands as an inspiring example of what happens when innovation meets purpose. Its leadership team is redefining what community banking looks like—prioritizing relationships, education, and empowerment over transactions. Fortuna’s commitment to equity, entrepreneurship, and access to capital aligns perfectly with the mission of the OhioMBE Awards to celebrate businesses making a difference across Ohio.

Join us in congratulating Fortuna Bank, the 2025 Publisher’s Award Honoree, for its leadership and dedication to economic empowerment.

Hensel Phelps and Elford Construction invite you to an In-Person Outreach Event for the Columbus Airport New Terminal Project – GMP 9 Public Safety Building Trade Partner Opportunities

📍 Location: Mid-Ohio Food Collective, 3960 Brookham Dr, Grove City, OH 43123
📅 Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM EST
🔗 RSVP by: Monday, October 27, 2025
👉 Click here to RSVP

Meet with Hensel Phelps, Elford, and Columbus Regional Airport Authority to learn about upcoming contracting opportunities for the new terminal project.
Network with large, medium, and small firms across a range of construction trades, including:
Site Civil • Steel • Concrete • Electrical • Plumbing • HVAC • Low Voltage • Masonry • Metal Panel • Roofing • Flooring • Fire Protection • Framing & Drywall • Paint • Glazing • Millwork • Landscaping • and more.

💬 Featured Representatives:

• Denise Gilliam, Director of Inclusion & Outreach, Elford
• Marrae Bundy, Senior Specialist, Columbus Regional Airport Authority
• Daniel Fils-Aime, Coordinator of Supplier Diversity, Hensel Phelps

🛠️ All qualified subcontractors and suppliers are encouraged to attend.
Subcontracts and purchase agreements over $100,000 will require Payment and Performance Bonds.

💖 Bring a canned good donation to support the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.

Elford, Inc. is seeking qualified subcontractors and suppliers — including certified Small & Emerging Business Enterprises (SEBEs) — to participate in the Franklin County PFM and Purchasing & EECD Tenant Improvements project.

📍 Location: Dorrian Building, 369 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215 (Floors 7 & 8)
📅 Bid Due: Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM
🚧 Start Date: December 15, 2025
🏁 Completion: July 10, 2026

This Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) project consists of two tenant fit-out projects for Franklin County offices. Bidders may submit for each project individually or provide a combined proposal if capable of completing both concurrently.

Available Bid Packages

Final Cleaning • Selective Demolition • Custom Millwork • General Trades • Storefronts/Glass & Glazing • Drywall & Acoustical • Flooring • Painting & Wall Coverings • Fire Suppression • Plumbing • HVAC • Electrical, Communications & Safety Systems

Project Requirements

• 20% SEBE participation goal
• Prevailing wage rates apply
• Tax exempt
• Contractors must meet Franklin County’s “Quality Contractor” requirements (see Article 8 of ITB)

📩 To obtain bid documents or for questions, contact:
Aaron Daman – Elford, Inc.
📧 adaman@elford.com

Join us as we honor Ohio’s outstanding small-business and community leaders at the 2025 OhioMBE Awards Networking Luncheon, presented by the Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC).

Honorees

• Keynote Speaker: Jenna Hondel, Ascension Construction Solutions
• Frank W. Watson Advocacy Award: Felix Garcia, Director of Purchasing, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
• Publisher’s Award: Fortuna Bank
• Legends Award: Smoot Construction

🎟️ Limited tickets are still available.
Reserve your seat now: buytickets.at/OBDC

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Location: Huntington Park, Columbus, Ohio

The OhioMBE Awards is proud to announce Felix Garcia, Director of Purchasing at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, as the 2025 Frank W. Watson Advocacy Honoree.

Felix is recognized for his outstanding commitment to supplier diversity and advocacy for small and minority-owned businesses across Central Ohio. In his role at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, he oversees and manages procurement processes, supplier diversity initiatives, warehouse operations, and asset surplus — all while serving as a contributing team leader for the organization’s programs, events, and community-driven initiatives.

Active in the local business community, Felix works to build strong partnerships with local and national organizations, as well as with neighboring municipalities that champion opportunities for diverse and small businesses.

Prior to joining the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Felix spent 25 years in the railroad industry, holding leadership positions in transportation, purchasing, accounting, capital projects, and asset management.

Felix holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Toledo and is a proud member of the Central Ohio Organization of Public Purchasers.

Please join us in celebrating Felix Garcia and his dedication to advancing equitable business opportunities at the 2025 OhioMBE Awards on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Huntington Park.

🔗 Learn more at OhioMBEAwards.com

The OhioMBE Awards, presented by the Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC), returns on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Huntington Park to celebrate the excellence and impact of Ohio’s small and minority-owned businesses.

 This year’s celebration will feature:
 Keynote Speaker: Jeanna Hondel, PE, President & CEO of *Ascension Construction Solutions
 Frank W. Watson Advocacy Award Honoree: Felix Garcia, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
 Publisher’s Award Honoree: Fortuna Bank
 Legends Award Recipient: Smoot Construction

We will also proudly recognize the 2025 Top Business Nominees and honor the winners of the People’s Choice Awards, as voted by the community!

Join community leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates for an inspiring luncheon celebrating achievement, advocacy, and opportunity in Ohio’s small business community.

Thursday, October 23, 2025
 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
 Huntington Park | Columbus, Ohio
Get tickets at OhioMBEAwards.com

#OhioMBEAwards #OBDC #SmallBusiness #SupplierDiversity #OhioBusiness #Networking #AwardsLuncheon #PeoplesChoice

Have you seen the latest events posted on OhioDiversityNetworks.com?

From business workshops to networking sessions and community celebrations, there’s something for everyone to connect, learn, and grow.

✨ Don’t miss out — visit today to explore upcoming opportunities!
👉 OhioDiversityNetworks.com

#OhioDiversity #Networking #CommunityEvents #BusinessGrowth

Here is the link 👉 https://bit.ly/3Kvfooc

Do you like the Bid Board? Share it!
📌 Facebook | 💼 LinkedIn | ✉️ Email | 🌐 Bluesky

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🔨 Featured Contracting Opportunity

• CMAR Services at Demorest Townhomes – Due Oct. 16
  Posted on OhioDiversityNetwork.com

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📅 Upcoming Events – October 2025

Wednesday, Oct. 1 | 4:00–6:00 PM
💼 Webinar Series: Managing the Profitable Business (Online)
Hosted by Hensel Phelps & Victor Tyler – Weekly through Nov. 12

Wednesday, Oct. 1 | 5:30–8:00 PM
🌟 Women of Impact – Columbus Chamber Women’s Collective
📍 Lincoln Theatre, 769 Long St., Columbus

Wednesday, Oct. 1 | 6:00–7:30 PM
🛠️ OBDC Construction Academy – Coordinating Subcontractors (Online via Zoom)
🔗 Register at OHBDC.org

Friday–Tuesday, Oct. 3–8 | 5:00 AM–6:00 PM Daily
🍩 Miles’ Mission & Donald’s Donuts: The BLUE Donut Return
📍 Donald’s Donuts, Zanesville

Sunday, Oct. 5 | 10:00–11:30 AM
🙏 Trinity Baptist Church – Pastoral Appreciation Sunday
📍 461 Saint Clair Ave., Columbus

Tuesday, Oct. 14 | 3:00–8:00 PM
🏗️ AEC Unites Business Mixer
📍 Moody Nolan, Columbus

Wednesday, Oct. 15 | 4:00–6:00 PM
👨‍👩‍👧 Community Care Forum: Helping Families Thrive
📍 Mattie B. James Center, Columbus

Wednesday, Oct. 22 | 6:00–8:00 PM
🗣️ Convos With Crawley & Wilson
📍 Otterbein University Campus Center, Westerville

Thursday, Oct. 23 | 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
🏆 2025 OhioMBE Awards Luncheon
📍 Huntington Park, Columbus
🎟 Tickets & sponsor info: OhioMBEAwards.com

Wednesday, Oct. 29 | 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
🎀 OWCC Breast Cancer Awareness Session (Online via Zoom)
✨ Theme: Think Pink: Awareness, Action & Advocacy
🔗 Register FREE at WomenInOhio.com

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📢 List Your Event FREE!

Promote your training, networking, or cultural celebration on OhioDiversityNetworks.com.
🆓 Standard listings are free | 🚀 Featured listings $99

Submit your event 👉 https://forms.gle/y7hbZPjfHv49iC4f8

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🗳️ People’s Choice Awards – Voting Opens Today at Noon!

Support your favorite Ohio small, minority, female, family, and veteran-owned businesses.
✅ Ballot goes live at OhioMBEAwards.com
✅ Share with your network and help celebrate Ohio’s best!

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📰 Must-Reads on OhioMBE.com

• When Representation Doesn’t Mean Inclusion
• Are We Progressing? 62 Years After the March on Washington
• Taxation Without Participation

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✨ Stay connected, share the Bid Board, and let’s keep lifting up Ohio’s small business community.

The 2025 OhioMBE Awards People’s Choice Awards voting opens today at noon! 🎉

This is your chance to support your favorite small, minority, female, family, and veteran-owned businesses across Ohio.

👉 Visit OhioMBEAwards.com to cast your vote once the ballot goes live.

The OhioMBE Awards are dedicated to celebrating the resilience, innovation, and impact of Ohio’s small businesses. Thank you for joining us in lifting up and recognizing these outstanding entrepreneurs.

✅ Voting opens at noon at OhioMBEAwards.com
✅ Share the link with your network and help us honor Ohio’s best!

Coordinating Subcontractors: Best Practices for Smooth Project Execution

📅 Wednesday, October 1, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Zoom)

Working with multiple subcontractors can make or break a project. This OBDC Construction Academy class will cover strategies for coordinating schedules, managing communication, and ensuring projects stay on track and within budget.

✅ Free for OBDC Members
✅ Online via Zoom
✅ Practical, expert-led training

🔗 Register Today: OHBDC.org or buytickets.at/OBDC