We are excited to celebrate Ohio’s outstanding small, minority, female, and family-owned businesses!

These profiles come directly from businesses who have submitted their nominations — and there’s still time to be included.

Explore our Nominee Directory at OhioMBEAwards.com to learn more about the inspiring organizations already recognized for the 2025 OhioMBE Awards.

📌 Nomination Deadline: September 30
Do you know a deserving business or organization? Submit your nomination today and help us spotlight their excellence.

🎟️ Tickets are available!
Don’t miss the celebration on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at Huntington Park.

🤝 Sponsorship opportunities remain open!
Gain visibility and show your support for Ohio’s small business community.

Join us as we honor innovation, resilience, and leadership in Ohio’s business community.
Together, we’re Inclusion Reimagined: Rising Together!

👉 Visit OhioMBEAwards.com for details.

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2025 OhioMBE Awards is approaching fast — September 30, 2025! Don’t miss your chance to recognize the outstanding small businesses, nonprofits, and leaders making a difference across Ohio.

This year’s luncheon will celebrate excellence in:
🏆 Top MBE (Minority Business Enterprise)
🏆 Top FBE (Female Business Enterprise)
🏆 Top Family-Owned Business
🏆 Best Nonprofit
🏆 Top Veteran Business
🏆 People’s Choice Awards

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✅ Current Nominees (To-Date)

Top MBE

• ALLEY BBURGER
• Aftermath General Contracting & Janitorial Cleaning LLC
• Columbus Archery
• Katbro
• Majestic Rehab & Remodeling LLC
• Natural Green Cleaning Services
• Selph Made Tax Financial Partners
• Smoot Construction
• Your Recovery Counseling
• Mary’s Cleaning
• The CAM Company
• Net Auto Glass

Top FBE

• Ellie / Rise Consulting Solutions LLC
• G. Warren Wealth
• Lace & Grace Boutique
• Make Up By Ahshia LLC
• Makeup by Ahshia
• Melanated PR Plug
• Noir Marketing and PR
• Qbyrds LLC
• Rise Consulting Solutions LLC
• The Hearts Haven Center for Counseling
• Work Space, LLC
• Your Recovery Counseling
• Exclusively BA

Top Family-Owned Business

• Progressive Printers, Inc.
• Smoot Construction Company
• WolfTech Cybersecurity
• Young Entrepreneurs Across America

Best Nonprofit

• The Mustard Seed Foundation

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📅 Winners will be announced at the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon
🗓️ Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Huntington Park, Columbus, Ohio
✨ Theme: Inclusion Reimagined: Rising Together

👉 Submit your nomination today at OhioMBEAwards.com
👉 Tickets are also available at OhioMBEAwards.com

Managing Change Orders in Construction Projects
📅 Wednesday, September 24, 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
📍 Zoom

Change is inevitable in construction, but it doesn’t have to derail your project. This class will provide strategies to:

• Handle change orders effectively
• Control costs and avoid disputes
• Keep projects on schedule and clients satisfied

✨ Free for OBDC Members
👉 Register today at OHBDC.org

We are thrilled to share the growing list of nominees for the 2025 OhioMBE Awards Luncheon, happening on Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Huntington Park, Columbus.

This year’s luncheon will celebrate excellence and leadership across Ohio’s small business community with awards in five categories:

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🏆 Top MBE (Minority Business Enterprise)

• ALLEY BBURGER
• Your Recovery Counseling
• Aftermath General Contracting & Janitorial Cleaning LLC
• Selph Made Tax Financial Partners
• Smoot Construction

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🏆 Top FBE (Female Business Enterprise)

• Melanated PR Plug
• G. Warren Wealth
• Rise Consulting Solutions LLC
• Qbyrds LLC
• Lace & Grace Boutique
• Work Space, LLC
• Makeup by Ahshia
• Noir Marketing and PR
• The Hearts Haven Center for Counseling

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🏆 Top Family-Owned Business

• Young Entrepreneurs Across America
• Selph (Family Business)
• Progressive Printers, Inc.
• WolfTech Cybersecurity
• Smoot Construction Company

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🏆 Best Nonprofit

• The Mustard Seed Foundation

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✨ Nominations are open through September 30, 2025.
✨ People’s Choice Awards voting runs October 1–10, 2025.
✨ Winners will be announced at the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon.

👉 Submit your nomination today at OhioMBEAwards.com

#OhioMBEAwards #PeoplesChoiceAwards #OhioSmallBusiness #MBE #FBE #Nonprofit #FamilyBusiness

Read the full issue at 👉 https://bit.ly/4mn5SAD

🔨 Featured Contracting Opportunities

• Design-Build (HVAC Improvements)
• CMAR Services at Demorest Townhomes – Due Oct. 16
• Franklin County Family Stabilization Unit Renovation – Due Sept. 19
• West Opportunity Center Lease & Relocation Services – Due Sept. 17

📥 Check out all bid notices inside the OhioMBE Bid Board.

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🗓️ Upcoming Events
📍 Wed, Sept. 17 | 10 AM – 2 PM
Claim What’s Yours 513! – Word of Deliverance Church, Cincinnati
Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece announces a new Unclaimed Funds Initiative.

📍 Wed, Sept. 17 | 6 PM – 7:15 PM (Zoom)
OBDC Construction Academy – Construction Cleaning Checklists & Quality Control
🔗 Register at OHBDC.org

📍 Thu, Sept. 18 | 12 PM – 1 PM
Thursday Noon Luncheon Club – Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA, Columbus

📍 Thu, Sept. 18 | 6 PM – 7:30 PM (Zoom)
OBDC – Certification 101
🔗 Register at OHBDC.org

📍 Wed, Sept. 24 | 6 PM – 7:15 PM (Zoom)
OBDC Construction Academy – Managing Change Orders in Construction Projects
🔗 Register at OHBDC.org

📍 Thu, Sept. 25 | 6 PM – 8 PM
Candidate Forum – Family Missionary Baptist Church, Columbus

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🌐 Ohio Diversity Network
List your event for FREE at OhioDiversityNetworks.com!

🆓 Free listings for business trainings, networking events & cultural celebrations.
🚀 Upgrade to a featured listing for $99 and get extra promotion.
🔗 Submit your event here: Event Form

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🏆 2025 OhioMBE Awards – Nominations Open!
Celebrate Ohio’s top small businesses at the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon:
📅 Oct. 23, 2025 | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Huntington Park, Columbus

Categories include:

• Top MBE
• Top FBE
• Top Family-Owned Business
• Best Nonprofit
• People’s Choice Awards

✅ Nominations close Sept. 30
✅ People’s Choice voting runs Oct. 1–10
👉 Submit at OhioMBEAwards.com

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🏗️ OBDC Construction Academy – September Classes

• Sept. 17 | Construction Cleaning Checklists & Quality Control
• Sept. 18 | Certification 101
• Sept. 24 | Managing Change Orders in Construction Projects
• Oct. 1 | Coordinating Subcontractors: Best Practices

🔗 Register today at OHBDC.org
💡 Free for OBDC members!

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📰 This Week’s Must-Reads on OhioMBE.com

• When Representation Doesn’t Mean Inclusion
• Are We Progressing? 62 Years After the March on Washington
• Taxation Without Participation
• Why the Columbus Education Association Must Stand With Black LEDE Businesses
• CCS: Capital Improvement Dollars — Who’s Really Winning?

The Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC) is proud to announce that Jeanna Hondel, President & CEO of Ascension Construction Solutions, will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 OhioMBE Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Huntington Park in Downtown Columbus.

This year’s theme is Inclusion Reimagined: Rising Together, reflecting the importance of equity, advocacy, and opportunity in Ohio’s small business ecosystem.

Hondel is a familiar face to the OhioMBE community. She is a past OhioMBE Awards honoree and was recognized for her support of the OBDC Construction Academy, where she has helped train and mentor contractors. Since founding Ascension Construction Solutions in 2017, she has built a firm rooted in values of respect, teamwork, accountability, and inclusion—principles that align with the spirit of the OhioMBE Awards.

“Jeanna is the perfect choice to keynote this year’s luncheon,” said Ronda Watson Barber, Publisher of OhioMBE and Executive Director of OBDC. “Her leadership and advocacy for small businesses exemplify the power of inclusion reimagined. We are thrilled to have her inspire our audience of entrepreneurs, buyers, and advocates.”

The OhioMBE Awards celebrate Ohio’s top minority-, female-, and family-owned businesses, as well as nonprofits and advocates who champion supplier diversity and inclusion.

🎟️ Sponsorship and ticket information is available at OhioMBEAwards.com.

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About the OhioMBE Awards
The OhioMBE Awards, presented by the Ohio Business Development Center, is the state’s premier luncheon celebrating small businesses and the advocates who support them. Since its founding, the event has recognized hundreds of entrepreneurs, corporations, and community leaders committed to building a more inclusive economy.

The OBDC Construction Academy is committed to helping contractors and small business owners build capacity, strengthen operations, and gain access to contracting opportunities. Join us this week for two powerful online learning sessions:

📚 Upcoming Classes

Construction Cleaning Checklists & Quality Control
📅 Wednesday, September 17, 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM
📍 Zoom

Certification 101
📅 Thursday, September 18, 2025
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Zoom

✨ Free for OBDC Members

👉 Register today at OHBDC.org

Bid Due: Friday, September 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Location: 10th Floor, Dorrian Building, 369 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
Anticipated Start: October 27, 2025
Anticipated Completion: January 19, 2026 (date provided as “2025” appears to be a typo; adjust if 2025 is correct)

Project Overview

Elford (CMR) is soliciting bids for the renovation of the Franklin County Family Stabilization Unit on the 10th floor of the Dorrian Building.

Bid Packages

1.0 Final Cleaning

2.0 Selective Demolition

6.3 General Trades

9.0 Drywall & Acoustical

9.2 Resilient Flooring & Carpet

9.9 Painting

21.0 Fire Suppression

23.0 HVAC

26.0 Electrical & Technology

Requirements & Goals

SEBE Participation Goal: 20% Small & Emerging Business Enterprise

Wage/Tax: Prevailing wage applies; project is tax-exempt

Qualifications: See Article 8 of the ITB for Franklin County quality contractor requirements

Questions / Contact

Aaron Daman, Elford
 adaman@elford.com |  614-375-0931

Here’s a link to the bidding document

Nominations Open for the 2025 People’s Choice Award!

We’re excited to announce that nominations are now open for the People’s Choice Award, part of the 2025 OhioMBE Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

The People’s Choice Award celebrates outstanding Ohio-based small businesses that inspire our community through excellence, service, and impact.

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📌 How It Works

✨ Nominate your favorite business by September 30, 2025.
✨ Eligible nominees will advance to the People’s Choice Voting Contest.
✨ Voting runs October 1–10, 2025.
✨ The winner will be revealed live at the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon.

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✅ Who Can Be Nominated?

• Any Ohio small business

• You can nominate your own business or another business

• Past winners are eligible

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⚠️ Guidelines

• One nomination per person (per email)

• Incomplete nominations may not be considered

• Multiple people can nominate the same business

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🎉 About the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon

The OhioMBE Awards, presented by the Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC), is Ohio’s premier networking luncheon celebrating small businesses, family-owned companies, nonprofits, and their advocates.

This year’s theme is “Inclusion Reimagined: Rising Together.”
Join us as we honor outstanding businesses and community leaders who are making an impact across Ohio.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
🕦 Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Huntington Park, Columbus, Ohio

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👉 Submit your nomination today at OhioMBEAwards.com