While many central Ohioans were celebrating PRIDE and getting ready for the Red White & Crew game, another event was drawing hundreds of capital city residents last weekend.
Women’s Day, the grand opening event for the The Women’s Business Center of Ohio (WBC) held Saturday, June 22, 2013, was a tremendous success.
The kickoff event for the organization was held at Economic and Community Development Institute’s Columbus campus, and served as a platform for local businesses to showcase their products, network with other businesses, and discover all that the WBC could offer to its community.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the turn-out today,” Patty Tumen, Vice President of the Women’s Business Center of Ohio said. “The WBC is such a vital resource for women entrepreneurs, so it’s important that we get our message out to the local communities. We are here to help, that’s our job.”
Funded by the Small Business Administration, the WBC of Ohio serves as a resource center for anyone interested in starting their own business or help their already existing business reach its potential. For an annual membership fee of only $25, these women now have access to laptops and PC’s, business-oriented training and classes, notary and printing services, networking opportunities, and one-on-one counseling.
ECDI and the WBC hope to attract any number of interested entrepreneurs, regardless of the type of business.
“It’s amazing to see the diversity of all of the businesses presently working with the WBC,” Tumen said.
Inna Kinney, ECDI Founder & CEO added, “From gluten-free food connoisseurs to pet waste recycling companies, the WBC has a lot to offer, regardless of what type of business we support. That is what makes what we do at ECDI so fun and exciting.”
With help from Accenture Community volunteers and ECDI staff members, ECDI’s campus was transformed into a local community gala. Individual retail tents, food stations catered by local chefs, and three-piece band Catfish Lily played classic summer songs as attendees browsed the local offerings.
The highlight of the event featured TaKeysha S. Cheney, Founder and CEO of the popular “Women’s Book”, speaking to engaged listeners and stressing the importance of establishing local connections to enhance your business’s reach. With an audience out the door, Cheney fielded questions from attendees, while bringing her personal anecdotes to life.
In addition to Cheney, Elizabeth Lessner, Founder and Owner of the Columbus Food League, and Jacquelin Holland, Program Manager at the James Cancer Hospital, also engaged attendees with personal stories and helpful tips to maximize their business’s potential.
“It was exciting to have such well respected women in the Columbus community so willing to share their expertise and secrets to success,” said Tumen. “It was evident that they truly care about their community and helping other women achieve the success.”
The Women’s Business Center of Ohio is located at 1655 Old Leonard Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43219. For more information about the WBC of Ohio and ECDI, please visit our website at ECDI.org.
