top of page
Untitled design (2).jpg
OBE Classic Inverse_2x.png

Level Up Business Conference

Building the Economic Impact of Black Founders

Thursday, May 25, 2023 | 8am - 5pm
Columbus Convention Center

400 N. High St. | Columbus, OH 43215

The Level Up Business Conference welcomes businesses, leaders, and advocates from across the state of Ohio to rally behind the growth of black-owned businesses in the state and beyond.

David Mahon pic.png

Featuring

The Economic Impact of Black Businesses in Ohio

Presented by Dr. David Mahon, Executive Director, Alpaugh Family Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati

UC Economics Center.png

Fireside Chat with Ohio's Newest Black-Owned Bank

Featuring

A conversation with the executive team of Adelphi Bank, Ohio's only Black-owned Bank. Moderated by NBC4 Anchor, Matt Barnes.

Matt Barnes_NBC4.png

Moderator: Matt Barnes, NBC4

Conference Speakers

NickBankston Bio.jpg

Nicholas Bankston

 Councilmember, Columbus City Council, Chair of Small  & Minority Business Committee

Monica Womack pic.jpg

Monica Womack

Chief of the Minority Business Division at the Ohio Department of Development

HeadshotsColumbus-Kristi Tanner-1-8969[1][1].jpg

Kristi Tanner

Senior Managing Director, Economic Inclusion at JobsOhio

sherri-hamilton_2022.jpg

Sherri Hamilton

President & CEO at Ohio Black Expo

DeonnaBarnett headshot 2022.jpg

Deonna Barnett

CEO & Managing Consultant at Aventi Enterprises

Lorne Novick.jpg

Lorne Novick

Chief Services Officer at JumpStart

LC Johnson headshot.jpg

LC Johnson

Founder & CEO of Zora's House

Alicia Oddi_Rev1.png

Alicia Oddi

  Managing Director, Entrepreneur and Inclusion Programs at Rev1 Ventures

Tyrone Headshot.jpg

Tyrone Martin

Community Relations Manager at Aventi Enterprises

J. Averi Frost 2022.jpg

J. Averi Frost

Executive Director at Freedom Equity

Tiffany Edwards headshot.jpg

Tiffany Edwards

Founder of The State of Ohio Collective

Dwayne Lee Headshot.jpg

Dwayne Lee

SBA Underwriter at Telhio Credit Union

Elio Harmon_Headshot.jpg

Elio Harmon

Founder of 614Startups

Dee Moultrie pic.jpg

Dee Moultrie

Senior Consultant, Strategy & Planning at Aventi Enterprises

Troy Headshot .jpg

Adam Troy

CEO at Troy Enterprises

Perry Gregory pic.jpg

Perry Gregory

Senior Vice President for the National Center for Urban Solutions

Schedule

​


8:00a - 9:00a | Registration & Breakfast


9:00a - 9:55a | Opening Session
Opening Remarks
The Economic Impact of Black-Owned Businesses in Ohio


10:00a - 10:45a | Breakout Sessions

Doing Business with the State of Ohio 

Transforming Your Business into a High-Growth Company

11:00a - 11:45a | Breakout Sessions

Doing Business with the State of Ohio 
Diving into Real Estate Development


12:00p - 1:15p | Lunch

Fireside Chat with Adelphi Bank
Fire
1:30p - 2:15p | Breakout Sessions
The Business Credit Conversation
Transforming Your Business into a High-Growth Company

 

2:30p - 3:30p | Closing Session
Black Business Initiatives Across the State of Ohio


3:30p - 5:00p | Cocktails & Networking Mixer

Event Sponsors

City of Columbus Logo.png
Franklin County Logo.png
OC-Logo ALarge.png
ODOD Minority Business Division.png

Media Sponsor

NBC4 L4Y Logo BLK font FULL.png

Community Partners

CEC_logo.jpg
Ohio_SBDC_RGB Logo.jpg
Columbus Chamber Logo.jfif
Aarius Dumas Productions.png
bottom of page