Guest Column
Join us for the Ohio Business and Career Expo
Are you a business owner interested in having the State of Ohio as a client? If so, I’d like to extend a personal invitation for you to attend the free Ohio Business and Career Expo being held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17 at the Ohio Expo Center’s Cardinal Hall.
This networking and learning opportunity is geared toward business owners and job seekers who are minorities, women, or otherwise socially and economically disadvantaged.
The State of Ohio and our partners value diversity and inclusion. As a result, we are holding this expo to support equal employment opportunities and efforts to expand access to state contracts for small, minority- and women-owned businesses.
If you own a business certified through the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) programs, or would like to learn more about the benefits and process of certification, this expo is for you.
MBE and EDGE are administered by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. DBE is administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
For those of you who have attended the Ohio Business Expo in previous years, you will again have opportunities to learn more about doing business with state agencies and other government entities. This year we are expanding the expo to include a career component to help state agencies, other government entities and the construction industry further diversity their applicant pools.
For business owners
Business owners will be able to network with purchasing officials from more than 40 State of Ohio agencies as well as other government entities including the Columbus Regional Airport Authority and Central Ohio Transit Authority. Also participating will be purchasing officials from several state universities, including The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, University of Akron, University of Cincinnati, Kent State University and University of Toledo.
Business owners also will be able to attend workshops on several topics. You will be able to learn about financing programs, registering to do business with the state and responding to a state bid request. In addition, a computer lab will be available to help business owners begin the application process for MBE and/or EDGE certification, recertification or cross certification. Help also will be available to navigate the state procurement website, procure.ohio.gov.
For job seekers
If you know of anyone job seeking, please encourage them to attend the expo as well. They will be able to meet recruiters from more than 40 State of Ohio agencies, other government entities and universities, including The Ohio State University.
Job seekers also will have the opportunity to attend engaging workshops on how to land that great job. And a computer lab will be available for job seekers to start creating a profile on the State of Ohio job posting site, careers.ohio.gov.
Construction trades
And for those who are in the construction trades or would like to be, those folks will have the opportunity to network with representatives from several private construction firms, trade unions and apprenticeship programs, including Associated Builders and Contractors, Columbus Sheet Metal Workers and the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council.
More details
Admission for all of these opportunities is free. Parking is $5.
Online registration is available through May 3, but walk-ins are welcome. To register or learn more, please visit our website at das.ohio.gov/ohiobizcareerexpo.
I hope to see you May 17 at the Ohio Business and Career Expo! The address is 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 43211.
Gregory L. Williams
State EEO Coordinator/Deputy Director
Equal Opportunity Division
Ohio Department of Administrative Services
Published in OhioMBE – May 1 issue
