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.
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.
