OhioMBE Salutes Bobbi Bell for her dedication to Ohio’s MBEs
Bobbi Bell has served the Equal Opportunity Division of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) for 17 years. After serving as a receptionist and then a word processor, she worked herself up to the assistant to the deputy director post, where she has spent more than 14 years. Her duties include assisting the Business Certification Unit with the promotion of the MBE and the Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) Unit. She has assisted with more than 20 MBE outreach events, including the event planning of the highly successful Ohio Business Expo held March 25 at the Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus. This most recent Ohio Business Expo attracted approximately 300 small business owners, the highest number of participants in the history of the event. The outstanding showing will further help the state meet and exceed the goals for the MBE and EDGE programs.
“It has been exciting to work for DAS and agencies collaborating towards meeting the MBE program requirements the past several years. My colleagues have been so dedicated and energized to meet the “15% in ’15” goal and I am honored to help promote diversity within the state’s procurement processes for minority and women businesses through the MBE and EDGE programs. I am excited to be working with this team and the program that are making goals a reality for Ohio’s MBE programs.”
Bell also serves as the liaison to the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. She coordinates the commission’s MLK commemorate celebration held each January and its statewide oratorical contest held each April. She also oversees the commission’s annual calendar, a tribute to MLK.
Before joining DAS, she worked for the Home Energy Assistance Program of the Ohio Development Services Agency for five years.
Bell has received two DAS Superior Accomplishment Awards for contributing above and beyond her normal work duties.
If you know of a minority business advocate OhioMBE needs to recognize, please drop me an email rbarber@ohiombe.com
