By Ronda Watson Barber OhioMBE Publisher Ohio’s Inspector General released a report this week outlining that hundreds of EDGE (Encouraging Diversity Growth and Equity) certified businesses didn’t qualify for the program because the State of Ohio failed to keep tabs on their eligibility. The report found that 357 business certified as EDGE businesses have violated…
By Ronda Watson BarberPublisher Hip Hip Hurrah! OhioMBE is celebrating 10 years of publishing. It is an honor to advocate and highlight small businesses, particularly Black-owned businesses in the Buckeye state. I’m a business owner just like my typical reader. I started OhioMBE on a whim and produced the first issue in 10 days. No…
By Ronda Watson Barber Publisher It’s 2019! Just like clockwork, a new year is here. It’s an exciting time. A fresh start. Many people resolutions to grow and develop. What are you working on? How will you expand or improve your business. How will your business make a difference for you personally and the overall…
Celebrate Black History Month By Ronda Watson Barber Publisher Black History Month is a time to celebrate the world-wide contributions our ancestors have made. We stand on strong shoulders. Our fore-folks face unimaginable obstacles and they succeeded. They didn’t give up or give in. Through slavery, Jim Crow, Segregation and a Civil Rights Movement, Black…
OhioMBE celebrates nine years of publishing By Ronda Watson Barber Publisher OhioMBE is celebrating nine years of advocating, informing and promoting small businesses. I take pride in publishing Ohio’s largest Black-owned business newspaper. It has been a wonderful journey empowering small business owners with news, information, access and opportunity. I love small businesses. I enjoy…
Happy 2018 By Ronda Watson Barber OhioMBE Publisher Happy 2018! As you reflect on last year and embark on 2018, what are your goals? How will you grow your business? How will you exercise political power? How will you empower our community? Last year, the themes of my columns were “Advocate! Resist!” The political and…
Advocate! Resist! Unite! By Ronda Watson Barber OhioMBE Publisher Throughout 2017, I have used the theme Advocate! Resist! for my columns. I strongly believe that collectively we are powerful. Our votes are important. Our spending power matters. United we are strong. There is a bunch of crazy going in our country and communities from the…
At This Time of Thanksgiving By Ronda Watson Barber – Publisher At this time of Thanksgiving, I am abundantly grateful to OhioMBE’s advertisers, subscribers and distribution outlets. It is an honor to provide access to purchasing opportunities to Ohio’s small and minority-owned businesses via our bid notice distribution services, monthly procurement fairs and certification classes. …