Sheila A. Mixon is Senior Vice President of the Business Development & Entrepreneurship Department for the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio (ULGSO) where she provides vision, leadership, organizational governance and strategic direction for the department. The Department programs include the SBDC (Small Business Development Center), the Economic Empowerment Center (AABDP) and ORV~WBC (Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council), where she serves as its Executive Director. ORV~WBC is a certifying entity for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Ms. Mixon has 35+ years in business development experience; the financial services industry and not-for-profit organizations. During her time with ULGSO she has garnered many awards and recognition for her work with small business owners. Through her leadership, the SBDC was selected by the SBA Columbus District as the Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation Award recipient for 2012. In 2011, was selected as the SBA Minority Business Champion. Most recently was awarded the 2016 Women’s Business Champion by NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners, 2016 Women of Excellence and the establishment the Sheila A. Mixon Women’s Entrepreneurial Start-up Fund by the Women of Color Foundation.  Recognized as a Women of Color 2017 Hall of Fame Inductee and 2017 Women of Influence Awardee.

Ms. Mixon was recently appointed to the Academic Advisory Council for Business Degree Programs at Union Institute & University and is a member of the City of Cincinnati’s small business commission, the Small Business Advisory Council, the Advisory Board for the City’s Department of Economic Inclusion and the Cleveland Clinic Supplier Diversity Advisory Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors for HCDC and HCDC Entrepreneur Assistance Committee and appointed to the Kauffman Advisory Group for the Kauffman Foundation.

Ms. Mixon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (concentration Finance) from The Ohio State University.

Biography coming soon...

As Event & Program Manager for Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council (ORV~WBC), Mrs. Young manages outreach, business development/training and networking events offered to over 950 certified WBEs in Ohio, Kentucky & West. Virginia.

 Leslie has over twenty (20) years of experience working for and on behalf of the small, minority, and women-owned business community. Leslie’s career began as a Project Manager for a contract with the SBA 8(a) Program, assisting with the development of strategic marketing plans for small businesses across Ohio. She worked for several small businesses including an M/WBE consulting firm, assisting with the development of economic inclusion programs for corporations and government entities. She also managed two Ohio Department of Development Programs, providing business development services for over 150 small, minority-owned businesses in Southwest Ohio. In 2012, Leslie was nominated for the SBA Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award.

Maudie has been with Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council (ORV~WBC) since 2010. She is responsible for managing all activities related to the certification program of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the certification process for our region of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. In this role, she manages the review process for over 1,100 certification and re-certification applications each year. Maudie also serves as a presenter of educational seminars and classes related to becoming a certified WBE.

As Event Coordinator for Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council (ORV~WBC), Mrs. Brown manages outreach, business development/training and networking events offered to over 950 certified WBEs in Ohio, Kentucky & West. Virginia.

Michelle has over (28+) years of experience working for Procter & Gamble as a HR Specialist.  She worked in Engineering and Military Recruiting, Employee Benefits, Employee Relations and Training and Development.  She provided global training programs for HR Managers and summer interns.  Coordinated employee health fairs, webinars, executive fund raisers and special events for the NA HR community.  She also managed the HR website and maintained the HR newsletter.  She was the HR floor facilitator and records manager for 500 HR employees.

Michelle started her own Event Management Company in 2001, Have It Your Way, LLC.

Valencia McNeil is responsible for the WBE Certification process from inquiry to certification including intake, processing applications, certifications, and site visits.   Ms. McNeil is also responsible for maintaining the ORVWBC website. 

Valencia has over 20 years of experience in Housing Urban Development (HUD). Valencia also has background in the following area Section 8, Tax Credit, and Conventional housing. She has gained certifications from the National Center for Housing Management as a Certified Occupancy Specialist, Certified Manager of Housing, and Certified Tax Credit Specialist.  Valencia also has an extensive background in compliance management.

Biography coming soon... 

Ayanna is a dedicated, achievement oriented professional with a unique combination of corporate, non-profit, and higher education experience. As a SBDC Business Advisor for the Business Development & Entrepreneurship Division of the Greater Cincinnati Urban League, she serves as a point of contact for entrepreneurs seeking to establish and/or grow a business; providing free counseling, seminars and workshops for anyone interested in the business and financial areas. 

She is a Certified Business Advisor® though the University of Toledo, and holds Growthwheel® Business Advisor certification which is a tool for decision-making in start-up and growth companies. The tool helps entrepreneurs and advisors to focus, set agendas, and take the next steps in business development.

Education: MBA in Entrepreneurship, and BS in Marketing from Northern Kentucky University.

Larry has worked in commercial lending for over 15 years for various financial institutions. He also has valuable experience in management in the banking, restaurant and transportation industries. Larry has exceptional communication and interpersonal relationship skills which he uses to leverage strategic partnerships within the small business ecosystem. He has a passion for working with small businesses and has a Social Media Management business as well. He has the unique perspective of working for several small businesses and providing expertise in the areas of marketing, branding, social media, cash flows and identifying lending solutions.

Education: BA in Business Administration, Management from the University of Cincinnati (Dean’s List, other high honors)