February Monthly Meeting: Good to Great
Take your business from Good to Great! Start 2025 off with this annual event where the speaker is at your table!
Don't miss your opportunity to attend one of the most popular NAWBO Columbus events - Good to Great!
Attendees will rotate tables, spending time with 2 different business leaders as they present on specific topics geared towards helping entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. Register now to receive your first choice of speakers. Attendees will choose their top 3 speakers at registration.
This year's TOPICS and speakers include:
- Advocacy Matters! with Andrea Harless, MPA, Director of Government Affairs & Columbus Office, G2G Consulting
- Blueprint for Success: Crafting and Executing Your Annual Business Strategy with Jessica Brugger, Founder & Principal Designer, Dwell Well Design Co.
- Contracting Basics for Every Business Professional with Andria M. Beckham, Owner and Principal, The Legal Free Agent LLC
- Growing Your Business with a Great Customer Journey with Danielle Miller, Co-Founder, Midsole Marketing
- Mindful Marketing: Strategies to Simplify Social Media Without Overwhelm with Eryn Gilson, Owner and CEO, Wildbloom Creative
- Real Talk: Marketing That Actually Grows Your Biz with Izzy Dadosky, Marketing Coordinator, Robles Designs
- The Ins and Outs of SBA Lending with Erin Ressa, KeyBank
- Uncover Your Sales Archetype: Align Your Strengths with Bethany George, Owner & Founder, The Follow Up Boss
(See below or click
HERE for a pdf with topic descriptions, learning objectives and speaker bios.)
Registration closes Friday January 31st at 12pm.
To view boxed lunch choices click HERE
Meeting Agenda:
11:00- Doors open
11:15- Welcome
11:30- 1:00pm- Table Talks & Takeaways
Click HERE for Event Sponsorship Opportunities. Support the mission of NAWBO Cbus and gain exposure for your business!
Good to Great Topics and Speakers:
Advocacy Matters!
Andrea Harless, MPA, Director of Government Affairs & Columbus Office, G2G Consulting
Session Description:
Having worked in government/advocacy for 25 years I've seen the impact of advocacy and know it is essential for businesses to understand why advocacy is vital for their business at the local, state and federal levels of government. It can lead to dollars in hand, ending regulatory barriers, and creating policies that advance society, innovation and business growth opportunities. Plus, it expands your network, which is key for business growth.
Learning Objectives:
- Attendees will learn basics on how government works and how it relates to business.
- What is advocacy and why it is important for your business.
- What you can do to initiate and become an effective advocate.
Meet the Speaker:
Andrea Harless serves as Government Affairs Director for G2G Consulting where she manages advocacy and funding campaigns for several local, state, and federal clients in both the nonprofit and bioscience sectors. She started her career in state government when she was chosen as 2015 Legislative Service Commission Fellow placed in the Senate Democratic Caucus at the Ohio Statehouse. Following the fellowship, Andrea was the Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Capri S. Cafaro acting as her top policy aide. Andrea has volunteered on campaigns for more than 10 years canvassing, phone banking, and registering voters. She is currently Assistant Secretary for Ohio Women in Government. Andrea holds a Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration both from Ohio University.
Session Description:
This session will cover strategies for growing and scaling a small business, financing the vision, building infrastructure, and timing growth. Drawing from experience increasing revenue from $124K to $410K in two years, attendees will gain practical insights to navigate challenges and scale their businesses sustainably while fostering equitable workplace practices. Informing my perspective beyond experience has been the Goldman Sachs 10KSB and Babson College's BWEL program. This is important to me because I belive financial freedom and generational wealth are in dreaming beyond the side hustle.
Learning Objectives:
- Present actions for future success-- what to do now for later
- Assembling your dream team.
- Gaining momentum--how to get inspired.
Meet the Speaker:
Dr. Chelsea Mooreland, “The Community Doctor,” is a board-certified Family Physician and founder of Life Cycle Direct Primary Care (DPC), a subscription-based concierge level practice reducing health and financial disparities. A graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, Dr. Mooreland grew her business from $124K to $410K in revenue within two years while creating equitable employment opportunities, including an all-female minority staff and paid maternity leave. Honored as a “40 Under 40 Leader in Health Equity” by the NMQF, she is a dedicated advocate for health equity and a wife and mother of five boys.
Blueprint for Success: Crafting and Executing Your Annual Business Strategy
Jessica Brugger, Founder & Principal Designer, Dwell Well Design Co.
Session Description:
This presentation demystifies the process of building a clear, actionable business strategy for the year ahead. Whether you're a solopreneur or managing a growing team, creating a roadmap can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be.
As a former strategist for Fortune 100 companies, I’ve spent years developing frameworks to simplify complex goals and drive meaningful results. When I transitioned into running my own design business, I discovered how powerful those same principles could be for small businesses.
This talk will break down the strategy process step by step—from defining your vision and priorities to creating a plan that balances big-picture growth with day-to-day realities. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and staying laser-focused on what truly matters.
Learning Objectives:
- Clarify Your Vision and Brand Priorities: Participants will learn how to identify and articulate their long-term goals, break them into actionable pillars, and ensure every decision aligns with their unique brand and values.
- Build a Strategic Roadmap: Attendees will gain a framework to create an annual plan that balances ambitious goals with practical execution, helping to eliminate overwhelm and decision fatigue.
- Stay Agile and Focused: Participants will discover tools and techniques to adapt their strategy as their business evolves, allowing them to stay on track while navigating challenges and opportunities with confidence.
Meet the Speaker:
Hi, I’m Jessica, the Founder and Principal Designer of Dwell Well Design Co., a full-service interior design firm. We create highly personalized living spaces for busy professionals. I’m a Type A, overachieving creative with a deep love for designing homes that tell authentic stories.
My path started traditionally—I double majored in Finance and Management, and quickly grew my corporate career in Account Management, Marketing, and Strategy. Also, over the next 15 years, I also renovated five homes with my (sometimes reluctant) husband and our two young boys, discovering my passion for creating spaces that are one-of-a-kind.
Feeling unfulfilled in the corporate world despite climbing "the ladder" rapidly, I went back to school to pursue interior design. Since beginning Dwell Well Design Co., I’ve made it my mission to bring joy, beauty, and function into the homes of busy professionals, making the design process easy, stress-free, and yes, even fun!
My design philosophy is rooted in authenticity—I believe every home should reflect the lives lived within it. No cookie-cutter designs here! I embrace bold details, personal touches, and a relaxed sense of elegance that makes home a haven.
Business Growth and Expansion in 2025
Shaniece M. Wise, Business Expansion Coach
Session Description:
Business growth and expansion are critical for creating a legacy of impact and sustainability, especially in the dynamic landscape of 2025. This topic is important to me because it’s not just about increasing revenue—it’s about empowering business owners to build enterprises that support their lives, families, and communities. With over 15 years of experience coaching service-based businesses, I’ve helped clients achieve 50%-200% growth within 12-24 months. My work has shown that businesses thrive when they implement strategic systems, prioritize scalability, and adapt to evolving market demands.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify Key Areas for Growth: Learn to quickly pinpoint areas in your business ripe for immediate improvement or scaling.
- Simple Systems for Efficiency: Discover easy-to-implement systems that save time and support sustainable growth.
- Strategies for 2025 Market Trends: Gain insights into key trends and actionable strategies to stay competitive and attract the right clients.
Meet the Speaker:
Shaniece Wise-Spencer is a seasoned Business Expansion Coach and
Strategist with over 15 years of experience in business development, marketing growth, and strategic planning. As the CEO and Founder of Wise, Armstrong, and Associates, she has helped service-based businesses achieve 50%-200% growth within 12-24 months through tailored strategies and operational improvements. Shaniece specializes in creating efficient systems, driving revenue growth, and empowering clients to build businesses that align with their desired lifestyle while maintaining balance. She is also a best-selling author and a recognized thought leader in her field.
Contracting Basics for Every Business Professional
Andria M. Beckham, Owner and Principal, The Legal Free Agent LLC
Session Description:
As a commercial business attorney practicing for over 20 years, I have seen the successes and pitfalls of business relationships. Each are driven by the ability of the parties to enter into a viable engagement that is supported by a well-written, well-intentioned, readable and accessible contract. But, contracts can be intimidating. My job is to assist clients - whether individual or corporate, budding or established - with understanding complex legal concepts and the impact on their interests and business endeavors. Every business owner should understand the value of their business contracts and how to make them work for them when they need to, and that is the aim of this session.
Learning Objectives:
- What a contract is and how to use them;
- The terms that should be included in every contract;
- How to navigate contracting hurdles.
Meet the Speaker:
Andria Beckham, Esq., is a relationship facilitator and leader with extensive experience advising and supporting enterprise business teams. She is the Owner and Principal of The Legal Free Agent LLC, providing legal and mediation services. Prior, Andria was Vice President, Legal at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, overseeing commercial legal activities for the North America business. A native of Columbus, Andria received a B.S. in Communication with honors from Ohio University, and a Juris Doctor with a Sport Law certification from Tulane University Law School. A commercial generalist, she has experience in an array of areas, ranging from compliance to contracts, M&A to real estate, labor law as a clerk for the NFL’s Management Council, as a judicial clerk in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio, and she taught sport management at Ohio Dominican University. She enjoys highlighting other professionals in her online series, Peaks & Valleys. Andria lives by Maya Angelou’s adage - “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Session Description:
This presentation identifies 4 key accounting concepts that every business owner should be familiar with. K stands for KPIs, N stands for Net Income, O stands for Overhead and W stands for Working Capital. Having an understanding of these terms and what information they provide is essential.
This topic is important to me because I believe that every number in the financial statements tells a story. As a CPA who has worked with many small businesses, financial education consistently seems to be a missing puzzle piece. D2C’s purpose is to ensure business owners not only understand their financial data but also harness it to make informed decisions that drive success.
Learning Objectives
- Accounting is not just about taxes.
- Financial clarity is everything and your businesses’ growth is limitless when you have confidence in your numbers.
- You have to know your numbers in order to grow your numbers.
Meet the Speaker:
Dana Raymond is a dedicated Certified Public Accountant with a passion for empowering business owners through financial education. As the CEO of D2C Accounting Solutions, LLC, she leverages over 20 years of accounting experience and a decade of teaching as an adjunct professor to foster a collaborative partnership with her clients.
Dana earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and her MBA from the University of Dayton. She believes that every number in a financial statement tells a story, and she is committed to ensuring business owners not only understand their financial data but also harness it to make informed decisions that drive success.
Growing Your Business with a Great Customer Journey
Danielle Miller Co-Founder, Midsole Marketing
Session Description:
Dive into how to craft an experience that turns your customers into raving fans. You will walk away with ideas and inspiration for every stage of creating a more memorable customer journey for your business.
We dive deep into the customer journey with our clients, and that is where we see success.
Learning Objectives:
- WHY YOUR CUSTOMERS NEED AN EXPERIENCE THAT THEY’LL REMEMBER
- THE 5 STAGES OF A CUSTOMER JOURNEY
- HOW TO TURN YOUR CUSTOMERS INTO RAVING FANS
Meet the Speaker:
Danielle Miller Co-Founder of Midsole Marketing and fueled by a passion for helping businesses thrive. As a family-owned business, Midsole Marketing is built on creativity, hard work, and a genuine love for what we do.
Leading from Above the Line: Cultivating a High-Performance Mindset
Amy Lahmers, FlourishesConsulting
Session Description:
In this interactive roundtable conversation facilitated by Amy Lahmers of FlourishesConsulting, we’ll explore the power of Leading from Above the Line to cultivate a high-performance mindset. Participants will learn how to shift from reactive, defensive behaviors to proactive, growth-oriented thinking that inspires accountability, trust, and collaboration within teams. We’ll discuss practical tools for recognizing when you’re operating “below the line” and how to make intentional mindset shifts. Participants will walk away with actionable strategies to elevate their leadership approach, fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and mutual respect.
Learning Objectives:
- Define Above the Line Leadership: Understand what it means to lead from a place of curiosity, creativity, and responsibility, rather than fear, blame, or defensiveness.
- Shift Mindsets: Learn how to recognize when operating "below the line" (defensive, closed, reactive) and develop strategies to shift to an "above the line" mindset (open, proactive, accountable).
- Create a Culture of Accountability: Discover how leading from Above the Line can foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and mutual respect within teams.
- Practical Tools for Everyday Leadership: Learn actionable strategies for making quick, positive mindset shifts.
Meet the Speaker:
Amy Lahmers is Founder & President of FlourishesConsulting, an experienced woman-owned business providing tailored organizational development and HR/people solutions where leaders and their teams can grow, succeed, and flourish together. Prior to launching FlourishesConsulting, she spent more than 20 years in higher education, healthcare, non-profit, and consulting roles. Known for her focus, problem solving abilities, and results-driven approach, she uses her strengths to help clients reach their goals. Amy earned a Master of Science degree from Miami University (Ohio), a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University and is a Prosci certified change management practitioner.
Mindful Marketing: Strategies to Simplify Social Media Without Overwhelm
Eryn Gilson, Owner and CEO, Wildbloom Creative
Session Description:
Social media can feel like a never-ending to-do list, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this session, Eryn Gilson, founder of Wildbloom Creative, shares actionable strategies to simplify social media marketing and take back your time—without sacrificing results.
Combining her expertise in content strategy with her mindfulness practice, Eryn will teach you:
How to build a thoughtful, sustainable social strategy that aligns with your goals.
Time-saving techniques for scheduling, automating, and batching your content.
Simple mindfulness practices to help you stay present, focused, and avoid burnout when social feels overwhelming.
This session isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, with intention. Walk away with tools to simplify your strategy, reduce stress, and feel confident showing up on social media in a way that works for you.
Learning Objectives:
- A framework for creating an intentional and effective social media plan.
- Practical time-saving tools like batching, automation, and scheduling.
- Mindfulness techniques to reduce overwhelm and stay focused while managing your marketing.
Meet the Speaker:
Eryn Gilson is a serial entrepreneur, mom of four, and the driving force behind Wildbloom Creative, a women-owned marketing agency helping small businesses thrive through authentic, results-driven strategies. With over ten years of experience, Eryn has guided businesses to transform their content, amplify visibility, and achieve sustainable growth. Her dynamic approach blends creativity, grit, and purpose to simplify complex marketing challenges.
Eryn’s entrepreneurial journey began with 614 Mom, a blog supporting women and local businesses, which paved the way for her consulting firm. She’s also the co-founder of Kindhearted Kids and an active PTO leader, reflecting her deep commitment to community.
A certified meditation teacher, Eryn empowers business owners to balance ambition with mindfulness—growing boldly, sustainably, and authentically.
Real Talk: Marketing That Actually Grows Your Biz
Izzy Dadosky, Marketing Coordinator, Robles Designs
Session Description:
Marketing isn’t just about selling; it’s about building trust and genuine connections with your audience. As a proud graduate of Ohio University and a marketing strategist at Robles Designs, I’ve seen how authentic storytelling and smart strategies can transform businesses. Drawing from my experience creating the “Yah Heard” campaign, inspired by my journey with hearing loss, I focus on helping businesses communicate with purpose. This session will dive into practical, heartfelt approaches to marketing that prioritize your audience’s needs while driving growth and long-term success. Let’s cut through the noise and make meaningful impact!
Learning Objectives:
- Create Targeted Marketing Strategies
- Maximize ROI with Data-Driven Insights
- Engage and Convert on Social Media
Meet the Speaker:
Izzy Dadosky is a passionate marketing strategist and copywriter with expertise in social media, SEO, and analytics. A proud graduate of Ohio University, Izzy has a knack for creating impactful campaigns that connect with diverse audiences. Notably, she launched the successful “Yah Heard” campaign, a groundbreaking initiative supporting individuals with hearing loss—an endeavor inspired by her personal experience wearing hearing aids.
Currently, Izzy is a key part of Robles Designs, where she focuses on blending strategy and creativity to help businesses thrive. At Robles Designs, Izzy and her team aim to redefine the industry by offering tailored solutions that prioritize client needs and long-term growth. Known for her empathetic approach and dedication, Izzy’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and leaders with the tools and insights they need to succeed.
In her roundtable discussions, Izzy brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal passion, inspiring attendees with actionable marketing strategies and an unwavering commitment to helping businesses grow authentically.
The Ins and Outs of SBA Lending
Erin Ressa, KeyBank
SBA lending can help with a multitude of business needs, from start up, expansion, partner buyout and more! Join NAWBO Columbus Corporate Partner, KeyBank, a preferred SBA lender to understand and prepare your business for its lending needs.
Learning Objectives:
- What is the SBA
- Types of SBA lending
- Documentation needed for SBA lending
Meet the Speaker:
With nearly 15 years of experience in banking, Erin has dedicated the majority of her career to KeyBank, where she excels as a Business Banking Relationship Manager. Her passion lies in partnering with small businesses, providing tailored solutions that support their growth and evolution.
As a Co-Chair for the KeyBank Key4Women initiative, Erin is committed to advocating for, connecting, and empowering women business owners. She takes pride in fostering community connections and regularly highlights inspiring women through Key4Women events. Erin is also dedicated to supporting local nonprofits, including New Directions Career Center, LifeCare Alliance, and Families Flourish, and serves on the board of Small Biz Cares.
Uncover your sales archetype: Align your Strengths
Bethany George, Owner & Founder, The Follow Up Boss
Every one of us is passionate about what we can do for our clients, and we work hard to provide the utmost best experience for them. But getting that information across to them before they sign up can feel challenging. Especially when all the tools and tricks we’ve been told about how to sell feels counter to our personalities and strengths.
You aren’t alone, and you aren’t doomed. You simply haven’t uncovered how your unique skills can align with a sales methodology designed just for you. Bethany went through this same journey of discovery years ago and now helps business professionals like yourself feel confident and even excited about selling in their own unique way.
Learning Objectives:
- You are not doomed to struggle with sales.
- Your archetype will give you increased confidence in speaking about your business.
- Get laser focused on the right activities to grow your business.
Meet the Speaker:
Bethany has been an enterprising entrepreneur since she was a young child. From knocking on doors selling girl scout cookies to raising money for an international adventure in high school; she's learned the power of personal connections with people from all walks of life.
Her business, The Follow Up Boss, comes from years in the sales world. Initially struggling to create results through methods that countered her values, she knew there was a way to serve and sell ethically and successfully. She now calls BS on many traditionally held sales beliefs and loves challenging norms. Her motto is Purposeful and Intentional Interactions. That is how a heart-centered people-first business finds success.
About GENESIS Downtown:
GENESIS Downtown is conveniently located on East Long Street, just steps away from the Discovery District and a short walk from the King Arts District. The first floor of the historic Standard Building has been transformed into a modern, chic event space!
The space features stunning 14-foot ceilings, brand new floor to ceiling windows bringing in bright, natural light and stunning chandeliers. This historic space is adorned with original crown molding and modern wood-inspired floors.
Whether it's a wedding, corporate, non-profit or social event, we look forward to hosting your next event!
Black Owned. Women Owned
PARKING INFORMATION:
Paid Parking is available in the lot at 152 N Fourth Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Guests will enter the lot from 4th street and take the side walk around to the main GENESIS entrance at 174 E Long St #100, Columbus, OH 43215. Click HERE for a link to the parking company's website.
Additional parking is also available at: