Upcoming events

    • Tue, February 24, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    • Virtual
    Register


    WBE Training 

    Learn how to become a certified woman-owned business and gain access to government and corporate contracts and capital.

    About this event:

    Learn how contracts can significantly add to your company's sales volume and how to leverage diversity certifications to acquire contracts.

    In this webinar, we will discuss:

    • Major certifications available to Ohio-based businesses (including MBE, WBE, EDGE, DGE and SBA certifications)
    • Certifying agencies
    • Basic eligibility requirements of each certification
    • How to use certifications as a competitive advantage


    "There is opportunity with no limit for success for women business owners!" ~ Merry Korn, President & CEO,  Pearl Interactive Network.

    Watch Merry's video to learn more on certifications and contract opportunities and advice she has for WBOs.




    "Share your certifications and credentials to let your client know that you have made an investment in your company  and the market that you serve." ~ Theresa Harris, President & CEO, TMH Solutions 

    Watch Theresa's video for her tips on government and corporate contracts.


    Seats are limited. Register for this event to reserve your spot. Feel free to email anna@aventienterprises.com with any questions. We look forward to meeting you!

    Hosted by NAWBO Columbus & Presented by Aventi Enterprises


    • Thu, March 05, 2026
    • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Ross Auditorium at Franklin University- 301 E. Rich S Columbus, OH 43215 United States
    Register

    March Monthly Meeting: Polish Your Pitch

    Ready to turn your "elevator pitch" into a powerhouse tool? Join NAWBO Columbus for our March Monthly Meeting: Polish Your Pitch featuring the "Pitch Queen" herself, Sheila A. Mixon, The SASH Effect.

    For women business owners, a pitch is more than just words—it’s how we bridge systemic funding gaps and command the authority we deserve in competitive markets. Whether you're seeking investors or new clients, this interactive luncheon is your training ground to increase confidence and cement your credibility.

    Join us to:

    • Master the Strategy: Identify different pitch types and know exactly when to use them.
    • Deconstruct the "Why": Learn the DNA of what makes a pitch fail versus what makes it unforgettable.
    • Refine Your Voice: Develop, nail, and polish your unique delivery.
    • Take the Mic: Practice your pitch in a supportive environment of your peers.

    Don't leave your next big opportunity to chance. Register now to secure your seat and start pitching like royalty!


      About our Speaker: Sheila A. Mixon, The SASH EffecT

      Sheila A. Mixon, President & CEO of The SASH Effect has over 40 years of experience in business development, the financial services industry, and the not-for-profit sector. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director for the Women’s Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) and the Senior Vice President of the Business Development and Entrepreneurship department for the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio. Helping small businesses succeed is at the core of everything she does, and she is passionate about seeing them grow and thrive. 


      Registration closes Sunday, March 1st at 5pm. 

      To view boxed lunch choices click HERE

      Exhibit OPPORTUNITIES Available!


      • Tue, March 10, 2026
      • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
      • Nationwide Arena, 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215


      connect with the NAWBO Columbus Community!

      NAWBO Columbus is excited to partner with Key4Women and the Columbus Fury for our March Be A Boss! Members, partners & guests are welcome!

      Join us to network and support Columbus'women's professional indoor volleyball team! 

      • 6:00 PM- Prematch Networking in the Lexus Lounge
      • 7:00 PM- Columbus Fury vs. Omaha Supernova Match 

      Purchase Your $2o Party Tower Ticket HERE


      • Tue, March 17, 2026
      • 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
      • Zoom
      Register


      Our Member Orientation is an opportunity for all members and those interested in membership to meet other NAWBO members as well as our board members and NAWBO Columbus Staff. During the meeting you will learn how to best utilize your membership and how to take advantage of all of the value and benefits that NAWBO Columbus provides.

      Additionally, you will be introduced to the board of directors, learn how to navigate the website and sign up for programs and events, and discuss how you can get involved in a committee!

      Once registered, the zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.


      • Thu, March 19, 2026
      • 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
      • Zoom
      Register


      Our Member Chat is an opportunity for all members and those interested in membership to have a virtual meet and greet with the NAWBO Columbus VP of Membership, Alison Forche and former VP of Roundtables, Molly Kane. 

      Bring your questions, connect and learn more about NAWBO membership and roundtables. 

      Once registered, the zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.

      • Fri, March 20, 2026
      • 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
      • Virtual
      Register


      NAWBO Boost- Scaling With Strategy: How to Grow Beyond Your Current Capacity

      CONNECT WITH NAWBO COLUMBUS & BOOST YOUR BUSINESS!

      This Boost is designed for business owners who have outgrown “doing it all” and are ready to expand with intention. As a Business Expansion Coach & Strategist, I’ve spent years helping entrepreneurs grow 60–200% by applying structured systems, clear revenue strategies, and scalable processes. After coaching more than 3,000 business owners, the data is undeniable, growth without strategy leads to burnout, stalled profits, and operational breakdowns. This topic matters because scaling is not accidental; it’s engineered. I’m committed to showing leaders how to grow sustainably and position their businesses for long-term success.

      Join us to: 

      • Understand the Core Drivers of Scalable Growth 
      • Identify Operational Gaps Limiting Growth
      • Develop a Strategic Roadmap for Sustainable Scaling 

          Meet our Facilitator: Shaniece M. Wise, Business Expansion Coach & Strategist

          Shaniece M. Wise is a Business Expansion Coach & Strategist, national speaker, and best-selling author who helps business owners grow 60–200% within 12–24 months. As Founder and CEO of Wise, Armstrong & Associates, LLC and the Unstoppable Community, she has coached more than 3,000 entrepreneurs in increasing revenue, strengthening visibility, and building sustainable systems. With two business degrees from The Ohio State University and certifications in Business Coaching and Executive Training, she brings a data-driven, results-focused approach to client growth. Shaniece has spoken for organizations including JP Morgan & Chase, Essence, WELD, NAWBO, and The Ohio State University.

          ABOUT BOOST: 

          Each month a NAWBO member or partner will facilitate and share an area of expertise. Attendees will have the opportunity to introduce themselves learn from our facilitator and bring business challenges to the group. Boost allows for a small-group setting, connection, discussion and the opportunity to work ON your business.

          Join whenever you are able. 

          • Non-members may attend up to two times before deciding if NAWBO is the right community for you.
          • Once registered the Zoom link will be sent in a registration confirmation email.
          • Are you a subject matter expert interested in facilitating a NAWBO Boost? Members and Partners complete the form HERE
          • Thu, April 02, 2026
          • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
          • Ross Auditorium at Franklin University- 301 E. Rich S Columbus, OH 43215 United States
          Register


          Scale Smart: Unlocking Growth Through National Certifications

          Join NAWBO Columbus for an insightful luncheon designed to demystify the national certification landscape and provide a clear roadmap for scaling your business. This session focuses on the two premier national certifications: the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). 

          Attendees will learn what these certifications entail, how to prepare their businesses to be "certification ready," and the tangible benefits these credentials unlock for long-term growth. We will feature a dynamic panel with representatives from both WBENC and NMSDC, alongside a certified NAWBO member who will share their firsthand experience navigating the process and the impact it has had on their business success

          Join us for: 

          • Deep Dive into WBENC & NMSDC: Understand the requirements and the rigorous vetting process used by these "gold standard" organizations.
          • Certification Readiness: Learn how to organize your documentation—including financial statements, tax returns, and governing documents—to ensure a smooth application process.
          • The Benefits of Being Certified: Explore how certification provides access to supplier diversity executives at hundreds of major U.S. corporations and government entities.
          • Real-World Success Stories: Hear from a fellow NAWBO member about leveraging certification to gain credibility, visibility, and new revenue streams.
          • Expert Networking: During the networking portion, procurement professionals will be seated at select tables to provide direct insights into how corporations use these certifications to find diverse suppliers


          About our Panel:


          Registration closes Friday, March 27th at 5pm. 

          To view boxed lunch choices click HERE

          Event Exhibitors

          • Thu, April 16, 2026
          • 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
          • Zoom
          Register


          Our Member Chat is an opportunity for all members and those interested in membership to have a virtual meet and greet with the NAWBO Columbus VP of Membership, Alison Forche and former VP of Roundtables, Molly Kane. 

          Bring your questions, connect and learn more about NAWBO membership and roundtables. 

          Once registered, the zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.

          • Fri, April 17, 2026
          • 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
          • Virtual
          Register


          NAWBO Boost- Discover the Blueprint of YOU: Your Human Design Advantage

          CONNECT WITH NAWBO COLUMBUS & BOOST YOUR BUSINESS!

          What if your next breakthrough — personally or professionally — wasn’t about doing more, but about aligning more?

          You’ve built success by leading well, showing up consistently, and navigating challenges with strength. But even the most capable women can feel it when something shifts… when the old strategies feel heavier, when the rhythm that once worked no longer fits, and when you sense you’re meant for a more aligned way of operating.

          This Boost participants into a transformative conversation about Human Design — an energetic framework that reveals how you’re UNIQUELY wired to create, connect, make decisions, and use your energy with clarity and more ease… yes, it’s possible.

          Instead of forcing strategies that drain you, Human Design helps you distinguish between what’s truly yours and what’s conditioning… the expectations you’ve carried, the pressure you’ve endured, and the ways you’ve adapted to environments that weren’t built for your design.

          Join us To:

          • Understand how they are naturally designed to operate
          • Recognize aligned decision-making versus overthinking
          • Identify where energy is being wasted — and where it wants to flow
          • Build businesses, careers, and lives that feel authentic instead of exhausting
          • Shift from strain into ease by honoring their innate wiring

          Meet our Facilitator: Karen Baldridge, Founder, The Experience Project 

          Karen Baldridge is the founder of The Experience Project. After a career in public relations and client-facing leadership, she realized she was living a version of success that no longer aligned with who she was becoming. Determined to pivot toward a more purpose‑filled career, She embraced what she now calls the “flow of her design.” She blended her love of inspiring, meaningful growth oriented experiences and lifestyle events with Human Design principles to help others realign their lives from the inside out—just as she has.

          “Purpose isn’t what you do—it’s what happens to the people around you when you do what you’re designed to do.”

          ABOUT BOOST: 

          Each month a NAWBO member or partner will facilitate and share an area of expertise. Attendees will have the opportunity to introduce themselves learn from our facilitator and bring business challenges to the group. Boost allows for a small-group setting, connection, discussion and the opportunity to work ON your business.

          Join whenever you are able. 

          • Non-members may attend up to two times before deciding if NAWBO is the right community for you.
          • Once registered the Zoom link will be sent in a registration confirmation email.
          • Are you a subject matter expert interested in facilitating a NAWBO Boost? Members and Partners complete the form HERE
          • Tue, April 21, 2026
          • 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
          • Zoom
          Register


          Our Member Orientation is an opportunity for all members and those interested in membership to meet other NAWBO members as well as our board members and NAWBO Columbus Staff. During the meeting you will learn how to best utilize your membership and how to take advantage of all of the value and benefits that NAWBO Columbus provides.

          Additionally, you will be introduced to the board of directors, learn how to navigate the website and sign up for programs and events, and discuss how you can get involved in a committee!

          Once registered, the zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.


          • Tue, May 12, 2026
          • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
          • Virtual
          Register


          WBE Training 

          Learn how to become a certified woman-owned business and gain access to government and corporate contracts and capital.

          About this event:

          Learn how contracts can significantly add to your company's sales volume and how to leverage diversity certifications to acquire contracts.

          In this webinar, we will discuss:

          • Major certifications available to Ohio-based businesses (including MBE, WBE, EDGE, DGE and SBA certifications)
          • Certifying agencies
          • Basic eligibility requirements of each certification
          • How to use certifications as a competitive advantage


          "There is opportunity with no limit for success for women business owners!" ~ Merry Korn, President & CEO,  Pearl Interactive Network.

          Watch Merry's video to learn more on certifications and contract opportunities and advice she has for WBOs.




          "Share your certifications and credentials to let your client know that you have made an investment in your company  and the market that you serve." ~ Theresa Harris, President & CEO, TMH Solutions 

          Watch Theresa's video for her tips on government and corporate contracts.


          Seats are limited. Register for this event to reserve your spot. Feel free to email anna@aventienterprises.com with any questions. We look forward to meeting you!

          Hosted by NAWBO Columbus & Presented by Aventi Enterprises


          • Tue, May 19, 2026
          • 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
          • Zoom
          Register


          Our Member Orientation is an opportunity for all members and those interested in membership to meet other NAWBO members as well as our board members and NAWBO Columbus Staff. During the meeting you will learn how to best utilize your membership and how to take advantage of all of the value and benefits that NAWBO Columbus provides.

          Additionally, you will be introduced to the board of directors, learn how to navigate the website and sign up for programs and events, and discuss how you can get involved in a committee!

          Once registered, the zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.


          • Thu, May 21, 2026
          • 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
          • Zoom
          Register


          Our Member Chat is an opportunity for all members and those interested in membership to have a virtual meet and greet with the NAWBO Columbus VP of Membership, Alison Forche and former VP of Roundtables, Molly Kane. 

          Bring your questions, connect and learn more about NAWBO membership and roundtables. 

          Once registered, the zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.