After growing tired of the same corporate workshops and lunch and learns, Morgan Owens decided to create a brand where women felt not only valued but also given the opportunity to better themselves and their careers.

The Professional Pretty Conference, held May 19 at the University Of Cincinnati

​African American Cultural Resource Center, was founded with the mission that women can be “powerful and pretty,” says Owens.

Geared toward any woman with the desire to become more marketable in their corporate and/or entrepreneurial careers, the conference will touch on topics such as career building, public relations, trademarks, email marketing, personal/business branding, how to navigate the corporate sector and more.

With 12 workshops, 100 attendees and 15 speakers, Professional Pretty aims to show women in the workplace how to be their authentic selves and still get the job done, according to Owens. 

“I hope to accomplish an experience where attendees will not only walk away empowered but with actual information to make them great,” explains Owens. “Many empowerment conferences get you excited but as soon as Monday rolls around, many women lose that spirit. My hope is to have that spirit radiate and remain within after being surrounded by like-minded women who are there intentionally to help other women succeed.”

Attendees can expect to hear from keynote speaker Dawn Williams Thompson, Brand Strategist/President, and well as Owens herself, a self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur,” specializing in Marketing and Branding. The Morgan A. Owens brand series has been broadcasted and supported by Fox 19 News, WLWT Channel 5, The Cincinnati Herald, and Radio One.

Attendees will also be able to enter “Slay Alleyway” throughout the day to learn about beauty, skincare, and styling from some of Cincinnati’s top experts.

Now more than ever, Owens says, this is the best time to hold an event like this. “Minority women are the number one demographic as entrepreneurs right now. However, I feel a lot of women in business are operating without the proper education foundation they need to not only sustain in longevity but take their business to a nationwide level,” says Owens, adding that her Professional Pretty event is for any woman wanting level up her career or business while also looking the part. 

For more conference information, go to www.professionalpretty.com or www.morganaowens.com.

Heart-pounding excitement paired with creative elegance and innovation is what this year’s DAAP Fashion Show is all about. 

The University of Cincinnati hosts its annual fashion show on April 27,  a showcase of the student talent in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning program in the UC Campus Recreation Center at 7:30 p.m.

DAAP Fashion Show features more than 350 original designs, a 92 foot long catwalk- lit by CCM’s Stage and Lighting School, a live audience of 1,500 people, 30 plus models and live DJ to exhibit the senior class’ thesis collections as well as a glimpse of underclass projects. 

The graduating class of 48 seniors from Fashion Design and Product Strategy began their creative process the summer in advance of the show, which results in the culmination of their five years of design education and co-op experiences, according to Laurie Wilson, DAAP Adjunct and producer of the show for the past 22 years. 

“The DAAP Fashion Show is the closest thing anyone can experience in this region to a major fashion week show,” says Wilson. “Truly people look forward to this event from year to year because of how very unique it is!”

The show opens with a salute to Macy’s, who has been the show’s presenting sponsor for 13 years, and hair and makeup is provided by a team of about 50 artists from  Aveda Frederic’s Institute.

The DAAP Fashion Show is a fundraiser for the Fashion Design Program in addition to a showcase of the program to the public. All seats are reserved and purchased online where you can find a $60 preferred ticket or a $150 VIP ticket, which includes admission to the Dean’s VIP Cocktail Reception prior to the show.

An After Party, hosted by for the first time by Victoria’s Secret, will be open to attendees following the show.

Seeing the audience’s reactions to the student’s hard work is what makes the nine months of planning all worth it, says Wilson.

“The most exciting part for me is the night of the show, watching and listening to the 1,500 person audience react to the collections as they hit the 92-foot catwalk,” she adds. “The space is transformed to a place that is very unique and powerful because it is the future alive in front of you, now.”

To learn more, or order tickets, visit http://daap.uc.edu/daapworks/fashionshow.html

Cincinnati-based business accelerator, OCEAN, hosts their fourth Demo Day Tuesday, April 24 at Crossroads Church Florence.

This free event is expecting over 1,000 entrepreneurs, small business owners, mentors, students and anyone who is interested or supports the entrepreneur community. 

Ocean is a non-profit that serves entrepreneurs by providing access to training, community, and a foundation of faith on which to launch new organizations.

“OCEAN is where high-tech startup entrepreneurs get training, inspiration, mentorship, community, and funding to launch successful new businesses,” says Event and Outreach Coordinator Courtney DeGeorge. 

Their fourth class of eight companies were selected from nearly 200 applicants and were vetted for growth potential, founding team quality and alignment with Ocean’s mission and capabilities, according to DeGeorge. 

Each startup receives $50K in seed funding, free legal services from Frost Brown Todd, mentorship and co-working space. Ocean’s five month program focuses on problem validation, revenue assumptions and investor readiness.

The program culminates in Demo Day, where founders will pitch their companies to thousands of investors which has previously raised over $8 million in follow-up funding, according to DeGeorge.

Ocean’s 2018 class companies include Bid Ops, Brightlamp, Fletch, Kai Coach, miQroTech, Natalus, R3 Printing and SAWA. 

The agenda for this year’s Demo Day includes seven minute pitches by each of the eight companies in this year’s Ocean Accelerator Class as well as keynote speaker and best-selling author, Dane Sanders, who will discuss his views on how business owners can flourish in a digitally dominated economy. 

A Post-Party Networking event will serve Madtree beer and samples of Grateful Sons Ice Cream.

What makes OCEAN unique, DeGeorge says, is their focus on the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship. 

“Founders travel a lonely journey that often results in the entrepreneur sacrificing everything- relationships, health and faith. Ocean Accelerator offers founders a different option,” says Scott Weiss, CEO of Ocean Accelerator.

Ocean Accelerator’s Class IV Demo Day will take place at Crossroads Florence (828 Heights Blvd, Florence, 41042, KY) on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.The doors will open at 3:30pm, and the program will begin at 4:00pm.

To learn more, visit www.OceanDemoDay.com and www.oceanaccelerator.eventbrite.com.

The digital and tech industry is still notoriously male-dominated, but Women in Digital is creating a sisterhood to mobilize for change. 

The Cincinnati Women in Digital Annual Meeting takes place Tuesday, April 10 at Union Hall downtown beginning at 8 a.m. and will mark the one-year anniversary for the city’s chapter. Women in Digital was founded in 2016 by Alaina Shearer, a digital strategist and agency owner. Shearer’s mission was to form a community of women who could relate to her feelings of frustration and helplessness in the face of sexism that was negatively impacting her life, professional status and income. 

“Our mission is to connect the most powerful group of women history has ever seen with the tools and confidence they need to level the playing field,” explains Women in Digital’s Director of Events Ashly Priest.

This year’s annual meeting welcomes all members and non-members to attend to learn more about Women in Digital.

Attendees can expect to leave fired up, knowing your worth and your company’s worth, according to Priest. 

City Champion for WID Cincinnati Amy Vaughan will be in attendance along with speakers Lori Jerome, Digital Account Executive at TEK Systems Digital, Lucrecer Braxton, Creative Consulting + Digital Marketing Strategy, and Wendy Lea, CEO of Cintrifuse. 

Topics of discussion will focus on salary negotiation and the impact that diversity and collaboration can make on your bottom line. 

Mimosas and a breakfast bar will kick off the meeting as well as time allotted for networking before and after the speakers. 

With headquarter located in Columbus, Women in Digital is quickly creating a nationwide community of woman who practice digital marketing, advertising an communications in any form.

“Women in Digital has seen an incredible amount of growth since its founding 2016 with 19 cities and over 1300 members nationwide. We expect continued growth across the US and the world,” says Priest. 

Memberships include the formation of a peer circle in your city, free entry to every monthly meetup, $200.00 off the 2018 Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio on September 12–14, 2018 and 24% off 2018 SXSW Conference Passes and a member welcome kit. 

Entry to the Cincinnati Women in Digital Annual Meeting is free to members and $25 for non-members. 

To purchase tickets, click here.

For more information on Women in Digital, you can visit their website at https://womenin.digital

Shared office spaces are on the rise in Cincinnati and with good reason. co-working spaces are often more affordable than leasing a space, they provide a positive environment that feeds on networking and collaboration and they provide support for startups and entrepreneurs. 

1628 Ltd., with its initial location downtown, is a highly efficient, design-forward membership workspace created for modern professionals, according to Founder and CEO Tamara Schwarting. It provides everything from access to teleconference-enabled meeting spaces, daily lunch delivery, beverage and snack service to on-site concierge services, printing and mail, as well as exclusive invitations to member events.

Curated co-working, is the term coined by 1628 Ltd, as they combine the aesthetics and hospitality of a boutique hotel, the efficiency of a modern office and the visual inspiration of an art gallery into one space.

1628 Ltd. offers multiple options for engagement from flexible access to dedicated use. 

Whether you need a desk to plug-in for a few days per month or you’re a company looking for its permanent HQ, 1628 Ltd. has a membership level to meet each need, says Schwarting.

Memberships range from five one-day passes a year with ability to book conference rooms to unlimited access to communal desks and discounts on private event space.

“Many co-working venues provide access to space with little or no support for members,” says Schwarting. “1628 is where hospitality meets service. We marry the best in office infrastructure, a well-designed and inspirational space, and services to support our member so they can focus on what they do best and build their businesses and maximize revenue.”

After opening the doors to 1628 Ltd.’s downtown location in 2016, the co-working company is expanding their offices to Montgomery Road in Kenwood. 

The new location will offer the same services and amenities along with a new suite of private offices. co-working options outside of the city are very limited, says Schwarting, so 1628 Ltd. is thrilled to welcome those living and working in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati.

“Our brand is built on the core values of hospitality and service so current and new members can expect this same commitment of support,” explains Schwarting. “Kenwood will also be a carefully designed space that will put our members at ease and at the same time challenge them to stay focused and inspired.”

1628 Ltd. Kenwood is planning to open in the summer of 2018.  

The name 1628 Ltd, holds meaning for Schwarting as the the year, 1628, marks the moment in history when the word ‘co-working’ was first published in a book by John Jackson titled “The Worthy Church-Man.” 

“Our name is meant to evoke a sense of history and place, but more than that, it invites our members to question complacency and satisfaction, to instead push towards excellence in everything they do,” says Schwarting.

For more information on 1628 Ltd., or to join the presale list for their new location, click here.

Handed a huge loan bill along with your diploma? “Close Your Tab & Don’t Look Back: A Guide to Getting Out of Debt and Getting Ahead in the Real World” by Angela Ozar, a Cincinnati-Based author, is the book for you. 

While working for a non-profit startup accelerator company, Ozar was inspired to write her guide to getting out of debt and getting ahead of in the real world by the many different women she spoke to who were unable to create their businesses because of student loan debt. 

The average student graduates with around $37,172 of debt, according to a study done by America’s Debt Help Organization in 2017, and most don’t expect to pay it off until they’re at least 41 years old. According to Ozar, paying off student loans quickly is crucial to saving valuable time and money so you can have more control over your life’s choices. 

“Paying off my loan of $30,000 in three years allowed me to pursue my passion without sacrificing my lifestyle,” explains Ozar. “I want others to have the same opportunity; and it’s why I am so passionate about sharing this message with women coming out of college with debt.”

“Close Your Tab & Don’t Look Back” covers everything from Ozar’s method to paying off student loan debt to the transition from college to career. Topics such as financial questions to ask on a job interview, making friends in a new city, and how to furnish your first place on a budget are also included in Ozar’s financial guide.

Ozar says what sets her book apart is her unique and humorous writing style that helps readers cut through financial jargon in order to understand government student loans and create an effective plan to pay it off quickly.

“It’s pop culture meets finance. I also have a very practical approach,” says Ozar. “Yes, you should have a sense of urgency paying off debt and saving for the future, but you can also live in the present and enjoy your life at the same time!”

For those wanting to know more about personal finance, Ozar recently launched a financial blog that covers a variety of topics, such as credit and budgeting. 

“What differentiates me is my expertise in student loans and investing,” Ozar explains. “So, you’ll see more written about those topics; especially on investing since that’s what my next book is about!” 

You can follow Ozar on Pinterest and Facebook, where she posts new content. To learn more about the book, or to purchase, click here.

Social Media Show & Tell events began when Matthew Dooley had a simple hunch.

When his career in social media got started in 2010, he found a community of other media professionals who regularly got together in person to share what they were learning.

Over time, so much of the learning had moved online to blogs, webinars, and virtual events that the group of creatives stopped meeting in person. 

Dooley decided to send out invitations for the first Social Media Show & Tell event in late-2016, hoping to gather 30-40 people because he missed getting together to share ideas. 

Over 80 people came to his first event. 

“We’re now on to our 6th event on March 22, 2018 and each quarterly event attracts 150 plus attendees. People are craving this knowledge, especially in a space that continues to evolve and require experimentation,” says Dooley.

The next Social Media Show & Tell event will be hosted at Union Hall on Thursday, March 22 and will feature keynote speaker Todd Henry, an esteemed author, speaker and consultant.

Attendees can expect to learn more about how to craft thumb-stopping content, how to navigate the latest changes across platforms, including Facebook’s News Feed overhaul, and how to refresh your social media strategy for 2018.

The event will also feature speakers Amanda Buechel, Social Media Manager at Graeter’s and Gina Gaetano, who runs social media for Thunderdome Restaurant Group, which includes Currito, The Eagle and more. 

Bites from Taste of Belgium will be available and Dooley says he’s heard a rumor that Buechel might be bringing the new flavors of Graeter’s ice cream. 

The Social Media Show & Tell encourages anyone who is a social media enthusiast to attend along with CMOs/Directors of Marketing, Digital Media Managers, Social Media Strategists and Small Business Owners.

Dooley is the founder and CEO of Dooley Media, a brand-building studio in OTR that helps clients get attention by being thoughtful about how they give it. He says he’s been fortunate enough to work with some of Cincinnati’s favorite brands, including Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa and Esther Price Candies. 

In addition, Dooley teaches social media to undergrads and MBAs at Xavier University, a course he developed back in 2011.

“I’ve always been an open book, which may be counter-intuitive within a field that rewards the latest trend or best practice,” says Dooley. “But by sharing what I know and passing the mic to those who know more, I think we’re all better off. I believe that the good you put out into the world multiplies and comes back to you in some way or another, and this event is one way for me to do that.” 

Check out www.socialmediashowandtell.com for more information and use this $5 code for Cincy Chic subscribers.

Greenwich House Gallery is a premier art gallery and event center located in O’Bryonville that offers a wide variety of artistic styles, from contemporary to American impressionism.

The gallery was founded in the early 2000’s by Peggy Marquette, a local entrepreneur with a long career in fine art and design, and is now in the hands of Ramesh Malhotra, a longtime patron of local artists and the Greater Cincinnati art scene who bought Greenwich House Gallery when Marquette retired three years ago. 

With over 4,500 feet of space including three large rooms totaling 1,550 square feet plus private onsite parking, a partial kitchen and recently updated interior, Greenwich House Gallery is an ideal space for private events such as business meetings, charitable events, bridal showers, birthday parties and small weddings.

Mimosas for Memories, an event benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association of Cincinnati, will be hosted here for its third year on April 21.

“The backdrop of an art gallery has proven to be a truly memorable and unique setting for events,” says Greenwich House Gallery’s Jade Ausdenmoore.

Greenwich House Gallery is proud to represent local artists such as Lisa Schuster, Leslie Daly, David Mueller, George Bodine and Tom Post (among many others) and national artists such as New York City artist Chin H. Shin, Colorado artists Gregory Packard and Ann Jenemann and still-life Nebraskan artist Jeremy Goodding, says Ausdenmoore. 

Internationally, Greenwich House Gallery represents Spanish artist, Evaristo Alguacil, French artist, Frederic Pissarro and Indian artist, Bijendra Pratap.

The gallery’s next exhibit is the American Impressionist Society’s Annual Small Works Show, opening Friday, March 23. 

“This show brings in work from 200 of the top artists in the country and is hosted in a different city each year,” says Ausdenmoore. “Cincinnatians should seize the opportunity to view the show while it’s in their backyard! It will run through Saturday, April 21.”

Ausdenmoore says Greenwich House Gallery also enjoys offering modern art in a variety of styles which typically have openings one Friday night of each month and those interested can visit their webpage or follow on social media to stay up to date on events and exhibitions.

Greenwich House Gallery is located at 2124 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45208. To learn more, contact them via telephone at (513) 871-8787, email or visit them online. 

The Marmalade Lily Flower Farm and Event Venue, located in Loveland, Ohio, specializes in local, home-grown flowers, floral design classes and an event venue set in lush landscapes. 

After hosting their first few weddings in the spring of 2015, The Marmalade Lily has quickly gained popularity and has booked 56 weddings for 2018 alone, according to Founder and owner Laura Fisher. 

“I credit the success to the gorgeous grounds, welcoming environment and people, and the charm of the creative experiences offered. We all endeavor to treat our customers to a fabulous respite from day-to-day mediocrity and hustle and bustle,” says Fisher. 

Fisher, along with daughter Libby and husband, work together to manage the venue, which is set on their 10-acre flower farm that includes pond and barn. 

The Marmalade Lily can accommodate around 150 seated guests between the first and second levels of the barn. An option to rent a tent for an event increases seating up to 200 guests.

“When you host your event with us, you have use of the inside as well as the outside,” says Fisher. “Guests love attending events here and we always see them meandering around the gardens with their hors d’oeuvres in hand. Brides love to scatter hi tops, lawn games, photo booths, and vintage furniture throughout the many little flower gardens.”

The Marmalade Lily’s in-house floral design is the icing on the cake, according to Fisher. 

In-house floral services along with floral design classes where guests can create their own bouquet or flower crown are offered for all events. From birthdays, showers, quinceaneras, anniversary parties to family reunions, group graduation parties, funeral receptions, rehearsal dinners, all are welcome to enjoy the spacious grounds at The Marmalade Lily. 

Flowers grown throughout the farm create beautiful vignettes which benefit outdoor events and photography, says Fisher. 

“Locally-grown flowers are just so much more beautiful and unique. You have to come see it to really understand,” she adds. 

The Marmalade Lily also offers Flower Bar Fridays, perfect for a girls’ night out.

Guests can bring their favorite vessel to create a unique arrangement and with registration includes a bucket of flowers, some design instruction, music, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. 

The next Flower Bar Friday is expected to be around Mother’s Day in May and The Marmalade Lily is planning to host a Flower Bar and farm tour in June. 

“Our clients are looking for a breath of fresh air—something different in a sea of all the same,” says Fisher. “Nowhere in the Midwest can you find a flower farm and event venue wrapped up into one to create an experience, bar none.”

For more information, visit http://www.themarmaladelily.com or call (513) 604-6561.

The Deciding Factor, Inc. creates and delivers marketing that verbally and visually connects people to the reasons they want to buy. 

Every company has a reason why they do what they do, but putting your finger on what exactly makes it all work can be difficult. At The Deciding Factor, they believe the key to effective marketing is identifying your “why.” 

The woman-owned, full-service digital marketing agency works with B2B and B2C clients throughout the U.S. and provides services that include everything from company naming, branding, customer journey mapping and orchestration, to content development, design, website development, digital advertising, social media, SEO, marketing analytics and public relations.

The Deciding Factor can help a client at any phase of their business life, says President Karen Meyers Holzer. “For example, if they are a startup, we can help with company or product naming, brand/logo development and their new website,” she says. “If they are more mature as a company and need to recruit and retain more customers, we can do customer journey mapping and persona development.”

By content creation and distribution of that content through digital channels such as on their client’s website, on social media and through search and social advertising, The Deciding Factor constantly uses the data from digital marketing to look for customer behaviors and manage the ROI of their initiatives.

When it comes to their business, Meyers Holzer says they are far from a one-size-fits-all provider. “We love helping these customers tell their story in a way that resonates with their different audience segments,” says Meyers Holzer. “Each customer has a unique story and needs different marketing executions to reach their customers and prospects.”

The Deciding Factor offers comprehensive packages of digital and traditional marketing initiatives, which means a client doesn’t have to manage many different firms to get what they need. Their messaging and brand remain consistent and their dollars are spent more effectively, according to Meyers Holzer. 

An aspect of The Deciding Factor that Meyers Holzer believes sets them apart is their content development team made up of brand journalists. “This is because a journalist is inquisitive and a life-long learner. They can see both sides of an issue, and they know how to research and tell a story that grabs the audience’s attention,” she says. 

Marketing is both an art and a science, says Meyers Holzer, and The Deciding Factor team treats your business as if it is their own. 

To learn more, visit http://decidingfactor.us.