Minority business support in Columbus Deonna Barnett’s mission with Aventi
4 min read
Deonna Barnett is the founder, CEO and taking care of expert of Aventi Enterprises LLC, which presents consulting, coaching and teaching for rising CEOs and leaders of nonprofits. Aventi specializes in supporting girls- and minority-owned firms with business enterprise strategy and planning, funding and certifications. Barnett just lately spoke with Columbus CEO about her mission.
CEO: How did you occur to found Aventi Enterprises?
Barnett: I was at a nonprofit business (Maximize Neighborhood Progress Corp.) for 10 yrs. The final 4 of those many years, I served as the government director. That nonprofit was entirely focused on compact company enhancement. Most of the shoppers there were minorities, and I seriously relished what I was doing. It was excellent to see folks prosper and see the improvements that ended up happening within just our location and group as a final result of these companies staying formed.
The board of directors for that business decided to shut its doorways, and I just felt like my perform wasn’t done yet. So I launched my very own consulting company, and I crafted some instruction plans on the internet.
It was a smoother changeover due to the fact it wasn’t anything at all unique than what I was doing — it was nevertheless smaller small business aid. I was form of directed into setting up this enterprise just primarily based on people today inquiring me to help them.
CEO: What has expansion appeared like for your business considering that it started in early 2019?
Barnett: It was just me for 2019, and in 2020 I introduced on 3 employees and a specialist.
COVID-19 in fact catapulted my company since there have been so several smaller enterprises in need to have of support and aid. We begun encouraging modest corporations entry federal funding and recognize that approach.
We also assisted with the Columbus and Franklin County business funding about the summertime, assisting tiny firms with their purposes and positioning them to get some funding to guidance them for the duration of this time. Soon after that, we worked with the Columbus Urban League and the Franklin County Neighborhood Equity Fund, connecting grants to minority-owned enterprises.
COVD-19 truly boosted our presence in the small organization group. We aided them obtain funding, and then they figured out more about what we do, which then led us to furnishing organization method and planning and things like that.
At the stop of final 12 months, I also obtained another consulting agency. That’s exactly where authorities contracting arrived into engage in — helping with certifications. We serve Major Avenue and center-sector firms.
We served over 200 businessowners in 2020. In 2019, it was near to 100.
CEO: Why did you pick out to pursue the mission to assist gals and minority businessowners?
Barnett: They are the most disadvantaged compact businessowner.
I would say women with small children are my sweet location, due to the fact I am a woman with little ones. I know what it feels like to go to work every single day and make the identical amount of funds with no versatility. There are a good deal of restrictions to currently being a lady and a mom, and entrepreneurship lets you set your enterprise up to function for you, compared to you operating for your company.
Minority businessowners have unique troubles than nonminorities. What I have found around the last 12 decades is a lack of training in the organization room. And the education that was readily available was subpar. Just mainly because there are people today in a community who may perhaps not have gotten a university or master’s degree, they nevertheless should have the level of instruction wanted to properly run a business. I really do not drinking water down my education. I felt that was essential with the minority local community not possessing entry to this stage of coaching at the local community stage.
CEO: What are the top rated 3 things smaller enterprises can do to improve profits?
Barnett: Be comfortable earning the shift and knowing your customers’ requires. What is it that your shopper wants, and how can you change to fulfill all those wants?
The second is to know your numbers. You cannot make any strategic conclusions devoid of being aware of what is demanded of your small business monetarily. Which is about pricing, income plans, how a great deal you spend personnel.
The 3rd would be: Really don’t do factors by yourself. Create a crew, and then if there is one thing you really do not know, ask any person. Any individual out there is aware of the reply to your dilemma about business. There are so lots of totally free sources listed here in Columbus. Benefit from these means to the greatest of your ability, and if they can no for a longer time present the responses to your inquiries, you may have to fork out, but it will be truly worth it in the finish. Do not try and do every little thing yourself. You will go crazy.
Mary Sterenberg is a freelance writer.
Deonna Barnett
Occupation: Aventi Enterprises LLC founder, CEO and managing advisor
Personnel: Three whole-time, 1 portion-time
Profits: Would not disclose
Web site: aventienterprises.com
