14 Graduate from Women in Entrepreneurship Program

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Fourteen women graduated from the Women in Entrepreneurship program Wednesday, ending their time in the WE Launch portion with a pitch competition.

Winning a $5,000 grant to fund her business was Genevieve Bodnar, owner of Genevieve’s Kitchen. The company is “an ancient grains baked goods company” that started as a hobby she picked up after retiring as a teacher.

Juanita Thompson won a $1,000 Our Community Impact Grant for her business, Mila’s Events LLC, an event management firm. Thompson also runs Little Miss Inner Beauty, a previous winner of the WE Create pitch competition.

“This WE Launch class has been amazing. These women have shown so much growth and development since the beginning of this 10-week program,” said Carmella Williams, YBI’s director of diversity and inclusion, in a release. “We are thrilled for our winners. Genevieve is a great woman with some solid products. This is only the beginning!”

Serving as judges for the WE Launch pitch contest were Donna Walsh, a lecturer and former director of entrepreneurship for the Williamson College of Business Administration; Barbara Hierro, director of business development at Serenity Center; and Terry Louk, loan officer with Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp.

Pictured: YBI director of diversity and inclusion Carmella Williams presented Genevieve Bodnar with a $5,000 grant at the graduation of YBI’s WE Launch program. Bodnar won the grant for the pitch for her business, Genevieve’s Kitchen.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.