YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – When Jasmine Neal spoke to the room inside the Steelite International showroom in downtown Youngstown, she began not with the growth of her business but with the loss that shaped it.
Neal, owner of Healing Hearts CPR Training, told attendees she lost her infant daughter at 3 months old and did not know CPR at the time. That experience, she said, drives her mission to make lifesaving training accessible. Neal was introduced as the inaugural honoree for the EmpowerUS On the Rise Award.
Her remarks were in harmony with the heartfelt breakfast gathering that served as the kickoff for the inaugural EmpowerUS Awards, a recognition program launched by the Youngstown Business Incubator and its Minority Business Assistance Center. The event introduced the first class of honorees and previewed the awards ceremony set for 10:45 a.m. Feb. 26, 2026, at Stambaugh Auditorium.
Neal’s On the Rise Award recognized her company’s rapid growth and community impact since its founding in 2022. Kieran Davis, MBAC business advisor, introduced her by noting her partnerships with the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross and her commitment to ensuring others never face the loss she experienced. “It is very important that you know how to save someone’s life,” Neal told the room.
The casual atmosphere inside the showroom reflected the intention behind the event, a sincere celebration of small, women- and minority-owned businesses whose work, organizers said, often goes unnoticed. Tanisha Wheeler, regional director of the MBAC, told attendees the new awards were created to spotlight businesses that “hide in the shadows” despite their excellence and community impact.
One of those recipients was Rhonda Bowser, owner of BCI Granite, who received the Small Business Award. Wheeler praised the company’s two decades of service and its reputation for building a strong “family atmosphere” on each job.
Bowser, emotional as she spoke, described the challenges of navigating a male-dominated industry and the loneliness that can come with building a business. She said her employees are her family, and her goal is to create something lasting for them as well as for her own. “They don’t have a Plan B, and neither do I,” she said.
The Community Impact Award went to Organizacion Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, better known as OCCHA. Executive Director Angelica Diaz received the award on behalf of the 53-year-old organization.
Diaz explained that OCCHA now serves up to 1,000 families each year and that the agency has been central to her life since childhood, when her mother sought its services and she attended its summer programs. “It is truly an honor to be recognized for something you love to do,” she said.
The Trailblazer Award, given to an individual or business demonstrating innovation and leadership, was awarded to Jeff Green of Jazz in the Park. Green was unable to attend because he was undergoing surgery, so MBAC certification specialist Karrington Griffin accepted on his behalf and described Jazz in the Park as a long-standing cultural tradition that brings the community together through music, fellowship and shared experiences.
The final honoree of the morning was barber and business owner Ryan Gilchrist, who received the Legacy Award. Wheeler said Gilchrist and his wife, Stephanie, set a precedent in the 1990s by operating a combined barbershop and beauty salon on Glenwood Avenue, influencing generations of barbers and stylists in Youngstown and beyond.
Gilchrist, who said he normally avoids speaking at events, offered a heartfelt reflection on faith, family and the meaning of longevity in business. He thanked his wife of nearly 33 years and emphasized that his work began simply as an effort to support his household. “I never thought of myself as doing anything special,” he said. “I was just trying to feed my family.”
He then urged the audience to think about what it means for a community to build its own future. “Somewhere along the line, we lost a part of our voice, our creativity, our hard work,” he said. “We started waiting for others to create for us instead of us creating for ourselves.”
In her closing remarks, YBI CEO Barb Ewing said the MBAC program has helped YBI better reflect the region it serves and strengthened its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs. She said the EmpowerUS Awards aim to elevate stories that may otherwise be overshadowed by larger economic trends. “These stories deserve to be told,” she said.
Wheeler said the February ceremony at Stambaugh Auditorium will allow honorees to share more about their businesses and their impact. “We want to celebrate them,” she said. “We’re hoping people come out, buy tickets and support the event.”
For ticket and sponsorship information, click HERE.
Pictured at top: Ryan Gilchrist, owner of Ryan’s Chair; Jasmine Neal, owner of Healing Hearts CPR Training; Angelica Diaz, executive director of OCCHA; and Rhonda Bowser, owner of BCI Granite.