City of Indianapolis - Office of Minority & Women Business Development

Vendors, start your engines and get ready for the greatest spectacle in networking! ????? OMWBD's Outreach Day, in partnership with Business Equity for Indy - Procurement, will be returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Spring. This year's event will feature a special fireside chat, informative presentations from certified vendors, and exciting networking opportunities with several City-County agencies and select prime contractors. RSVPs for this free event will open on March 31st. Stay tuned to our social media and email communications for information on how to register for the OMWBD Day at IMS!

WISH-TV featured our March Vendor of the Month, Connor Painting, on their Business, Equity, and Opportunities show this week. Tune in by visiting WISH-TV's or clicking the link below to learn more about Connor Painting and the family business's passion for problem solving and innovation from co-founder, President, and CEO Janmarie Connor. The link to the piece can also be found on our LinkTree in our Instagram (OMBWD) bio. https://lnkd.in/gxMYZ-Sr

Attention Certified Women Business Enterprises! ?? OMWBD is excited to share the following networking opportunity from the Indy Chamber. Join the Indy Chamber on April 24 at the Alexander Hotel for the Women in Business Retreat featuring certified XBE keynote speaker Tammy Butler Robinson, President and CEO of Engaging Solutions, LLC. Her speech, "Lasting Legacy: Empowering Women for Tomorrow's Leadership," will inspire and provide insights for your business journey. This retreat offers a chance to connect with fellow women leaders, share experiences, and strategize for the future. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage with Indianapolis's brightest minds! Register now via the link in our bio (via LinkTree) or by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gbaxPpiy #WIBRetreat25 | #AllWomenAllLevels

The Office of Minority and Women Business Development recognizes March as National Disability Awareness Month. There is no limit on the potential for greatness that our disabled business owners and community members bring to the Indianapolis community, and we celebrate their contributions this March and year-round. Our office is proud to work with several outstanding disabled-owned businesses throughout the greater Indianapolis area that are making an incredible impact on our city. If you are interested in learning more about our certified disabled business enterprises and making a connection, visit our website or our LinkTree to find our most up-to-date XBE vendor directory. OMWBD invites you to join us in supporting disabled-owned businesses and keep empowering one another as we work towards expanding success in the business world!

The Office of Minority and Women Business Development proudly celebrates International Women's Day and Women's History Month this March. This month is a time to shine light on the extraordinary contributions that women have championed throughout our collective history, and uplift those who are currently channeling such greatness into making their own kind of history. Our office has the privilege of working with a growing list of exceptional, certified women-owned businesses within the greater Indianapolis area throughout the year. This March, we invite you to explore our XBE directory to learn more about and connect with our women-owned businesses. Our directory can be found on our website, or through our LinkTree. Let's come together to support women-owned businesses this month and keep empowering one another as we work towards expanding success in the business world!

Yesterday, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development was honored to be a part of the Indiana Subcontractors Association's 2025 Construction Networking Event of the Year. This year, the incredible Tamika Catchings spoke to attendees of the CNEY Networking Brunch. One of the most decorated athletes of all time, Catchings has been a global inspiration throughout her record-breaking basketball career and beyond. In Indianapolis, she is known for both her indelible mark on women's sports and the business community. As the owner of Tea's Me Cafe Indy, an OMWBD certified business, Catchings has been a powerful advocate for small businesses in the greater Indianapolis area. Our office is so grateful to have attended ISA's CNEY this March, and for all of the outstanding knowledge and networking opportunities this event brings to the business community of Indianapolis annually.

On Monday, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development hosted our first Certification Workshop of the new year! We were thrilled to have so many business-owners in attendance to learn more about the City's certification process, and help them take their first steps to getting certified. OMWBD was honored to be joined by two pillars of the Indianapolis business community, First Merchants Corporation Bank and Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council, to share more about their respective work towards uplifting small businesses. We wish to offer a special "thank you" to Victor Lizano and Alfonso Perez Sotomayor of First Merchants Bank, and Marc D. Ellis (M.S.) of Mid-States MSDC, for your time and incredible contributions to our Certification Workshop! OMWBD is currently planning on holding our next Certification Workshop on May 20, 2025, from 2-4:00 PM at the Indianapolis Public Library - Southport Branch. Stay tuned to our social media, website, and emails for upcoming information on how to RSVP and more event details!

On Friday, February 28, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development's Director, David Fredricks recognized Connor Painting, a minority-owned business and certified MBE, as the Vendor of the Month for March 2025. OMWBD staff and representatives from WISH-TV also attended the award ceremony at Connor Painting's office and celebrated the President, CEO, and co-founder of Connor Painting, Janmarie Connor, along with her hard-working team, for their outstanding service as a painting contractor and community business leader. Throughout the month of March, OMWBD will be shining a spotlight on Connor Painting and their contributions to the Indianapolis community at large.

Congratulations to Connor Painting on being awarded as our March 2025 Vendor of the Month! Since 1979, Connor Painting has been serving the Indianapolis community as a top-rated painting contractor, providing its customers with high-quality, professional painting and facility services. The current President and CEO, Janmarie Connor, is one of the business’s proud co-founders. Connor is an exceptional leader and voice for all business owners, included minority and women business enterprises. She has also been a champion for safety and sustainability in the trades. The Connor Compass guides her business model, with the cardinal values of safety, sustainability, community, and a people-first approach to their work. In its four decades of business, Connor Painting has completed over 50,000 projects across the greater Indianapolis area, encompassing a wide variety of painting and facility maintenance solutions. Its people-first approach is reflected in every business engagement, from high-quality customer care to standing as a pillar of community service. Since its foundation, Connor Painting has also invested heavily in the safety of its employees and job sites, earning the business several ‘Zero Injury Awards’ from the Coalition for Construction Safety. Connor Painting strives to give back to both employees and the community through a wide variety of initiatives, including but not limited to: Citizens Energy Group and Indy Parks’ Sharing the Dream, La Plaza, the National Association of Women Business Owners, and the Indy Chamber. Connor Painting’s continued commitment to reinvesting in Indianapolis sets them above as an example of business excellence. OMWBD is honored to recognize Connor Painting for its outstanding service as a painting contractor and community business leader.

As we close out the month of February, we are deeply grateful to the City of Indianapolis - Office of Minority & Women Business Development for awarding us as Vendor of the Month. This recognition is a true honor, and we are thankful for the opportunities they've provided to showcase our quality work on the City of Indianapolis’s paving projects. A special shout-out goes to Grace Julian from the OMWBD for her support in sharing our weekly social media posts throughout the month. We’d also like to extend our thanks to everyone who has played a part in helping us earn this recognition. It's been a pleasure working with the City of Indianapolis and all of our partners. As we head into the paving season, we’re excited to continue collaborating with the OMWBD, our trusted clients, and new business partners to deliver exceptional pavement solutions across Central Indiana in 2025 and beyond. If you’re considering a paving project, in need of pavement-related estimates, or interested in joining our team, don’t hesitate to reach out!