UC Blue Ash features MORTAR in free presentation on entrepreneurship

Helping under-served entrepreneurs and businesses succeed — that is the mission of MORTAR and the focus of the next edition of the UC Blue Ash College Entrepreneur Speaker Series. The free event takes place 7-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, in Muntz Auditorium, located inside Muntz Hall on the UC Blue Ash campus.

MORTAR is an entrepreneurship hub located in downtown Cincinnati that supports under-served or "nontraditional" entrepreneurs and connects them with the support they need to grow their business, or turn their idea into an enterprise.

The organization’s tagline is "building communities through entrepreneurship." Its website touches on this philosophy: “We believe entrepreneurship can change lives. When people have ownership in an area, they also have pride. This pride manifests itself in the way residents become involved in their neighborhoods.”

The special guests for the Entrepreneur Speaker Series (ESS) are Derrick Braziel, managing partner with MORTAR; Kristen Bailey, owner of Sweets & Meats BBQ; Dawn Grady, owner of Junebug Jewelry Designs and Donny Harper, owner of GO(O)D Co. Apparel. Bailey, Grady and Harper each worked with MORTAR to help develop or grow their business.

Kent Lutz, business and entrepreneurship professor at UC Blue Ash, serves as the ESS host. The event is an entertaining, interactive discussion. Lutz interviews the guests on stage about their experiences as business owners and some of the tips they would offer other future or current entrepreneurs. The audience also has the opportunity to ask questions. Afterward, there is a free reception with the featured guests.

The event is free but seating is limited. Register for the UC Blue Ash College Entrepreneur Speaker Series and to see videos from past editions online. For more information regarding the March 13 event, call 513-936-1632.