The Montrose Group in 2024 launched the Montrose Fellows Fund as a not-for-profit, donor-advised fund, to address economic opportunity. The Montrose Fellows Fund over six months of 2024 hosted a series of Business Development Bootcamps in partnership with the Ohio Department of Development, Minority Business Development Division to support the success of Ohio minority, women, veteran, and disadvantaged businesses through a cohort model framework with nearly 30 Ohio small business leaders from all over the state of Ohio.
Business leaders from Steptoe & Johnson, Marketing Collective, Columbia Gas, Accenture, Huntington National Bank, GBQ and other business leaders all volunteered their time to coordinate sessions with the Montrose Fellows Fund first cohort during 2024 through monthly interactive sessions on company formation, operations and accounting, information technology, human resources, MBE certifications, financing, marketing, business development, and other operational needs.
A business plan competition was held with them during a half day end of the program event on June 26, 2024. Utilizing information and insight gained during the Business Development Bootcamp, Montrose Fellows Fund members were asked to outline a problem or opportunity for your business with a proposed solution and to detail how the grant funding could assist in achieving a solution, and how you will know that you have accomplished and/or made progress on this proposed solution. The top three finalists presented their idea in front of a group of judges and Marquee Creative was the winner of the Montrose Fellows Fund Business Plan competition and will receive a $5,000 grant from the Montrose Fellows Fund to support their plan to expand operations beyond their Youngstown, Ohio marketplace. Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer, President of Marquee Creative, is in the above photo with Dave Robinson, Principal of the Montrose Group, and Monica Womack, Director of the Ohio Department of Development MBE Division.
Plans are underway for the second class of Montrose Fellows Fund in 2025 and the Montrose Group congratulates all members of the 2024 Montrose Fellows Fund class.
