Next year Ola Jackson will celebrate her silver anniversary. Twenty-five years of operating OWN, the Onyx Women Network. As a prologue of what is ahead for the upcoming year Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center, 1852 Enoch Street in the Hill District she is sponsoring the 2015 Business Conference.
Utilizing lessons she has learned throughout the years, Jackson is advertising the event as a way for attendees to gain information on how to get their business out of stuck; as a way to build relationships that can generate revenue and as a way to learn how to promote their business. “I wish I would have had someone to address these types of issues with me as I developed in my business,” she said.
Other than herself, her Goal Ambassador Speakers will include Arlinda Moriarty owner of Moriarty Consultants, Debra Hickman owner of Giant Eagle, Frankstown Location; Renee Galloway author and owner of Sweet Inspirations, LLC., Jarene Barnes of Jarene Cares Caregiver Consulting and Rosemary Crawford of the Crawford McDonald Law Firm. Vendors offering various skills and products will also play a role in the event.
Acknowledging that the conference is for startups and people in business pondering their next steps, Jackson believes it is important that entrepreneurs know how to make sure their business run and do not run them. “By attending on Saturday participants will receive advice on business growth and sustainability. Each of the speakers can and will address how to focus and angle your business to leap forward.”
With a strong background in marketing and sales, Jackson will conduct the marketing component of the program. “Businesses to day have to focus on more than just Facebook to promote their products or services,” she said. “You have to invest in advertising to get the word out sufficiently.”
Affiliated with the home health care industry for most of her life and in the business over a decade, Moriarty Consultants is reported to employ 400 people and earns a little less than $10 million in annual revenue.
“She has accomplished this in spite of being diagnosed with Adult Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder,” said Jackson. “She doesn’t let anything get in her way and has made it in spite of.”
Moriarty will address business logics and development during the conference. Moriarty has combined her childhood experiences, formal education, work knowledge and passion into a career and business that operates within 30 counties in Pennsylvania and in the state of Georgia.
The owner of the only Black owned full service grocery store located in the east end neighbor of Penn Hills at the tip of East Hills, Hickman is known for educating, motivating and training her employs. She has owned and operated the store since 2002. During the conference, Hickman’s topic will address how to leverage relationships, the importance of good customer relations and how to keep customers happy.
Time management, setting priorities and being realistic while setting goals is something Jackson advises is important to the success of any business. Using techniques from her book “Done! Prioritize Plan and Perform” and pulling from her ten plus years of experience in personal and professional development, financial principles, and Biblical economics, Galloway will assist participants in improving their productivity.
With the philosophy that one should live their hearts desires by living life to the fullest; Barnes a caregiver advocate, life coach, speaker and blogger will address having a life outside of the business realm. One of her biggest focuses is on caregivers living their dreams while caring for a loved one.
Fresh off the campaign trail, Crawford is a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee in the Western District of Pennsylvania, a member of the Bankruptcy Court Mediation Panel, a certified Arbitrator for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Better Business Bureau. Crawford’s’ topic will address participants being financially ready and prepared to protect their business ventures.
Excited about the speakers for the day, Jackson is elated that they also are sponsors of the event. Stephanie Durrett, the owner of S D Transit is also one of the sponsors. “This is the first time I’ve had an event and the sponsorship was all women,” she said pointing out the significance of women working together.
Committed to empowering women, OWN has served as a voice for a target audience of women of color. Kicking off in 1991by providing public relations services, throughout the years her company has expanded to include a business magazine, a television talk show, and an online radio show. Jackson has conducted workshops, seminars and several conferences similar to Saturday’s Business Conference. Jackson is also the host of Your Stylish Ways, a web series that demonstrates style options on a budget and offers fashion advice.
a way to keep her business in line with current trends, she is planning to incorporate a name change. The business will be known as NEW, Nurturing Evolving Women. “We believe that nothing can grow without being nurtured, and no one can develop without evolving. There is something fresh, enlightening and inspiring about the word, NEW.”
Throughout the years OWN has published a magazine call ONYX Woman that focuses on careers, business and finances. In 2016, Jackson said the final hard copy issue will be published. “We are now focusing more on digital content. NEW will take the place of the magazine by featuring and covering the same content as the magazine.”
Either way from OWN to NEW, Jackson’s plan is to continue providing content emphasizing programming targeting women of color. The Network, she explained was created to present content that will bring women closer to their personal, professional and spiritual goals that impact their quality of life. “In addition, our goal is to present minority women in a positive light.”