By Erica Garrett
Collective Empowerment Group
Program Manager
On Friday, October 25. The Collective Empowerment Group (CEG) of Metro Cincinnati presented its 2024 Business Excellence Awards Green & Gala and Fundraiser. This year was a memorable and exquisite showstopper! The room was filled with bright and vibrant faith-based leaders, business owners, and community partners who were excited to celebrate excellence around this year’s theme, “Evolve & Thrive.” As promised, it was such an exciting event that was hosted by two Award Winning MCs Courtis Fuller and Michelle Hopkins. We are incredibly grateful to Fifth Third Bank as they returned as this year’s Title Investment Sponsor and for the second year, our Title Corporate Sponsor was First Financial Bank. Additional Sponsors included Union Savings Bank, Guardian Savings Bank, and Clearview Construction. Hamilton County Commission President Alicia Reece, Vice Mayor Jan-Michelle Lemon Kearney, and Sen. Nina Turner joined the stage and rallied our guests as this is a critical election year.
Entertainment was provided by P Ann Entertainment with P Ann Everson Price and Friends which included the All-Star Band TRIO WITH David, Stewart, Carleton Tolliver and Steven Williams. The event opener showcased several of Cincinnati’s finest vocalists who absolutely “nailed it.”
“We are grateful to all who came to show their support as together, we embrace our ever-changing landscape and continue to flourish,” said CEG President Dr. Paul Booth Jr.
It was an evening of highlights that included, our Top 10 Businesses of the Year and for the first time, two CEG Member Churches of the Year; New Mission Missionary Baptist Church — Pastor Tracy Ventus and Union Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Orlando B. Yates.
This year we also introduced two brand-new Legacy Awards for two very impactful CEG leaders who recently passed. The inaugural recipients for each award included Cynthia Booth for the Pastor Eugene Ellington Legacy Award and Kathye Lewis Norman for the Dhana Donaldson Legacy Award. Both exemplify the qualities to build a track record of achievement and impact that reflects a brilliant intellect, commitment to excellence, dedication to African American culture, and connections for effective partnership. Presentations were supported by out-of-town family and friends who were excited to witness both honorees.
Live dancing performances included David Choate of Revolution Dance Theatre and Kathye Lewis Norman of Lets Dance Academy. The event continued to fill the room with surprises as we all took part in a tribute to love, as CEG is an organization that marries both churches and businesses together, with the Ultimate Merger and Celebration of love for the recent nuptials CEG’s President Dr. Paul Booth Jr. and First Lady Jarvis Booth with an incredible song tribute sung by Jessica Lynne Moon, Lead Singer for the All-Star Band Trio. A special gift was provided by JC Battle & Sons to the longest-married couple in attendance, Pastor Emeritus Damon Lynch Jr. and First Lady Barbara Lynch who will enjoy a ride in the Classic Beauty, vintage limo for a special occasion.
Thank you to our Honorary Chair, Kala Gibson Executive Vice President of Fifth Third Bank who provided his time, and financial support and led the charge with powerful remarks to encourage faith-based leaders and business owners to continue to Evolve and Thrive as they impact the community around us and beyond.
Gala guests: Tracy Artis, Cynthia Booth and Chris Owens. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Tier 3 Top Business Award Recipients: Erica Garrett, CEG Program Manager; Crystal Render, Magnificent Morsels Catering; Christina Davis, Davis Cookie Collection; and Dr. Paul Booth Jr., CEG President. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Tier 2 Top Business Award Recipients: (from left to right) Erica Garrett, CEG Program Manager; J’Nelle Easley, Easley Blessed Media; Fred Harrison, Fresh Coat Painters Cincinnati East; Tony Dickerson, Goodies House of Slab; and Dr. Paul Booth Jr., CEG President. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Tier 1 Recipients: Angelita Jones, Eastern Personnel Services Inc.; Sheila Holmes Howard, SHH Realty Group LLC; Chuck Futel, Futel & Associates; and Jeremy Sibert, Clearview Construction. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
CEG Church of the Year Award: Pastor Yates of Union Baptist Church pictured with Erica Garret, Min. Timothy Lane, Pastor Derrick Myers and Dr. Paul Booth Jr. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
David Choate of Revolution Dance Theatre entertains the crowd. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Kathye Lewis Norman and Greg Norman of Let’s Dance Academy having a great time! Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Cynthia Booth named the inaugural 2024 Pastor Eugene Ellington Legacy Award Recipient; pictured with Pastor Jim Strayhorn, Pastor KZ Smith, Crystal Grace, and the Ellington Family. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
P. Ann Everson Price, Aretha Chapman, Annette Jetters, Kathye Lewis Norman (Dhana Donaldson Legacy Award Recipient) and Erica Garrett . Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney brings greetings. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
President Commissioner Alicia Reece rallies the crowd. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Fifth Third Bank Team: Hideo Core; Kala Gibson, Executive Vice President and CEG Honorary Chair; Jay Plum; Kashara Jones; Mose Richardson and Hammad Siddiqi. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Sen. Nina Turner, Gwen McFarlin, Erica Garrett, Christie Kuhns, Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Kala Gibson and Eric Kearney. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Emcees Michelle Hopkins and Courtis Fuller take a selfie on stage. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Incredible singers for the live opener. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Incredible singers for the live opener. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Incredible singers for the live opener. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
CEG VP LaMarque’ Ward, CEG President Dr. Paul Booth Jr., and Pastor Donald E. Garrett Jr. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Author Royce Sutton of Penultimate LLC showcasing his new Book Powerful Questions in the Bible. Credit: Pete Coleman | Perfect Exposure Photography 
Church of the Year Recognition: Pastor Tracy Ventus, New Mission Missionary Baptist Church and Rev. Dr. Orlando B. Yates, Union Baptist Church. Provided
2024 Top 10 Business Awardees
Tier 1: Congratulations to CEG’s Tier 1, Top Business Awardees of the Year. Who had a combined total in revenue of $17,730,393 for 2022 and 2023! Angelita Jones — CEO Eastern Personnel Services, Sheila Holmes Howard, SHH Realty Group LLC, Ownerland Realty, Chuck Futel — Chuck Futel and Associates, Jeremy Sibert — Clearview Construction.
Tier 2: Congratulations to our Tier 2 Awardees who had a combined total revenue of $3,889,838 for 2022 and 2023! Tony Dickerson- Goodies, Fred Harrison — Fresh Coat Painters of Cincinnati East, Steven Easley- Easley Blessed Media,
Tier 3: Congratulations to our Tier 3 Awardees who had a combined total revenue of $1,700,812 for 2022 and 2023! Crystal Render — Magnificent Morsels Catering, Simone Charles — Social B. & Co. Hospitality Group, Christina Davis — Davis Cookie Collection.
This year, all of our CEG Award Recipients have a combined total of $23,321,043
Special Thank You’s: CEG’s Program Manager and Event Director Erica Garrett, CEG Board of Directors, P Ann Everson Price, Steven Easley of Easley Blessed, First Lady Jarvis Booth, Shawnise Lewis, Aretha Chapman, Social B. & Co. Hospitality Group, Chuck Futel, CEG Ambassadors: Annette I. Bell, Brittany DeBruce, Tom Jefferson, Candace Johnson, Alam Veal, Rita Grant, Denise Kelley, Robin Robinson Naomi White, Video Participants; Devoe Sherman, Jessica Shely, Lauren Vinson, Lawarence Cain Jr.
JC Battle & Sons: Provided the Classic Beauty Vintage Limo ride and The Dhana Donaldson Tapestry to the Award Recipient
CEG would like to share the updated version of Sheila Holmes Howard’s updated BIO as a Tier 1 Top Business Award Recipient and apologize for the errors that were made in our Program Book. “I joined The Collective Empowerment Group, Cincinnati Chapter in 2017 as a Strategic Partner Business member, and before I knew it, I was the co-chair of the Strategic Partner Committee for 6 years, and not long after that, I was a Board member of CEG for 3 years! As a co-chair, the duties were to grow the business membership with qualified and vetted businesses, host networking and speaker events throughout the year, and assist the members with references and tools to uplift their business. CEG also has a phenomenal faith-based membership, and the Strategic Partners collaborate and partner with them as well. I have been blessed with assisting many CEG members and their families achieve their real estate dreams and working with other Strategic Partners businesses.” Sheila Holmes Howard, SHH Realty Group LLC, OWNERLAND REALTY
Day of Coordinator: Epiphany Davis of “Have an Epiphany”
Photography: Pete Coleman
Audio Visual: Blessed: Social Butterly
Floral Décor: Blossoms Florists
Balloons: Haute Ballons
David Choate: Revolution Dance Theatre
Lets Dance Academy
Collective Empowerment Group is a nonprofit, ministry, and marketplace organization that provides opportunities and programming for Community Development and Economic Empowerment to Business and Churches in our city.
Interested in joining: visit our website www.cegcincinnati.org.