Small Business Breakthroughs with Lilly Cavanaugh, ODOD

Join the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College in partnership with the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center for a podcast-style discussion designed to dig into the topics that are impacting your business and keeping you up at night.

Guest: Lilleana Cavanaugh, MBA, CPM, Chief, Minority Business Development Division

Lilleana (Lilly) Cavanaugh serves as Chief for the Minority Business Development Division of the Ohio Department of Development. In this role, she provides vision and leadership to support the growth and sustainability of minority, women, and under resourced businesses in the state of Ohio. In doing so, she engages with strategic partners at all levels of government, develops private-sector partnerships, and listens to the needs of business owners.

Most recently, she served as Deputy Chief for Business Solutions and Outreach with the Minority Business Division, Department of Development.

For more than 25 years, Lilly has directly engaged with Latino and ethnic minority communities playing a key role building collaboration and partnerships among government entities, community-based organizations, and the private sector to improve the quality of life and opportunities for Hispanic/Latinos, and other ethnic minorities.

Her robust background in leadership development is sought to assist in tailoring initiatives geared toward guiding individuals to unlock their leadership potential and increase their respective spheres of influence.

Lilly has served at the national level at the board of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, and the National Hispanic & Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Board. Currently, she serves on the Mount Carmel Foundation Board, Leadership Ohio Board of Trustees, and the City of Columbus Womenʼs Commission.

She has received many awards and honors including the Latino Leadership Excellence Award, Women of the Year WELD Calendar, WELD Riveter Award, Most Influential Woman of Color, the César Chávez Community Award, and Professional Woman of the Year Award.

Lilly is a Certified Public Manager, and has an Associate's Degree in Business from Sinclair Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Capella University. She is originally from Costa Rica and has lived and worked in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Host: Michael Bowers, CBA - Director, Ohio SBDC at Columbus State Community College

Michael Bowers is a Business Advisor and Director for the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Columbus State Community College. The primary focus of the SBDC is to support prospective and existing entrepreneurs as they seek to start and grow businesses in Central Ohio.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of North Alabama and a Master’s in Public Administration from The Ohio State University. Michael is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Public Administration from Liberty University.

Michael has worked with entrepreneurs and small business owners for over 30 years, 20 of which have been in Columbus leading the SBDC. He has a diverse business skill set with experience in banking, private equity, strategic planning, leadership, and public sector management.

Michael is the lead instructor for the Basis of A Successful Enterprise (B.A.S.E) business startup training, as well as the host of the Small Business Breakthroughs YouTube series.