Corporation for Findlay Market

Are you an aspiring food entrepreneur that's starting out or looking to grow? Findlay Learn is rolling out a course that is specifically designed to help you establish the foundations of your food business, build community, and learn how to be the leader your business needs. Over the course of five weeks, you’ll focus on the following topics: ✏️ Defining Your Purpose ✏️ Optimizing Operations ✏️ Financial Fundamentals ✏️ Smart Marketing Strategies ✏️ Planning for Success Classes will be held at the Corporation for Findlay Market’s office on Mondays beginning on September 9. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gPsPvhrD

We're #hiring a new Social Media & Communication Co-Op for the Fall Semester. This role offers unique on-job experience for college students studying Marketing or Communications. The ideal candidate is outgoing, loves connecting with people, excels at writing, and feels comfortable coming up with original social media content. Know someone who would be perfect for this role? Tag them below! 👇

Join Teri Heist and Kelly Shaw at EmpowerHER: Launching Your Food Business to Success this Saturday, July 20th from 10 AM - 12 PM! They will be speaking on the fundamentals of building a solid food business from the very start. Admission is completely free! Reserve your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/ghjj2Gsh

Maria Liliana Biondo is the owner and head gelatiere at uGOgelato on Elm Street. She has a rich cultural heritage that has informed every decision she’s made concerning her business. From location scouting to flavor creation and the level of hospitality she offers to her guests, uGOgelato is truly an extension of Maria. “The four different times that I visited Cincinnati before moving here, I always told my husband, ‘if we open a gelato shop, it has to be near Findlay Market.’ Because Findlay Market is the most European-style market we have in the city,” she says. “Growing up Italian, when you have gelato, it’s a family moment. When you go to a place, you spend the day there, you walk around and discover the city. Findlay Market is that.” This community is a patchwork quilt of business owners who laid a foundation for other entrepreneurs to start their own businesses; a ripple of kindness that will affect generations to come. Even prior to opening uGOgelato, Maria has experienced this kindness from the community firsthand. “Cincinnati is really special to me in many ways,” she says. “We have a very good sense of community here, and we feel loved in so many ways.” uGOgelato has been a mainstay on Elm Street for just over two years now. Their menu features a variety of rotating gelatos and sorbets as well as cannoli, semifreddo, and Urbana Cafe espresso. Maria loves experimenting with flavors, and will go to great lengths to achieve the taste and texture she’s gunning for. It’s this tenacity that landed her a gold medal at Gelato Festival World Masters in 2019, and placed her in the running for the North American finals next year. The flavor that landed her in next year’s North American finals was Mandorland, a gelato that highlights Sicily’s iconic flavors and is entirely vegan. To achieve a base as smooth and creamy as gelato made with whole milk, Maria blended three types of Sicilian almonds–raw, roasted, and bitter–into an almond milk that was flavorful enough and fatty enough to stand up against classic gelato. The base is swirled with a blood orange glaze, flecked with dark chocolate, and spritzed with orange oil just before serving. For Maria, competing isn’t solely about winning. There’s a lot to learn in a room full of the world’s best gelato chefs. “I get to connect with other chefs and learn about other cultures I’m passionate about,” she says. “I can just sit down and talk to people because I really enjoy learning from others. It’s a great way to connect and learn how they grow their businesses.” Beyond her achievements at Gelato Festival World Masters, Maria has been recognized locally for her entrepreneurial spirit. Earlier this year, she won the Young Entrepreneur award at the OTR Awards. It’s clear that our community, as well as a larger global community, have eyes on Maria’s work and recognize it as not only outstanding, but worth uplifting. Read the full spotlight on Facebook.

Thank you Sam Fore and Keith Pandolfi for a lovely Meet & Eats last night! It's always a pleasure to open up the floor for two industry professionals to share their stories, advice and expertise. We're looking forward to the next one on Wednesday, September 11 with Chef Jeffery Harris of Nolia. Purchase your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gPR4iG76

TODAY! 🎉 Meet Sam Fore & Keith Pandolfi and network with fellow entrepreneurs in Cincinnati at Meet & Eats tonight at 5:30 PM. Tickets are just $10. Purchase yours here: https://lnkd.in/gyQbVTiW

Last, but certainly not least, David Oxner III will be speaking at our Juneteenth Panel Discussion this Saturday! David was born in Toledo, OH to a 15-year-old single mother. As the oldest of four boys, David found himself in a leadership role early in life. He left Toledo to earn his Bachelors from The University of Cincinnati in Communications and Public Relations, and during these formative collegiate years, David discovered his voice as an artist and his love for entrepreneurship. David has enjoyed a successful career as a Regional Sales Manager, an entrepreneur, and a spoken word artist. Join us at the Juneteenth Panel Discussion tomorrow at 10 Am! Tickets are completely free, but seats are limited. Reserve your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gnpxMVUQ

Yesterday, along with ArtWorks Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, we celebrated the dedication of the mural on the North side of the Findlay garage! 🎉 So many people were involved in the planning and execution of this project, and it offers such a beautiful welcome to the Findlay Market District. The mural design is the result of a months-long international Call to Artists that yielded interest from 136 artists located across the globe, as well as community engagement conducted at Findlay Market. The designer, Greta McLain from Minneapolis, MN was selected as the Call to Artists finalist, created a unique and site-specific design that celebrates the people and dynamic energy that have helped make Findlay Market Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market. We’re proud to have two of our very own as the hand models for this mural. Dean Zaidan, founder Deans Mediterranean Imports, and Nicole Holloway, Market Center Associate, lent their hands to the inspiration of this mural, which is a true reflection of Findlay Market. It’s diverse. It’s historic. It’s vibrant. It’s local. It’s our beloved living landmark. ❤️

Brittani Gray is joining us as a panelist at our Juneteenth Panel Discussion this Saturday. Brittani Gray is a Cincinnati native and a hairstylist whose work has been recognized on both local and national stages, including on the Netflix original series, Say I Do. Bridging her love of education, hair, and activism, Gray collaborated with the Cincinnati City Council to institute a nondiscrimination ordinance protecting natural hair types and styles in the workplace. In 2018, Brittani expanded her community outreach by founding Girls Health Period, a non-profit organization providing schools with sports bras, underwear, menstrual products, and education to eliminate absenteeism. Over 175 school partners later, Girls Health Period has blossomed into an incredible educational resource for school-age kids and fostered community to encourage menstrual-safe environments in schools across the nation. Hear Brittani weigh in on the history and importance of Juneteenth this Saturday, June 22 at 10 AM. Tickets are absolutely free, but there are limited seats available. Reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/gnpxMVUQ

We're excited to welcome Jeremiah Emanuel Pennebaker to sit on our Juneteenth Panel this Saturday, June 22! Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Jeremiah has dedicated his life to social justice and community advocacy. With a background in Philosophy, Politics, and the Public from Xavier University, and a master's degree in Public Affairs, his career has been shaped by a deep commitment to public service. Jeremiah currently serves on the Black Led Social Change team at United Way of Greater Cincinnati, focusing on uplifting the Black community and marginalized groups. Passionate about fighting corruption and promoting equity, Jeremiah is driven by the belief that everyone deserves a fair chance to thrive. Sit in on the Juneteenth Panel Discussion this Saturday, June 22 at 10 AM. Tickets are entirely free, but there are limited seats available. Reserve your spot now! https://lnkd.in/gnpxMVUQ