CINCINNATI, OH – September 21, 2026 – Aviatra Accelerators, the non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and championing women entrepreneurs, held its annual Flight Night on Thursday, September 10, at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley. The event celebrated both early-stage women business owners positioned for the next phase of growth and seasoned entrepreneurs and business owners who are leading the way in the region.
Flight Night featured a pitch competition highlighting local female-founded businesses from Aviatra’s Momentum Accelerator®, a 12-week program that equips entrepreneurs with the skills to strengthen their business and accelerate growth.
A $1,000 cash prize was awarded to the woman with the best business pitch, Nedra Ward, Petty Waggin’ Pet Taxi
Megan Buldain, Furever Friends Rescue and Wellness, was awarded the pitch prize of Audience Fan Favorite
Aviatra also announced its Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award winners and shared their success stories. The third annual awards recognized outstanding women business owners and highlighted exceptional achievements in six categories:
Jahnay Harris Binion: Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Kisiah Cole: Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year
Alison Fienning: Health Entrepreneur of the Year
Maurissa D’Angelo: Tech Entrepreneur of the Year
Britteny Kane: Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year
Kelly Kolar: Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Media note: High-resolution event images available for download here.
Photo credit: Sarah Dowlin, WorkLife Studios
Image file: Aviatra Flight Night Momentum Accelerator Graduates
L-R: Jasmine Hughes, Director of Marketing & Development, Aviatra Accelerators; Sherrie Kollman, Butterfly’s Touch Therapeutic Massage; Joanne Drilling, Curated Culinaria; Neshea Persley, Ignite Your Tastebuds; Laura Berkemeier, Be Growth Impact; Tian Philson, LFS Wellness; Vashti Chatman, N’Sights HR Consulting and Coaching; Nedra Ward, Petty Waggin’ Pet Taxi; Jeanetta Franklin, Beautiful Minds Foundation; Sara Sturdivant, Vision Legacy Management Group; Mary Sarah O’Shea, The Soma School by MSC;
Candy Lawry, Candy’s Nuts; Dez Stoughton, Nomad Notary & Apostille; Megan Buldain, Furever Friends Rescue and Wellness; Jill Morenz, President & CEO, Aviatra Accelerators
Image file: Aviatra Flight Night Pitch Winner
L-R: Jill Morenz, President & CEO, Aviatra Accelerators; Nedra Ward, Petty Waggin’ Pet Taxi; Terrin Williams, Interlink Cloud Advisors
Image file: Aviatra Flight Night Fan Favorite
L-R: Jill Morenz, President & CEO, Aviatra Accelerators; Megan Buldain, Furever Friends Rescue and Wellness; Stephanie Smith, The Ardis Group
About Aviatra Accelerators
Celebrating sixteen years of supporting women on the rise to find the power to soar, Aviatra Accelerators, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, exists to empower women entrepreneurs, providing education, coaching, mentoring, networking, and access to capital. Aviatra’s programs are tailored to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs at all stages of the business cycle. With a presence in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio, Aviatra Accelerators has helped more than 6,000 women entrepreneurs create over 15,000 jobs and receive millions in funding, and its alumnae have generated a cumulative total of over $1 billion in earned revenues. For more about Aviatra and its women entrepreneur success stories, visit https://aviatraaccelerators.org.
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