Deonna Barnett

Deonna Barnett is a small business strategist and consultant with expertise in business planning, financial management, operations management, project management, and marketing strategy development. She is the CEO & Managing Consultantof Aventi Enterprises, LLC, a strategic consulting firm based in Columbus, OH that helps small businesses access capital and government contracts. Services include business strategy and planning, preparation for financing, diversity certification assistance, and small business outreach. Aventi focuses its efforts on the development of women and minority-owned businesses throughout the state of Ohio by way of community partnerships and online education.

For fifteen years, Deonna has supported small businesses in Central Ohio through previous appointments and community projects. She has developed and implemented entrepreneurial training programs and has engaged in fundraising efforts for small businesses and non-profits alike including grants, loans, and crowdfunding. She has had the opportunity to provide training to over 2000 local entrepreneurs as well as build relationships with, corporate stakeholders, community organizations, and government agencies that the support the small business community.

Deonna received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Columbus Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners as the VP of Programming. Deonna’s knowledge and expertise has not only come from experience but from also leading focus groups and conducting research studies on small, women and minority-owned businesses including the “Business Sustainability Research Study” (2013) and “Microenterprises in Central Ohio” (2018). In 2016, she received the Stephanie J. Bevens Award by the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association for her entrepreneurial spirit and strong commitment to small business ownership,