December, 2015

THE COLLECTIVE

The Newsletter of the Collective Empowerment Group - Cincinnati Metro Chapter

Pastor Eugene Ellington

The Collective Empowerment Group

1 N. Commerce Park Dr. Suite 121

Cincinnati, OH 45215 (513) 554-4012

For more info on our organization,

visit the CEG website:

collectiveempowermentgroup.org

www.collectiveempowermentgroup.org

From the President’s Pen …

Beloved, We greet you in the Matchless, Majestic, and Mighty Name of Jesus the Christ. As 2015 comes to a close I would like to share with you some highlights of this year. While we have not accomplished all that we would have liked, we celebrate that which the Lord has allowed us to complete. This year we launched the CEG app that can be downloaded to any smart phone. This app will allow information to be shared and obtained at the click of a button. The app was created by one of our Strategic Partners, Brandon Criss. This month I will present the app at the CEG National Board Meeting for possible use by other CEG Chapters. We have partnered with the Community Economic Advancement Initiative to create an economic development organization that will not only develop property but will also develop people. This organization will purchase and develop buildings as well as businesses that will create jobs and a better way of life for people living in the Bond Hill and Roselawn communities. We look forward to what The Lord has in store for CEG in 2016. I would like to thank the Board, Strategic Partners, and Member Churches for your support and commitment to our mission. I would also like to thank our volunteer staff person Jackie Moore for her hard work and dedication to our cause. It has been my honor to serve as your President. I have learned over the years that if a leader has no one following him, he is simply taking a stroll. I am humbled that you follow me, as I follow Christ. Sincerely, Eugene Ellington, President

Recap of 2015

This year for CEG has been amazing! Almost every month of this year we’ve had a wonderful event that

either served the Community, the Strategic Partners, or both!! And each step of the way, our church

partners have been there and have been involved! Just take a look:

F E B R U A R Y

We supported Mercy Health with their health fair! A strong supporter of Collective Empowerment Group, Mercy hosted a Health Fair and provided screenings for blood pressure, PSA testing, diabetes testing and more.

A P R I L

The CEG Business Awards Fundraiser Gala was held to recognize and award those members who are outstanding in their fields. Award recipients were Branden Criss, Great Catch Marketing for Up and Coming Entrepreneur; Kelvin Washington, Black and Bossie by Kalawentz Naturals, Business of the Year Award; Bishop Bobby Hilton, Ph.D., Individual Community Service Award; Pastor Tracy Ventus, Organization Community Service Award . Recognition was also given to CEG President Eugene Ellington and Assistant to the President, Jackie Moore. Other highlights from the banquet included remarks from our honorary banquet chairperson Cynthia Booth, President/CEO and Owner of COBCO Enterprises/McDonalds and guest speaker Maggie Anderson. The best part? Every dollar spent for the banquet was from within the organization! (Excluding a nominal amount from Things Remembered). Also, CEG launched the discount buying program through Strategic Partner, MRO. This allows churches and partners the opportunity to purchase office supplies, furniture, and cleaning products at a discounted rate.

The Collective Newsletter

Recap of 2015 (continued)

A U G U S T

The Back to School Jamboree was held at the Black Family Reunion Event. CEG Volunteers gave away 75 bags of school supplies. It was great seeing the happy faces of the children as they received the supplies. We began passing out bags at least an hour before our scheduled start time and we ran out of supplies long before we were ready to stop. We underestimated the popularity of our booth. Next year, we will be better prepared to go strong all day. It was a heartwarming event with the support of our faithful volunteers. The Program Committee would like to thank Pastor Gene Ellington for hauling all of the supplies to the booth. Thank you Gerald Tillman for your wisdom of removing one of the bars on the booth to keep us from having to do the limbo every time we wanted to go in or out. Thank you Pastor Barrow and Judy Anthony for hitting the ground running when they reported for their shift! Thank you Andrew and Chris Ellington for bringing an exceptional amount of additional school supplies that beefed up our bags even more so. Thank you Leonard Hawkins for navigating your way to the booth and supporting the CEG. Thank you Chuck Futel for memorializing the event on film. Thank you Pastor Robert Harper for being there every step of the way! We would like to thank our contributors as well. Thank you J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home, Southern Baptist Church, Chuck Futel and Associates, First Baptist of Kennedy Heights, Julia’s Catering, Eastern Personnel and Ellington Management Services for their generous donations. Thank you Mountain Top for your willingness to contribute. (Too bad we ran out of time). It took every single volunteer and contributor to make this a successful event. The last Joint Worship Service for the year was held at New Mission Baptist Church. Featured were Pastor Tracy Ventus, of New Mission Baptist Church, Pastor T. Scott Swann of Mt. Zion Woodlawn and Rhansyl Harris of The Rock Church.

J U N E

We celebrated “CEG Food & Loaves Day” in the lot of Tried Stone New Beginning Church in Bond Hill. Pastors, Strategic Partners, Church Champions and other volunteers grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Food was served to approximately 60 people in the community on what turned out to be quite a cold and windy day! Special Thanks to Julia Pitts and her A-Team, Pastor Robert Harper, Pastor Patrick Barrow, Josephine Brownlee, Brandy Davis, Chris Ellington, Andrew Ellington, Tre Ellington, Pastor Jim Vickers, Jerald Tillman, Stan Pool, Dominque Wilson, Angelita M. Jones, Minnie Jefferson, Tom Jefferson, Chuck Futel, Gail Adams-Arnold, Kelvin Washington, Lottie Reed, J.C. Battle, Waughney Yarrell, Jackie Moore and our President, Gene Ellington.

J U L Y

Our General Meeting this month was also “CEG Movie Night”! This was the inaugural showing of CEG’s New Television Show, Ministry and the Marketplace. Ministry and the Marketplace is designed to promote both our church and business partners while enhancing CEG. Each program that is produced features a member church and a strategic business partner. Intermittent commercials are shown to further highlight our partners and champions during the program. Show hosts are Angelita M. Jones who generally interviews a strategic partner, and Pastor Robert Harper of First Baptist of Kennedy Heights who generally interviews a member church. The show is the brainchild of James Alexander, Conscious Media Productions and is produced by Pastor Patrick Barrow of Alms Christian Church and Gail Adams-Arnold of Jet About Travel.

The Collective Newsletter

Congratulations Pastor and Business Owner

Jim Vickers! Congratulations to our CEG Board Member, Pastor and Business Owner Jim Vickers Jr.! Pastor Vickers won the 2015 Business of the Year Award (6+ employees) from the African American Chamber. His company Business Technical Services, LLC (BTS) is a Pipeline Integrity Management Company. BTS provides comprehensive services in the areas of: HCA Surveys, Industrial Coating Applications, Pipeline Maintenance and Repair, Vegetation Management, Atmospheric Corrosion Surveys, and bridge maintenance and repair. Join us in congratulating Pastor Vickers on this huge accomplishment!

Congratulations to First Lady and Business Owner

Robin Vickers!

Congratulations to the First Lady of Mountain Top for her 2015 Phenomenal Woman Award from New Beginning Community Church in Kentucky. In addition to the Phenomenal Women Award, Lady Vickers was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. A Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. What a remarkable accomplishment! Congratulations!!

Congratulations to Strategic Partner

Dan’s Auto Repair! Celebrating 40 Years of Auto Body Repair

Dan’s Auto Repair was founded in 1975 by Dan Fluker, Sr., his wife Lillie and her brother Johnnie Brown. Three Generations of the Fluker Family, over a period of 4 decades, own and manage the business. Located at 8560 Voorhees Lane in Blue Ash, Dan’s offers a wide range of bodywork and collision repair – from minor scrapes and dings to major frame straightening and restoration. In addition, Dan’s also provides towing services, vehicle storage, U-Haul Rentals, and detailing. Congratulations!

The Collective Newsletter

New Strategic Partners BAT Enterprises

Chuck Futel and Associates dba Primerica Graves & Hughes Financial Services

Incredible Delights Catering and Services MRO Express

Owens Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center Premier Mail & Fulfillment LLC Stallion Farm Lawn Care, LLC

New Member Churches Grace Christian

Rock Baptist Word of Deliverance Ministries

Upcoming Events Pastors and Partners Luncheon Thursday, December 17 11:30 am until 1:30 pm at New Prospect Baptist Church, 1580 Summit Avenue, 45237. Come talk, listen, learn and share! Come break bread while providing more insight on how we can be of assistance to your business. Catering by Julia! RSVP to Jackie Moore jackie@ellingtonmanagement.com. 2016 CEG Business Excellence Awards Gala Saturday, April 16, 2016 Location: The Word of Deliverance

CEG Board of Trustees Rev. Eugene Ellington, President

Angelita Moreno Jones, Vice President Dr. John Ivey, Treasurer

Dr. Cecil Ferrell, Assistant Secretary Rev. Jim Vickers, Secretary Rev. Tracy Ventus, Chaplain

Rev. K. Z. Smith, Membership Committee Julia Pitts, Banquet Committee

Dr. Timothy Scott Swan, Member Rev. Robert Harper, Member Rev. Patrick Barrow, Member

Jerald Tillman, Member Tom Jefferson, Member

Minnie Jefferson, Member