J. Averi Frost, a Columbus, Ohio native, is a graduate of Denison University and Eastmoor Academy High School. Proud daughter of serial entrepreneurs, Frost has always understood that there can be a gap in resources for some of our most disenfranchised business owners. Whether it is connecting entrepreneurs to resources, advocating for the support they need, or both, Frost strives to bridge the opportunity gap between the wealthiest and poorest members of our community. Frost has served the small, Black, and minority-owned business community for the past fourteen years.
Currently, Frost serves as Executive Director of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC). COAACC was launched in 2018 to provide education and empowerment to the Black Business community in Central Ohio; Frost works with members to build capacity, gain access to contracts, make sales, and seek capital. Frost was named Executive Director of Freedom Equity Inc. in March 2022. Freedom Equity is a start-up CDFI poised to provide an alternative to financing for Black owned businesses in Central Ohio. Freedom Equity began lending activities Q4 2022.
Prior to her current roles, Frost served five years as Director of the Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC), a State of Ohio program hosted by the Central Ohio Minority Business Association (COMBA). Through her work with the MBAC, Frost developed and facilitated business development workshops, and counseled clients to help advance their business in areas such as general business administration, marketing, government procurement, and applying for minority certification. Having facilitated nearly 200 workshops (including multiple iterations of custom programming) and having counseled 200+ business owners, Frost prides herself in helping to build community through strengthening the minority business community in whatever way she can.
Beyond work in business and economic development, Frost has been involved in a number of social causes since being a student at Denison University. Frost has been involved in fundraising efforts for Ohio based nonprofits raising over $5M in over the course of her career (including three Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society and two NAMIWalks events). Frost, previously served as Board Chair for Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc. – a non-profit that provides housing and supportive assistance to homeless and economically disadvantaged mothers in Central Ohio; and Board President of Black, Out, & Proud, Inc., a non-profit that provides advocacy, education, and inspiration for and by the Black LGBTQ+ community. Frost recently joined the Board of Directors of the Columbus Empowerment Corporation (formerly the Columbus Compact), a non-profit supporting local community development efforts through real estate; and recently completed a term serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Capital Development Corp. (CCDC), an entity that provides real estate loans to small businesses across the state of Ohio.
