August 25, 2023 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is pleased to announce that Yvette R. Simpson, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, has been elected as the Board Chair of MORTAR after serving as a board member for the last year. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, MORTAR helps both existing and aspiring entrepreneurs build a comprehensive business canvas and learn the nuances of business management with the goal of launching businesses that create jobs and circulate dollars locally.
“Since MORTAR was founded in 2014, we’ve consistently strived to serve our community of entrepreneurs with a revolutionary approach to pursuing economic equity,” said Allen Woods, Co-founder & CEO of MORTAR. “As we prepare to enter our 10th year, we are thrilled to have Yvette Simpson, a long-time supporter and advocate who operates with these same values, join us in this work as our newly elected Board Chair.”
Simpson was named Ulmer’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in 2023. In this role, she works to prioritize diverse initiatives within the firm through the planning of ongoing programming, a focus on diverse recruitment and retention, and by actively championing the firm’s values and culture both internally and externally. As a national commentator, speaker, trainer, and executive strategist, Simpson has provided companies of all sizes training and strategic consulting on leadership, DEIB, and government relations. She recently became a published author, with her book, On Purpose: The Power of Authenticity and Intention.
Simpson is a dedicated community advocate. In addition to her new role at MORTAR, she currently serves as Board Chair of the Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses in Cincinnati. She is a Former President Pro Tempore and Cincinnati City Council member for the City of Cincinnati, and she spent a number of years as an active board and committee member for YWCA Cincinnati.
Simpson has been consistently honored for her professional achievements and community commitment throughout her career, receiving the 2022 Black Lawyer Making an Impact Award from the Cincinnati Bar Association, the Woman of Distinction Award from Girl Scouts of Greater Southwestern Ohio in 2020, and the Theodore M. Berry Award from Cincinnati NAACP in 2019.