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Erik C. Johnson is the
founder of Ivy Entrepreneur Institute, a non-profit
organization devoted to improving the quality of life for
low to moderate-income Americans through Entrepreneurship.
“IEI is the place where
business begins. We help
underrepresented individuals located in urban areas start
and sustain businesses,” states Johnson.
“One of the first questions a person asks when starting a
business is, ‘Will this idea make money?’” Johnson says,
“The Entrepreneur Institute is a one-stop shop providing
validation of your ideas, supportive direction, education
and access to a large network of experts.”
Johnson is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with
a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management. He
describes Rudolph Libbe Construction Company as having a
huge impact on his life after college. “Fritz Rudolph
(founder of Rudolph Libee) hired me as the first African
American to hold an office in his company. Six years later
Fritz would be an integral investor, helping me start my own
construction company,” recalls Johnson.
Johnson is also founder
and president of Ivy Development Agency, a development
company that provides supplier diversity and inclusion
consultation as one of the many development solutions
offered to general contractors, construction management
firms and owners located in northwest Ohio and southeast
Michigan.
Like Fritz Rudolph, Johnson is paying it forward by helping
underrepresented groups realize their potential. The
Associated General Contractors of Northwest Ohio
commissioned Johnson’s agency to produce a report that
addressed the barriers that preclude minorities and women
from entering the building trades.
Ivy Development also provided guidance to the Lucas County
Port Authority during the development of their Diversified
Contractors Accelerator Program. Most recently, Ivy
Development Agency played a major role in minority
carpenters and drywall finishers participating on the
historic construction project ProMedica Generations Care
Tower and was instrumental in the unprecedented inclusion of
MWDBE Businesses on the construction of the new Toledo Lucas
County Public Library Mott Branch.
This savvy Toledo businessman and construction veteran
shines a bright spotlight on our town’s contributions to
diversity initiatives for businesses. Johnson heralds the
SBDC and MBAC programs as invaluable resources right here in
our community.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers
assistance to entrepreneurs in all stages of the business
lifecycle. Likewise, the Minority
Business Assistance Center (MBAC) Program serves the needs
of Ohio’s small, minority and disadvantaged businesses by
providing important services such as technical, financial,
certification assistance and contract procurement assistance
at no cost.
Johnson also works
closely with Lucas County Commissioners in a joint effort to
increase diversity and inclusion language within business
requests and bid invitations for underrepresented groups on
projects throughout the greater Toledo area.
He is the recipient of the Harry C. Alford Business
Professional of the Year Award presented by the Toledo
African American Chamber of Commerce, a well-deserved honor
for this
groundbreaking man of color, entrepreneur and public servant.
As the founder of Ivy Entrepreneur Institute, Johnson
spreads his wings developing powerful industry leaders with
his 25 years of business knowledge.
He skips
past trivialities and gets to the heart of his incredible
journey stating, “I started the Ivy Entrepreneur
Institute two years ago in April and officially organized a
launch in 2017. There was no one helping entrepreneurs in
the marketplace specifically in low to moderate income
economic classes who wanted to start businesses,” he
recalls. “This is what God prepared me to do with my 25
years of business knowledge. My trials and tribulations were
all in preparation to help other people start businesses.”
In pursuit of giving the world ‘The Next Great
Entrepreneur’, Johnson is candid about those issues he
perceives hindering a business’s progress. “We often see
individuals taking on two or three jobs and working 16 of a
24-hour day. “If you can start a business that solves a
problem, you are no longer trading time for money; instead
you are trading solutions for money. If you can find enough
problems in the marketplace and identify the solutions, you
can do very well.”
When it comes to the culture of family and improving the
quality of one’s life, Johnson believes entrepreneurship is
a valuable key to sustaining a family’s commitment to
spending quality time with one another regardless of
socio-economic class.
Raised in Warren Ohio, Johnson now resides in Toledo with
his wife and two sons. “Entrepreneurship has given me the
opportunity to not miss anything my children did in school.
I was able to be at every after school program, sport
competition and collegiate activity.
As a non-profit, The Entrepreneur Institute accepts
donations from their clients and public community for a
priceless service. “We don’t want money to be a hindrance to
someone realizing their dream. Whatever is purposed in a
person’s heart to give we will graciously accept,” states
Johnson.
“I think the biggest accomplishment of the Ivy Entrepreneur
Institute is our Annual Black Friday Black Business Expo and
Bus Tour Toledo. Not only do we create awareness for
African American-owned businesses here locally but we help
infuse cash into our business community that day.” Those
who have dreams of starting a business but don’t have the
resources to hire a consultant can greatly benefit from the
half-dozen educational seminars sponsored by Johnson yearly.
Johnson concludes our chat by preparing owners to be problem
solvers. “Regardless of industry, when you encounter a
challenge, believe there is a greater opportunity. When
people find
themselves outside the margins of privilege, faith
and a positive mindset can
open doors of
new business innovation from historically unexpected
places.”
Advice sure to break glass ceilings here in ‘The Glass
City’.
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