Proponent Testimony - Senate Bill 105 (K. Zulene Adams, Z Promotions)

Summary

K. Zulene Adams, CEO of Z Promotions, a certified minority and certified woman small business located in central Ohio, gives proponent testimony on Senate Bill 105 to the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee. The testimony states that SB105, sponsored by Senator Sykes and Senator Schuring, would allow the certification obtained from the State to be accepted by all governmental agencies requiring certification. It states that the business employs 6 people, already holds multiple certifications, and still must apply for additional certifications to do business with other jurisdictions. It also states that the business has experienced more than a 50% reduction in revenue due to COVID-19.

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Full text

Chairman Edwards, Vice-Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch, and members of the House Economic and
Workforce Development Committee, thank you for allowing me to provide proponent testimony on Senate Bill 105.



My name is K. Zulene Adams and I am the CEO of Z Promotions, which is a certified minority and certified woman
small business located in central Ohio. I am lending my support as a proponent in favor of SB105, sponsored by
Senator Sykes and Senator Schuring.

I am also an active member of our business community. I am the VP of Public Policy for the National Association of
Women Business Owners (NAWBO)– Columbus Chapter, I am the 2021 Chair of the Pickerington Area Chamber of
Commerce (PACC), I am a board member of the Asian American Commerce Group (AACG), I am a board member
of the Diversity Chamber of Central Ohio (LGBTQ+ business chamber), I am a marketing committee member for the
Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC), I am a member of the Conference of Minority
Transportation Officials (COMTO), I am an advisory board member of the Pickerington High School DECA Chapter
and I am a former board member and current member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) – Columbus
Chapter.

Due to my engagement with diverse organizations, I understand the challenges that are faced by businesses that
seek to do business with agencies that require certifications. SB105 would allow the certification that we obtain from
the State to be accepted by all governmental agencies requiring certification for minority, women-owned and
veteran friendly businesses. This will remove the additional barriers that we have in order to close the wealth and
opportunity gaps. My own business employs 6 people all with their own families, we already hold multiple
certifications and still are required to apply for additional certifications in order to do business with the jurisdictions I do
not currently hold certifications with. The certification process for every agency is tedious and requires numerous
documentation (which can be inconsistent from agency to agency), confirmation of all requirements and fees to
many of the individual agencies. As a small business owner, I simply do not have the time, energy, inclination, nor the
funds to dedicate this process to each and every agency. I have chosen to dedicate those resources to finding
immediate sources of revenue such as building our client relationships, prospecting for new clients and allocating
time and attention to submitting applications for grants and a few loans. Those sources of revenue are what have
allowed me to keep my employees and maintain my business that has experienced more than a 50% reduction in
revenue due to COVID-19. Had I continued to provide time and attention to applying for certifications with various
jurisdictions, I am not sure where my employees and my business would be today.

Again, thank you for your consideration and allowing me to provide testimony on SB 105.



K. Zulene Adams
CEO




                   800.930.4954            www.zp-a.com            info@zp-a.com             P. O. Box 341198
                                                                                             Columbus, OH 43234-1198


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