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Congresswoman Beatty Named 2015 “Trailblazer of the Year”
Special to The Truth
The 2015 Trailblazer of the Year Award recipient is Ohio
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. The award is presented annually
to an individual who exemplifies achievement of excellence
for minorities throughout Ohio and champions minority
opportunities in business and government.
“It’s an extreme honor to present the Trailblazer Award to
Congresswoman Beatty in recognition of her dedication as an
advocate and champion for the people of Ohio, and
particularly the 3rd Congressional District,” Derrick Clay,
president of New Visions Group, said.
“Her distinguished career in public service includes five
terms a state representative from Ohio’s 27th House
District, during which time she became the first female
Democratic House Leader in Ohio’s history and was
instrumental in passing legislation that improved the
climate for economic development in the state,” he added.
Congresswoman Beatty is serving her second term representing
the 3rd Congressional District of Ohio that is wholly
contained within Franklin County and represents 29
municipalities including Columbus, Bexley, Whitehall,
Reynoldsburg and Gahanna.
As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives,
Congresswoman Beatty serves on the powerful Committee on
Financial Services and is member of two subcommittees:
Housing and Insurance as well as Oversight and
Investigations. The Committee on Financial Services oversees
all components of the nation’s housing and financial
services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate,
public and assisted housing, and securities.
With her position on the Financial Services Committee,
Congresswoman Beatty continues to be a proven leader in
increasing home mortgage financial literacy, ensuring
financial oversight, and expanding affordable housing
opportunities. She has also been successful in increasing
access to credit to consumers and leveling the playing
field. In 2014, Rep. Beatty brought then-Department of
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donavan to the
District to announce a $300 million project to revitalize
the Near East Side, led by $30 million in federal funds.
In December 2014, Rep. Beatty was pivotal in securing nearly
$4 million in federal funds to address Columbus’ infant
mortality rate, which is one of the highest in the country.
Reducing infant mortality is a top priority for Beatty, and
her office aggressively joined the efforts to secure funding
for the Healthy Start program. The initiative will expand
and improve the system of care for mothers and babies by
creating a community model of collaboration and coordination
of services among material child health care providers in
central Ohio.
A long-time advocate in eradicating human trafficking,
bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Beatty to combat
child sex trafficking unanimously passed the U.S. House of
Representatives in 2014 and 2015. Rep. Beatty’s legislation
would reduce the instances and impacts of child sex
trafficking by de-criminalizing the behavior of child sex
trafficking victims and making it easier for people to
report potential instances. Rep. Beatty encourages the
public to embrace the philosophy of “if you see something,
say something.”
Congresswoman Beatty graduated with a B.A. from Central
State University, received her M.S. degree from Wright State
University, and completed all but her dissertation for a
doctorate at the University of Cincinnati. In addition, she
has received two honorary doctorate degrees from Ohio
Dominican University and Central State University.
Rep. Beatty is a native Ohioan with a strong history of
working across the spectrum to fuse people, public policy
and politics to make a difference. She is a former small
business owner who established a successful management
consulting company and later opened a small retail business
in downtown Columbus. A strong proponent and advocate for
empowerment, she also founded an organization that focused
on developing business ownership among women to create
economic opportunities.
Rep. Beatty is married to Otto Beatty, Jr., an attorney,
businessman and former Ohio State Representative. He
currently practices law in Columbus, Ohio.
The Trailblazer of the Year Award was established in 2011 by
NVG to recognize individuals who have made outstanding
contributions to the community through their professions,
service to the community or civic involvement.
New Visions Group is a full service, statewide government
relations and lobbying firm based in Columbus with offices
in Cleveland and Toledo. Since 1996, New Visions Group has
drawn on its experience working with legislative, local
government and regulatory matters to connect businesses with
government to achieve desired outcomes.
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