Wittenberg University Graduates Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30

“We were fortunate to be recognized by Forbes for the work we are doing,” said Thomas, a native of Cincinnati who is dedicated to creating opportunities in his hometown. He serves as the organization's chief financial officer and is currently community engagement manager for Cincinnati Preschool Promise and a co-founder and vice chair of BLOOM Africa. “I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to do what we’ve been able to do. I am living my dream, and want to take this recognition and these opportunities I’ve been awarded to help others pursue their dreams,” Thomas added. “We started MORTAR because we could see that Cincinnati was going through a resurgence - a revitalization and growth, but that many people were being left out of these new opportunities. We thought: What if everyone had the opportunity to be part of our city’s comeback, how great could we be then?” As far as the name, that has to do with the city’s redevelopment, too. We were seeing that investment was being focused on the built environment - the buildings, the bricks - but it was actually investment in the people, what we feel holds the community together like mortar, that will have the biggest impact.” Thomas said MORTAR’s 2016 goals include to expand the neighborhoods they are working in, expand the number of entrepreneurs they are able to support in a year, and finally to start a tech- focused program to support underserved entrepreneurs in the tech space. He defines success, as more entrepreneurs having the support they need to pursue their dreams.