About Us

Management Profiles


Annette Smith Tarver - President

Annette Smith Tarver is President of Blackwell Consulting Services of Ohio(BCSO). BCSO is an affiliate of the largest minority owned information technology firm in the Midwest with revenues of over $28 million. Annette's experience in the small business arena includes roles as an owner, executive, advocate, and policymaker and spans more than 25 years.

Her career began in Washington, DC at IBS in 1978 as a senior consultant on several federal government contracts. In 1980, she joined Maxima Corporation, which grew to be the largest minority owned business in the country. She has managed client projects for federal and municipal agencies throughout the country.

She returned to her hometown, Cincinnati, in 1989 and began working for her family's business, Acme Wrecking Company. Acme is the nations oldest and largest minority owned demolition-engineering company. She grew the firm over a 10-year period, doubling the staff and tripling revenues. Annette led a success business incubator in Ohio for several years where she grew over 20 companies in a variety of product and service areas. Her successes included venture funding for several technology firms and the expansion of a food franchise from a single unit to locations in airports nationally.

Education and Associations

Annette holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Howard University. She has completed executive management training at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Annette is a member of the CincyTechUSA Leadership Council, and sits on the boards of Cincinnati State Technical & Community College where she is Vice Chair, Page Center for Entrepreneurship @ Farmer School of Business, Miami University (Ohio), Freestore/Foodbank, Dress for Success Cincinnati, Dan Beard Council of Boy Scouts of America and the City of Cincinnati Contract Compliance Board. Her commitment to the development of a vibrant minority entrepreneurial community has led her to serve on the board of Downtown Cincinnati, Inc and the economic inclusion committee of Cincinnati CAN.