What started with 80 boxes of diapers on a front porch has grown into a movement serving families across Ohio.

In this episode of Cosmos & Commerce, Janis Francis and Michele Cook sit down with Jo Welsh, co-founder of Bottoms Up Diaper Drive, to talk about how one simple act of love became one of the region’s most impactful nonprofit organizations.

Since 2018, Jo and her husband, Tim, have helped distribute more than six million diapers through 92 community partners across 37 Ohio counties. But behind those incredible numbers is a much bigger story about entrepreneurship, faith, marriage, leadership, volunteers and the invisible economic crisis created by diaper need.

Jo shares what it really takes to grow a nonprofit from a small family project into a multi-location operation, including the difficult parts people rarely discuss: fundraising, managing employees, creating systems, protecting the mission and preparing an organization to continue without its founders.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Bottoms Up Diaper Drive began with a 40th-anniversary request • Why diaper need affects childcare, employment and family stability • Growing an organization with a small staff and a powerful volunteer network • Working with your spouse without losing your mind or your marriage • The difference between being a big-picture visionary and an operations-minded leader • Recruiting and retaining volunteers • Building systems and a succession plan • Why businesses need a clear, memorable “why” • How small acts of generosity create a much larger ripple effect

Jo also leaves listeners with one simple challenge: a donation of $25.50 can provide approximately 150 diapers and help three Ohio families.

Learn more, donate or host a diaper drive at: bottomsup.life

Subscribe to Cosmos & Commerce for more honest conversations with entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and community builders who are proving that business can create both profit and purpose.

#CosmosAndCommerce #JoWelsh #BottomsUpDiaperDrive #DiaperNeed #OhioNonprofit #SocialEntrepreneurship #NonprofitLeadership #BusinessWithPurpose #CommunityImpact #WomenInBusiness #CentralOhio #LancasterOhio #EntrepreneurPodcast

From bank teller to United Way CEO to buying a business — Christine Simmons on the leap into Party Plus Lancaster

Some people talk about community. Christine Simmons builds it. After 26 years at Fairfield Federal, a stint as CEO of United Way of Fairfield County, and one very fateful Facebook ad, Christine took the leap into business ownership on January 1, 2025 — buying Party Plus in Lancaster, Ohio with her friend and business partner Deb Connell.

In this episode, Christine sits down with Janis and Michele to talk about the mimosas-adjacent decision that started it all, what nobody tells you about the event rental business, how she and Deb are figuring out partnership (spoiler: it's a marriage), the operational headaches of seasonal staffing, and why the micro-wedding trend is quietly reshaping how families celebrate.

Whether you're a small business owner, a Fairfield County local, or someone planning a backyard wedding, this one's full of honest, funny, and practical takeaways.

What we cover: 00:45 – How a Facebook ad and a group text turned into a business purchase 04:00 – What Christine loves about running a business in her hometown 07:20 – The career path: Fairfield Federal → United Way → Party Plus 11:15 – The reality of business partnership (and why it's like a marriage) 16:45 – What most people get wrong about the rental industry 20:30 – One-year anniversary reflections 24:00 – The best piece of business advice she ever received 26:30 – Behind the scenes: logistics, prep, and what customers don't see 33:00 – Software, systems, and the winter cash flow scramble 40:45 – Pricing, upsells, and the "quick cover" advantage 57:15 – Handwritten holiday cards and building repeat business 1:03:00 – Why backyard weddings are booming 1:04:00 – The most memorable event Party Plus has been part of 1:09:30 – Her single best piece of advice for anyone planning an event 1:13:30 – Where to find Party Plus Lancaster

Connect with Christine and Party Plus Lancaster: 🌐 partypluslancaster.com 📍 Serving Fairfield County, Hocking Hills, and Central Ohio 🎉 Weddings, corporate events, backyard parties, graduations, and more

About Cosmos and Commerce: Cosmos and Commerce is hosted by Michele Cook (owner of Body Ache Escape in Pickerington) and Janis Francis (realtor). We talk business, community, and everything in between — usually over a cocktail.