From the Ground Up: How Barb Smith is Forging Change with Journey Steel

By ICIC | July 14, 2026

Over the past several years, Barb Smith has become a familiar face in the ICIC community. As a multi-year IC100 Award winner, a graduate of both the Building for Growth and Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses programs, and an active member of ICIC’s Alumni Network (ICAN), she has continued to invest in her growth as a business owner while helping create opportunities for others.

That commitment to continuous learning and community impact has been a defining feature of her career. It is also reflected in the success of Journey Steel, Inc., the Cincinnati-based steel fabrication and erection company she founded in 2009.

Barb has spent more than three decades in construction, estimating multi-million dollar projects, working alongside engineers, architects, and contractors, and learning from every side of the table. Today, as President and majority owner of Journey Steel, she continues to invest not only in her company, but in the people and communities around it.

An IC100 Award Winner with a Foundation to Match

Journey Steel delivers structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication and erection services for large commercial and industrial projects, serving clients ranging from universities and hospitals to casinos, athletic venues, military bases, and major corporations.

As one of the few certified minority- and women-owned self-performing steel fabrication and erection companies in the nation, Journey Steel has built a reputation for combining technical expertise with a strong commitment to workforce development and community impact.

At the helm is Barb herself, whose roots in construction run more than 38 years deep. Her career has included project management and estimating roles at Cargile Contractors and D.A.G. Construction, as well as senior estimating positions with Jacobs Engineering and Hixson Architects and Engineers, where she prepared multimillion-dollar budgets for Fortune 500 companies.

Alongside Vice President Tom Garten, Journey Steel has since become a multi-year IC100 Award winner. The firms on this annually published list are some of the fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities, serving as catalysts for opportunity, optimism, and transformation, creating meaningful employment and bringing economic revitalization to their neighborhoods.

Journey Steel was most recently honored with the accolade at ICIC’s 2026 Annual Conference. For Barb, that recognition reflects something larger than business growth alone.

“Small business is the backbone of the United States. We are the ones that are in touch with the community.”

What Being a Changemaker Means

Journey Steel’s success did not happen in a vacuum. It reflects Barb’s belief that business growth comes with a responsibility to create opportunities for others.

One of the clearest examples is the company’s year-round paid pre-apprenticeship program. Designed for high school seniors from under-resourced communities with a 2.0 GPA or below who are not college-bound, the program provides hands-on ironworking experience and a direct pathway into a skilled trade career. Participants have the opportunity to become union ironworkers, with an all-in compensation package of approximately $120,000 per year after four years.

For Barb, the goal is not simply employment. It is creating opportunities that can have a lasting impact on future generations.

Having built her career in an industry where opportunities were not always easy to find, she understands the barriers many aspiring professionals face. Rather than leaving those challenges behind, she has committed herself to helping others navigate a path forward.

“Being a changemaker means changing the things that need to be changed. It’s blazing the trail for others that are coming along behind, lifting as we climb, and joining arm in arm to make a difference.”

Continuing to Learn and Give Back

Barb’s relationship with ICIC is one of mutual investment. Through her education in the inaugural Building for Growth cohort, development in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, recognition as a multi-year IC100 Award winner, attendance at alumni events like the ICIC Annual Conference, and engagement in Intuit’s More with AI Tour, she found a community that supported both her business and leadership journey.

A repeat attendee of the ICIC Annual Conference, Barb values the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, learn from industry leaders, and bring new ideas back to her business.

Recently, she participated in Intuit’s More with AI Tour, which explored practical ways small businesses can begin integrating artificial intelligence into their operations.

“AI is changing the world. AI is here now. One of the biggest highlights of the workshops was seeing how other businesses are using AI and leaving with tools we could immediately start applying in our own business.”

In turn, she has remained deeply engaged with the organization. As an active member of ICIC’s Alumni Network, she attends events and gatherings whenever possible and contributes to annual alumni giving campaigns that help other business owners access the same opportunities that supported her own growth.

“ICIC has poured into me and my company. It was just natural for me to give back so they can continue to do the work. Because the work is not done.”

Building More Than a Business

For Barb, the work is far from over. After nearly four decades in construction, she continues to focus on building—not only steel structures, but stronger businesses, future leaders, and opportunities for others. 

Her own growth remains part of that work. From executive education and leadership development to networking with fellow business owners and staying ahead of emerging trends, each experience with ICIC has strengthened both her business and her ability to create lasting impact. has helped her strengthen both her business and her ability to create lasting impact.

Her story is a reminder that success is about more than increasing revenue or expanding operations. It is about investing in yourself, strengthening your leadership, and creating opportunities that extend far beyond your own company.

Today, Barb continues to grow alongside a community of entrepreneurs who challenge, inspire, and support one another. Through Journey Steel, workforce development initiatives, and her ongoing partnership with ICIC, she is creating opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

Continue Your Growth Journey

The right support can make all the difference. Whether you’re looking to scale your business, strengthen your leadership, or connect with a network of entrepreneurs who understand your journey, ICIC offers programs and opportunities designed to help you grow.

Explore ICIC’s programs and discover how ICIC can help you strengthen your business, grow as a leader, and create lasting impact in your community.