Letha Pugh
About Letha Pugh
A transplant from Omaha, Nebraska, Letha Pugh has co-founded a family of small businesses in the Columbus community: Bake Me Happy (a wholesale/retail gluten free bakery with 2 locations, Preston’s Burger (the best burger in the Midwest with 2 locations), Café Overlook (a workforce development café inside the Franklin County Courthouse, and Core Café (located inside the new Bob Crace Recreation Center in Upper Arlington). Letha is also the Commission Chair for the City of Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation, a general board member of The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Freedom Equity, Columbus Sports Commission and Service! A relief effort for hospitality workers. A graduate of the Affordable Housing Trusts’ Emerging Developers Accelerators Program first cohort, Letha is currently building her first ground up housing project and is learning the development world in real time.
Awards/Recognitions 2016-2026:
The Ohio State University Diversity Business Award 2016
Empowered Women To Watch Awardee 2017
Reese Nader Memorial Award 2017
Ohio Restaurant Association Rising Star Award 2019
Women WELDing the Way Honoree 2019
The Shellabarger Illuminator Award 2020
Columbus Urban League Honda Award of Excellence 2020
Human Rights Campaign Equality Award 2020
Business First Woman of Influence 2024
CCDC Economic Development Project of the Year 2025
COAACC Business Advocate of the Year 2025
YWCA Women of Achievement 2026