KRJC Featured in The SCDOT Business Curve Publication

KRJ Consulting was featured in the Spring / Summer Issue of The Business Curve, a publication that works towards advancing minority and small business affairs. In the article, Jenkins discusses the DBE Program and KRJ Consulting’s business history. See the full article below.

Tell readers a little about your business.
Founded in April 2008, KRJ Consulting, LLC (KRJC) works with the Federal government, state and local agencies, and corporations to:

• Improve performance and efficiency

• Work together to achieve managerial and support staff excellence

• Align organizational needs with staff capabilities KRJC specializes in delivering human performance and organizational development solutions that bring people and processes together to achieve optimal results.

How long have you been in business?
13 Years

What made you choose this type of business?
I was laid off in 2007, and I wanted to leverage my 23 years of managerial and leadership skills.

What service(s) or product(s) do you offer/manufacture?
Professional, Administrative, and IT Support Services to include Organizational Development.

Where did the name come from?
The company was named after me, Karen R. Jenkins.

How many employees do you have?
Currently, we have 21 employees.

What is unique about your business?
KRJC believes in customizing our solutions to fit our customer’s specific needs. We do not offer cookie-cutter solutions as we recognize that each client is unique in their offerings and their needs. We align with our clients to ensure we approach their needs from their perspective as well as ours to provide a holistic approach in our delivery.

How long have you been a DBE?
Since October 25, 2012

Why did you choose the DBE program?
The developmental support provided to small businesses through the DBE program.

What are your responsibilities as the business owner?
As President / CEO, I am responsible for the overall growth, management, and oversight of the business.

What has been your greatest accomplishment so far being a part of the SCDOT DBE program?
By working with the DBE program, I have been able to help other DBE’s manage and grow their businesses through the small business training sessions that I have been hired to provide.

How has the SCDOT helped your business grow?
Through the various training programs offered by the SCDOT DBE program, I’ve been able to learn crucial skills that would help me create a solid foundation for my business.

What are some, if any, of your most complex contracts since being certified?
I’ve had several contracts with the SCDOT DBE program, the city, and a school district, the majority of my contracts have been with the federal government. These contracts are all complex.

What would you say to other businesses that are considering DBE certification?
I highly recommend the DBE certification to small businesses. The certification will not guarantee work, but it does position small businesses to be successful. DBE is recognized by the State of South Carolina and even offers tax credits to businesses that hire SCDOT DBE Certified Small Businesses as an incentive. The educational component is invaluable as it provides training that ranges from QuickBooks to learn how to keep up with your financials, to providing training and certifications such as CDL Licenses. The range of training and certifications is wide and positions a small business to be competitive in their respective market.

What is your long-term business goal?
My long-term goal is to continue to positively impact my community through job creation, service and as my mentor, Dr. Louis Lynn, says “Paying my Civil Rent” to support those less fortunate than I am.

What do you attribute your success to in the DBE program?
The DBE staff and programming have always provided exceptional support. If small businesses had a need that they did not offer a program or training for, they would do all they could to offer the program or refer the small business to other resources.

What was your experience to be a small DBE Prime Contractor doing a project for the SCDOT?
As a small consulting firm, I’m not the typical SCDOT Prime contractor. I can say that the contracts that I have had with SCDOT to provide training for DBEs have proven to be a great experience for me and the participants.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
The Columbia Small Business community is blessed to have a thriving supportive eco-system. The SCDOT DBE program staff has played an integral role in partnering with the local agencies that support small businesses. All of our agencies continue to help us manage and grow our businesses