Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Jenkins.
Hi Karen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Columbia, SC. I graduated from WJ Keenan and then went to the University of South Carolina, majoring in Business Management. I started working part-time at C&S Bank while studying full-time at USC. After working for 13 months, I got a full-time supervisor position. I continued my studies at USC part-time. It took me 7.5 years to finish my degree. However, I was an Assistant Vice President at C&S when I completed my degree. I remained there for 12 years and left when my position was moved to Charlotte, NC. Although they offered me the position in Charlotte, I preferred to live in Columbia. I was hired as an AVP at Resource Bancshares Mortgage Group (RBMG), where I worked for 11 years and moved up to the Vice President level. During my tenure there, I received my Masters in Business Administration. I got laid off in January 2007. After a lengthy job search, I opened my business with my nephew in March 2007.
We launched Integrated Financial Services, LLC. By the end of the year, we recognized the sudden downturn in the market and closed the business. In April 2008, I opened KRJ Consulting, LLC to be a service provider for Family Services, a non-profit based in Charleston, SC, assisting families facing foreclosure. They wanted to work with me (as I hold a certified Mortgage Banker designation) but didn’t want to work with the mortgage company. From April – December of 2008, we helped 148 families avoid foreclosure. In 2009, we did more outreach and intake for Family Services. I then started working with The Association of Housing Counselors, where I wrote the foreclosure curriculum, began training and certifying Housing Counselors, and provided continuing education courses for them.
In 2012, I decided to rebrand KRJ Consulting to become a Management Consulting firm that provided training and development, coaching, and consulting services. In 2013, we began working in the federal contracting space. We received our first government contract in 2014. In September 2015, my 86-year-old father had emergency surgery and was in and out of the hospital for months following. He came home from hospice in December 1014 and passed on January 7th, 2016. During this time, I focused on my father, and our business lost 70% of its revenue in 2015. As we began to rebuild in 2016, things were looking up for us again.
My 17-year-old son graduated from high school on June 1st and had a ruptured brain aneurysm on June 5th. He was given a 10-15% chance of survival. As God would have the last word, he spent 37 days in hospital (21 days in ICU). We went home for two days and then relocated to Atlanta for him to go through rehabilitation at the Shephard’s Center for two months. We returned home in late September, and he was able to continue his rehab at Health South. By August 2017, he was able to begin college at the University of South Carolina part-time. As our family has been so blessed to see and experience our miracle firsthand, we are truly grateful for our blessings. In 2019, as my son was stable (with a lot of assistance from my retired husband), I could focus on the business again. Before Covid, we grew our business to 34 full-time employees and 16 contractors. Post Covid, we lost half of our revenue and went down to 18 Full-time employees and 2 contractors. As of 2024, we are growing again and now have 23 full-time employees and 12 contractors.
By 2021, I began seeking opportunities to also serve my community. I joined the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the SC Chamber of Commerce. I was soon appointed to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In 2022, I was elected Vice-Chair. Since 1902, I have been the 5th female, 2nd African American, and 1st African American female to hold the position. In 2022, I was appointed to the SC Chamber board of directors and served as the Small Business Committee Chairperson.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
We provide Workforce and Organizational Development. We are known as a trusted advisor to our clients as we build relationships that help them reach their maximum potential. We use our 3E model where we:
- ENGAGE – BUILD AN ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST
Understand the why and how to create an environment of trust. - ENLIGHTEN – DEVELOP YOUR KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS
Strengthen skills and knowledge to make decisions and solve problems. - EMPOWER – ENERGIZE & INSPIRE
Build confidence and adjust perspective to empower teams for success - SYNERGY – Creating Synergy by effectively reaching your full potential and maximizing results.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking is a skill that most people have never been taught. The best strategy that I’ve employed is to be intentional about networking. I attend events where the people that I want to meet would be. I target (3) people and make sure that I research them and their companies before the event. I prepare 2 to 3 open-ended questions that I can use to start up a conversation with them. I make sure I’m listening more than talking. I avoid taking up too much of their time (no more than 15 minutes) and then make an ask to follow up over coffee or lunch to continue our conversation. Networking is about building relationships, so the follow-up after the networking event is the key.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KRJConsulting.com
- Instagram: KarenRJenkins
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kjenkinssc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenrjenkins/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karenrjenkins/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=karen+r+jenkins
