chosen to participate in the new South Carolina Mentor Protégé’ Program, which will be a huge opportunity for her to learn from a large corporate mentor. 

• She opened a second office in Myrtle Beach to take advantage of another suggestion, that she grow her business vertically, using a second income stream while growing her main business.  In Myrtle Beach, A-Squared does property management, managing vacation properties for condo unit owners from April through September.
• All of these methods and opportunities have made it possible for her to recently renew her line of credit with her bank, even as many young businesses have trouble getting ready.
• In terms of how her company has affected others already, Christel tells us that she has given internships to students from both Winthrop University and York Technical College, which has helped her as well as the students.  “As a matter of fact, I hired one of the interns from York Tech the minute his internship was done, because he’s fantastic.  As soon as he graduates, I’ll be offering him a full-time position and hope I can afford him!”   While Christel started off three years ago as a 2 person part-time company (she and her husband), currently, she works full-time herself and has six part-time employees who comprise her team.

Perhaps the most flattering things that have come Christel’s way recently have been a state agency requesting her service specifically for a project ..... and a larger consulting firm coming to her to say “If you ever decide to sell your company, I hope you’ll give us the first chance to buy it.”  But right now, Christel has no intention of selling .... she’s too busy enjoying the fruits of her labor.

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The following article was reprinted with permission from the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s newsletter, “DBE Newsline.”  Interested parties may click here to visit the web site of the DOT’s Office of Business Development and Special Projects and read the current newsletter online.

     A-Squared Consulting, LLC owner Christel Allen wanted to be a professional photographer earning an associate of arts degree from DeKalb Community College.  Photography freelancing for five (5) years, Allen won “Photo of the Year” in 1994.

     Allen stated “marketing and selling come natural; it’s innate.”  Capitalizing on this while working at Triplett King and Associates, she developed proposals as well as being responsible for marketing and business development.  In the back of her mind, Allen knew she wanted a family, a career and her own business.  Determined she could have both a family and a career, sheer determination translated into her starting her own business in 2008.

     A-Squared Consulting, LLC specializes in community relations, proposal development, employee development, facilitation, scheduling, document control, marketing, event planning, risk management and OSHA compliance training.  Allen has prepared firm proposals to include forensic studies.  Her ultimate goal is to employ 6-10 staffers offering flex time and benefits, extending her company’s charitable contributions to the community by offering CPR/first aid training and creating logos for special groups with charitable/community based orientations.

     Allen’s current goal is to obtain the safety and public relations piece on the department’s I-73 project.  Being an artist at heart, she sees “roads and bridges as art and projects that link families and memories.”  She felt that being a part of the DBE program would allow opportunities for her firm to be a part of the department’s initiatives.  Allen was recently awarded a procurement contract for the “Transportation Careers Training Program,” which is designed to prepare unemployed, underemployed, minorities, females, and other economically disadvantaged individuals for employment opportunities in the commercial trucking industry and other fields in the transportation/construction industry.  Counties with higher unemployment rates will be targeted for this project.

     Allen’s advice to firms is to take advantage of programs such as the Entrepreneurial Development Institute (EDI) offered the the business development program.  She feels that programs offered by the Business Development Center (BDC) and staff assistance have given her the opportunity to “move beyond the ‘mom and pop’ type business, moving them to a more professional level.”

     Since becoming a part of the program and taking advantage of the services offered, Allen has opened a satellite office in Myrtle Beach only 18 months after starting her business.  Allen suggests that firms use the DBE status to “get your foot in the door, a stepping stone.”  She encourages firms to remember that “attitude is everything.”  Allen suggests that firms “utilize every BDC resource, because there is always an opportunity to learn.”  She finally recommends that “firms be proactive and network, make calls.”  Allen believes you have to be “aggressive and chase work.”

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