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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 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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