Each year thousands of new college graduates face fear and uncertainty about what the future holds for them , and I was no different . After graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2011 I was unsure of my career path , but I knew I wanted to help others . It didn ’ t take long for me to witness the clear discrimination women and minorities faced even with a professional college degree so soon after I landed a job I felt personally compelled to change that . The idea for Mixed Staffing formed in 2011 while I was living in Chicago , IL . My former business partner ( a black male ) and I decided to take a new approach to the staffing industry . Deep devotion from experiencing the issue first hand , my entrepreneurial spirit , and determination for success resulted in the start of Mixed Staffing in 2012 . But two weeks before we were set to launch my business partner got cold feet . He wasn ’ t ready to take on the risk of starting a company .
When Mixed Staffing began in 2012 , the only thing that stood out about the company was that I was a young woman and an inexperienced business owner who wanted to help people . After four years I have learned A LOT through research , trial and error , and client interaction . About one year in , I realized that without any credibility behind my idea there could be no realization of my business model or plan . I began researching industry trends and finding other avenues that would allow me to differentiate myself . In the summer of 2013 , I launched our new specialty divisions , the basic “ Staffing & Recruiting ,” our “ Inclusive Workforce Staffing ” where we help educate and train people who face barriers gain sustainable employment , and lastly our “ Diversity Staffing & Recruiting ” division where we evaluate the needs of a company looking to diversify their team .
In just four short years , I took a company with $ 0 in revenue to over $ 1 million dollars today . We started with one employee and one client ( 2012 ) and steadily grew to 33 employees and three clients within one year . I became a Certified Woman Owned Business and a Certified Small Woman Owned Business the fall of 2013 . By 2014 we ’ d hired more than 140 employees and in the state of Michigan we hired 265 employees ( in 2015 ). Of those hired in 2015 , 65 % were a combination of returning citizens ( ex-offenders ) and military veterans . I was ready to continue to grow and expand . . . I felt that there was no stopping us . I didn ’ t realize that God had something else in mind .
Since the age of 17 , I was forced to grow up , mature and get a job . There was no other option . I ’ ve overcome a lot of obstacles in my personal life and as a young female business owner . There are too many to count . By the age of 20 , the lives of so many of my friends and loved ones were lost ( including all of my grandparents , two close high school friends , and my father ). These individuals will always hold a special place in my heart and have helped mold me into who I am today .
In the spring of 2014 , I hit a brick wall . More than once . I was diagnosed with pneumonia in both of my lungs , twice , and hospitalized five times for an unknown viral infection . I thought I was going to die . For much of that year , I was battling my ailing health . The doctors discovered I was allergic to the antibiotic and finally found something that worked . God helped me overcome during that difficult time .
By the end of that year , I felt ready to take on the world again when I was attacked by a Great Dane , my ex-fiancé ’ s dog . The attack left me with 47 stitches on my face and punctured my dominant hand . To make matters worse , doctors discovered that the wound in my hand was infected . After six more hospital visits , I was informed I would need surgery that would put me out of work for two months . I put everything in God ’ s hands . I vowed to stay out of the hospital , maintain my health and find balance between my personal life and work .
Mixed Staffing is your modern day , certified woman-owned professional staffing and recruiting agency and we have the opportunity to change lives every day . We work with people who are often discriminated against before their skills are considered or evaluated . Late in 2015 , we had one young man come to us with no experience and six extremely serious charges on his record . He ’ d served 20 years in prison . Today he is happily and actively employed . At Mixed Staffing , we believe in second chances . Our mission is to change the world one person at a time . We see ourselves as difference-makers , life-changers , and dream-achievers . What sets us apart is that we work with companies seeking specific people , not just warm bodies . Unlike a traditional staffing agency , we offer a special blend of recruiting when hiring candidates and working with our clients . We strive to change the workforce for the better , as well as the lives of our candidates by providing career opportunities .
I ’ ve never done public speaking before . I actually hate it ! ( laughs ) Every time I speak in front of
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