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Name:  Dr. Kizzy Marie Parks

Business: K. Parks Consulting, Inc (KPC), a provider of consulting services

Industry: Coaching & Consulting

Location: Melbourne, Florida, U.S.

Reason for starting: While I was finishing graduate school, I worked as a graduate research fellow for the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, located at Patrick Air Force Base, FL. I enjoyed the role, and was honored to make a contribution to the Armed Services, given many of the men in my family and an aunt served in uniform. A couple of weeks prior to graduating, I was approached by the director of research to remain on board as a contractor. I considered the offer, countered, and incorporated KPC.

Related: Report: America leads the world in female entrepreneurship

How do you define success? Success is not black or white. I view it as a life long journey focused on feeding my happiness, and ability to give back to the greater good.

Biggest Success:  Growing from 2 employees in 2012 to our current team of 8 full-time employees.

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? Our top challenge has been moving from the start-up phase, to the standardization of processes, procedures, pricing, etc. To achieve this, we applied for and successfully gained acceptance into the Orlando AthenaPowerLink Program associated with Rollins College. The organization assigned us a board of directions for free, who we meet with monthly. Over the past three months, their advice and guidance has been life changing.

Related: Read about another coaching entrepreneur here. 

Who is your most important role model? My most important role model is my birth mother, Teresa Huston who I was reunited with 13 years ago. She epitomizes resilience, strength, intellect, humor, and compassion. While on summer break in college, she fell in love and got pregnant. Persuaded by her parents, she went to live in an unwed mothers home to hide the shame from her siblings.Despite this shameful experience, she continued living. She earned a MS in education, became a teacher, got married, had three sons and never forgot me.

[box_light]Website   www.kparksconsulting.com[/box_light]

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