Read AYES Youth In Business Program Details & Press Release Below

BLUSH MAGAZINE ‘Her Mark’ Article, February 2008, Chattanooga, TN 

Tekelia Kelly

by Nancy Henderson

"Exuberant" might be too mild a word to describe Tekelia Kelly. The minute you ask her about Sisters in Business, the company she founded two years ago to promote businesswomen in the marketplace, she starts talking faster. "My passion and my vision give me energy;' says the petite, outgoing entrepreneur with the startlingly firm handshake. "I want the community to be connected.  I want everybody to win.”

A self-proclaimed "geek;' Tekelia majored in industrial engineering at the University of Memphis and, for 15 years, worked as a service engineer, project manager and information technology consultant. In 1995, she started her own computer training business, FYI (For Your Information), setting up programs for companies and schools. By 1998, she and her husband were ready to come back to Chattanooga, their hometown.

One day in early 2006, she and her sister were talking about how difficult it is for women to start and maintain their own businesses. "Well, the first thing that needs to happen;' she blurted out, "is that everybody needs to be connected." Inspired by the conversation, Tekelia went home, created the Sisters in Business (SIB) website and set out to offer advertising, training and networking events ranging from mixers to workshops to trade shows.  The company, she points out, is "a for-profit business with non-profit outreach appeal." Members hail from all socioeconomic, cultural and professional backgrounds.  Some own home-based.  businesses, mom-and-pop stores and franchises; others are doctors, lawyers and high-level executives. "It is so beautiful to see;' says Tekelia. "You get all these different wonderful women, but they all have a heart of sisterhood."

A performer at heart, she's too busy to pursue theater work right now, but she makes time to sing on her church's praise team. And SIB gives her the creative elbowroom she's always craved. "When I was in the corporate world, I would always have to water myself down;' she says.” Now I can be all the things I'm shaped to be."

She is especially fired” up about AYES (Alternative Youth Economic Solutions-the acronym is pronounced a-yes), a training and internship program for teens and young adults, which is now being offered at Chattanooga State. It's a 3-Certificate job readiness for ages 15 and up. "There are certain parts of our culture that got lost in terms of mentoring and interpersonal skills.”  Tekelia says, excitement rising in her voice.  “The baton handoff got lost somewhere between adults and youth.  It is my passion--can you tell I’m passionate?—to help bridge that.” 

Click here for AYES Home Page!

 Top

In an effort to connect youth friendly businesses with the program, Sisters In Business.Net’s “Youth Friendly Business “initiative will help identify companies interested in supporting the socio-economic development of youth in the community.  Enterprises, employers, and business professionals who wish to participate in the program as sponsors, employers, mentors, or business consultants will be asked to generate job opportunities for youth; earnestly consider youth for hiring at companies; offer youth viable and meaningful work experience; and provide supplemental pay in the form of stipends, hourly wages, etc. wherever possible.  Volunteer job opportunities will also be an option. 

Starting April 2008, jobs will be posted online at the AYES Youth In Business Portal on the Sisters In Business.Net website, allowing students to browse and apply for jobs online.  Employers may also contact AYES to inquire abut youth in the AYES program available for hire, and receive referrals for finding youth to fill suitable positions they may have open at their companies.  Students having successfully completed the AYES Youth In Business Certificate programs will also be given the opportunity to participate in additional services offered through Sisters In Business.Net to help gain employment, as well as take advantage of networking opportunities with entrepreneurs and commercial businesses.   

 Top

AYES was designed and developed by Tekelia Kelly, founder, owner, and publisher of Sisters In Business.Net; and long-time Chattanooga State adjunct Computer Technology instructor.  Mrs. Kelly will serve as project director and instructor for the program.  A former Education Systems Analyst for Provident Companies and former Project Manager for University of Tennessee’s (UTC) Lupton's Technology "Smart Classroom" project, Kelly has over 15 years professional business experience, working for corporations such as Federal Express, First Tennessee Bank, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  She is a graduate from the University of Memphis in Engineering Technology, with Instructional Design training, and has provided curriculum and consultation for both public and private school systems in Memphis and Chattanooga, Tennessee.  In 1998, as a Provident Companies Business Consultant for Junior Achievement, Kelly was awarded the “Pioneer Award” for her start-up of Junior Achievement’s inaugural “Success Skills 2000” program at Chattanooga High School, a life skills development program for high school seniors.  Her instructional design experience also includes developing company computer based training programs.

The AYES program will empower youth in business and will offer participating businesses a great opportunity to network and market their business brand to a young buying consumer market, while forging new customer relationships.  For more information about the AYES Youth In Business program at Chattanooga State Technical Community College, please visit www.sistersinbusienss.net, or click here.  To register and for information about scholarships, contact Chattanooga State at  423-697-3100.  If you are a business or professional who would be interested in sponsoring, mentoring, and/or donating to the program, please contact Tekelia Kelly at 423.421.5646, or email sistersinbusiness@comcast.net.  

http://www.sistersinbusinessnetwork.com/pages/AYES

http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/Business_Industry/buconed.asp

http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/Business_Industry/pdf/CE_Classes.pdf

Sisters In Business.Net-Tekelia C. Kelly Enterprises, LLC Copyright All rights reserved.