Mustardseed Cultural & Environmental Services is an African-American woman owned consulting company providing environmental, safety, archaeology, and training services. Based in Kansas City, Mustardseed was co-founded by Timberlyn Smith in 2003. The company’s name comes from the idea that a mustard seed starts small and grows big, just as her company has done over the last 10 years.
As a 2009 graduate of Missouri Department of Transportation’s Entrepreneurship Training Program, Smith learned key skills to grow her business in a highly competitive industry. MoDOT’s Entrepreneurship Training Program is a comprehensive training program that helps minority and women owned businesses to grow capacity and succeed in the highway construction and related industries.
Since 2009, MoDOT has worked with the St. Louis based Consulting and Program Management firm, Philips & Associates, to select and train 25 qualified DBE firms from across the state each year. A key component of the Entrepreneurship Training Program is developing a business plan with a five year vision for growing and sustaining a business. As one of the firms selected for the MoDOT training program, Smith used the opportunity to fine tune the business plan she had created at the start of her business. She still refers back to the plan when making key decisions for Mustardseed. Taking the class, she says, “helped to define our focus and develop strategies to increase our sales.” Having come from a strong background in the Sciences, the Entreprenership Training program gave Smith the administrative tools she needed to run a successful business. Most valuable, says Smith, was the expertise she gained in managing finances. “I’m now more comfortable with looking at financials and using business performance data to make decisions as a result of this training” according to Ms. Smith.
Another key benefit of the Entrepreneurship Training Program, according to Smith is the tremendous networking opportunity it has provided. Leveraging relationships with fellow classmates, prime contractors, and MoDOT staff she met through the Entrepreneurship Training Program, Smith has expanded her customer base and contracting opportunities. Mustardseed landed its first MoDOT subcontract after going through the training program.
Smith takes pride in her company’s strong, quality work ethic and customer service. In addition to graduating from MoDOT’s Entrepreneurship Training program, she sites responsiveness to customer needs with a focus on quality to meet their needs at a fair cost as her greatest competitive advantage and the key to success over the years.
There are currently over 90 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Missouri that have completed MoDOT’ Entrepreneurship Training Program. For more information on the program and how to apply, please contact MoDOT’s External Civil Rights office in Jefferson City at 573-751-4309.
|
