Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Smith.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I worked as an Administrator at Detroit Diesel Corporation for several years as a liaison between the dealers, distributors, and the manufacturing facility reviewing compliance issues until I retired in 2006. In 2007, I began my second career as a Program Manager and Director of Certification at Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. In that position, I reviewed applicant files to determine whether they could be certified as a viable vendor for corporations that had Supplier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as part of their initiative. In that capacity, I determined if the applicant met all the requirements to become certified as a women-owned business. I found there was a need for the applicant to understand the certification process because I observed applications that were being denied based on the lack of understanding the criteria that had to be met.
Since retiring in 2015 and starting PTS Compliance Consulting, I have helped over 200 women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses to navigate the certification process.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not always been smooth. Although I was well known as the Program Manager and Director at Great Lake WBC, once I hung up my shingle as a business owner, I struggled to build my reputation with corporations. I became certified as a WBE (Women Business Enterprise) and an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) to show that I not only “talked the talk”, but I “walked the walk” as well.
I had problems understanding how to structure my fees. In the first few years of the business, I loss thousands in revenue based on the number of hours I spent on files versus the payments that I received.
I was lacking knowledge on the most current technology and had to take numerous online courses to bring myself up to speed on current trends.
At the start of my business, I joined every organization there was and that was very costly. But learned that I was not getting a return on my investment. So, I skimmed the fat and only belong to organizations that are relevant to my business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
PTS Compliance Consulting, LLC works as a liaison between corporations and suppliers to increase Diversity, Equity & Inclusion spend for corporations while also helping suppliers with their business development. PTS has the expertise to complete the documentation process for suppliers to become certified with recognized 3rd party certifying entities.
When a clients works with PTS, they experience a since of peace because the daunting paperwork associated with the certification process is removed from their plate. The client is allowed to run their business to generate their revenues, and barriers are removed because the certification opens doors for business development. Corporations with Supplier Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals see the certification as valuable for their organizations.
Having a certification is a differentiator. When a corporation is looking at potential vendors, if quality, quantity, pricing, and deliverables are the same, the difference may be the vendor with the certification is considered first because they went the extra mile to receive the certification.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
One of my mentors has been Lisa Mininni owner of Excellerate Associates and Business Innovation Lab CoWorking & Conference Center in Livonia, MI. Through Lisa, I learned how important it was to understand how digital technology can help with your productivity. Through her courses, I began to understand how to run my business more efficiently.
I’d also have to add Michelle Richards Director for the Great Lakes WBC because she gave me a chance when she hired me to become the Program Manager and Director. I gained the majority of my skills through my 8 years of training through WBENC (Women Business Enterprise National Council).
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