Business expands, gives back to youth
The Circles of Color International, LLC (COC), based in Teaneck, is an organization of business and professional people of all color dedicated to the growth and development of their current and future businesses.
As the company grows, it seeks to give back to the community.
Isaiah Jefferson and his wife Kayellen Jefferson founded the COC in 2003. Mr. Jefferson who owns the environmental company Total Environmental and Safety, Paramus, serves as its Founder and CEO, Mrs. Jefferson, a realtor, is VP of Human Resources.
The COC seeks to expand its business reach enrich its community economically and mentor the youth with programs designed to prepare them for the challenges of the business world.
Kids were lacking entrepreneurship, Mr. Jefferson said, and there weren't programs to teach them about business. So the COC set up educational programs where kids learned how to put together business plans.
It also arranged the COC Community Lecture Series in Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood. Every Friday, professionals spoke to the students about how they reached their position.
"It was really an awesome experience," Mr. Jefferson said. |
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The COC Business Network is not a non-profit organization, Mr. Jefferson said, but choose to get involved in the community. They are being pro-active, he said.
The company sums up its vision as "Doing good while doing well."
The COC boasts several advantages of being a member. Other members serve as sales and marketing forces, providing word-of-mouth advertising and referrals to their contacts. Plus, the company allows only one member from each profession into the chapter to eliminate competition for referrals. Seminars further the contacts and services available, and provide exposure to the networking organizations that sponsor such events. Also, participation in local and national investment programs is designed to provide additional income. The main focuses of the company are the exclusivity of each chapter and mentoring the youth. "My ultimate goal is to touch the world," said Mr. Jefferson. And through the COC, he said, he is taking it one community at a time.
Bergen News
Rebecca Scanlon |
