Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Fennell.
Kimberly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a bonafide LOVER of the arts! Growing up, I always had a passion for all things artistic. I took dance lessons, played the violin and piano, sang in choirs and attended every concert or play I was able to see. After high school, I attended Clark Atlanta University where I studied radio production and received a B.A. in Mass Media Arts. When I graduated from college, I worked and volunteered at various entertainment companies including an independent retailer, video production company, independent record label, record pool, music conferences and film festivals. In 2003, I created Entertainment Business Support (EBS) which assists entertainment companies/creative professionals with project management, event planning and administrative support. Biz Savvy Artist™ I founded in 2013 to provide independent artists and creative professionals with tools, resources, training and support to start and grow profitable businesses. For the last six years, I produced Biz Savvy Artist™ Academy which features entertainment business and entrepreneurship workshops for independent artists and creative professionals.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My entrepreneurship journey definitely hasn’t been a smooth one. There have been ups and downs along the way. The biggest struggle has been learning to manage the various responsibilities that come with operating a business in addition to many family and personal obligations. In fact, the first year I produced Biz Savvy Artist™ Academy – everything that could have gone wrong did. Two venues fell through in the middle negotiations. My graphic designer and web designer both had to take leave from their businesses about a month before the event to deal with personal/family matters. And, my mother had to have emergency surgery just months before the event was scheduled. I had to care for my mother post-surgery, my father (who’d recently been diagnosed with dementia) and my two small children, who were two and four years old at the time, all while planning the event and running my administrative support business.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
In a nutshell, I support entrepreneurs, small business owners and creative professionals in growing their business and achieving their goals.
Through EBS, I provide administrative and clerical support services ranging from project management and event support to consulting and administrative assistance. We help our clients by automating or performing time-consuming or routine operational tasks so they can focus on core business activities. We specialize in working with entertainment businesses and creative professionals but have clients in various industries from business infrastructure and event planning to accounting.
Through Biz Savvy Artist™, we support emerging artists and creative professionals who may not have business experience or struggle with managing the business side of their venture. Our annual event, Biz Savvy Artist™ Academy, connects participants with business resources and presents workshops on various business topics including intellectual property, managing finances, team-building, marketing and more. Our goal is for Biz Savvy Artist™ to become a full entrepreneur development center for creative entrepreneurs and artists. As a company, I am most proud of Biz Savvy Artist™ being selected as a finalist in the 2016 SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very quiet and pretty shy. As an only child, spending time alone was very common so I’d often entertain myself by watching movies, reading books (I love a good mystery/suspense novel) and writing. One of my favorite pastimes was digging through my parent’s old records and CD’s, playing music and creating dance routines. As I got older, I stayed very busy with numerous extracurricular activities. I was in multiple dance classes (tap, ballet and African), piano, and violin lessons, the swim team, the local chapter of the NAACP and the Key Club. Church was also a big part of my upbringing. I was active in numerous ministries including the junior usher board, junior nurses unit, children’s choir, Mass choir and Sunday School.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://bsaacademy.com/
- Phone: (678) 935-6265
- Email: info@bizsavvyartist.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bizsavvyartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BizSavvyArtist/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BizSavvyArtist
Image Credit:
Rose Lee
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