Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenya Simmons.
Kenya, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I married at the age of seventeen, fresh out of high school and my parents home. My husband at the time operated the first horse and carriage company in Atlanta and after being married for about four years and working in his family’s fiber optic business, we decided to start our own utility company. Our first major contract was as a subcontractor on a project for Atlanta Gas light Company, installing the conduit for the lines. This was the stepping stone to us becoming a major player in the underground utility business. I worked alongside my husband in the trenches and even operated a front end loader and did whatever it took to get the job done! We eventually found our “niche” in the installation of small water utilities, like water meters, hydrants and sewer, and manholes.
Fast forward to 1999 when tragically I lost my husband while he saved the life of two other, he lost his. This left me with four small children and a business with about 25 employees to still operate and I did. While my heart wanted me to just crumble up and fall apart, I knew I did not have that option, so I continued to work on major municipalities contract as a certified LSBE and Minority Women business, all while raising four children , two girls, and two boys , as a single Mom and business owner. I also continued to work in the field alongside my crews. I eventually met my husband who I married in 2008 working on an annual water contract in Atlanta. He contacted me to work on a contract that his company was the prime Contractor for and our mutual respect for one another blossomed into a friendship and eventually romance and we merged our companies and we do large water utilities such as water mains, bores and all water infrastructure related construction.
I gained a bonus son in my union and we have raised our five children together all of who are adults now and four work in the family business and one started her own traffic control company and subcontracts from us. We are the proud grandparents of six beautiful grandchildren. In 2014, we asked my Mom to retire from Fulton County Police Department and we bought both of our parent’s homes on 65 acres in Eatonton, GA. and are proud that God has placed us on a position to be able to take care of our parents and allow them to live their glory years in peace.
In 2004, I decided to pursue a long time dream of obtaining my real estate license and graduated that year from the GAMLS School of real estate. I am still actively involved in our family water pipeline utility business and we currently have 57 employees and 6 subcontractors that work for our company. I also operate my real estate business that has grown and earned me several awards such as, Million Dollar Club, Outstanding Performance Award, Certificate of Merit and Company wide top 20 Producer. I am a board member of the Georgia Association of Realtors Partnership Committee and YPN Committee. I am a certified Cartus Network Affinity agent and a Certified USAA Agent. I am a certified LSBE Company and Certified Woman Minority-owned business in DeKalb, Clayton, and Atlanta. I have been in business for 30 years. I am a member of Grace Baptist Church in Stockbridge, GA.
My goal is to mentor the younger generation and show that with putting God first, hard work, commitment, and consistency, you are able to overcome any obstacles or set back. I try to find the lesson in every single thing that happens so that I can turn what otherwise would be a negative, into a positive and use it for my growth.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it has not, after the death of my husband, I really wanted to just give up and I felt so lost and helpless because I lost my best friend, business partner and the father of my children. I, however, decided that giving up was not an option because I had four little ones who were also lost and hurting over the loss. I literally was back to work one day after his death. Other challenges have been that I am a female in an industry where there are not any other female minority that do the type of work that I do so I have had to gain the respect over the years in a male-dominated industry. Today, we are one of the Premier Water Pipeline Utility Contractors in our industry. Also, earlier on in my entrepreneur journey, money was a factor. We needed capital to grow and pursue opportunities that were presented to us and had to be resourceful in seeking funding. I also had some health setbacks, about six years ago I had to have a part of my colon removed because the doctor found numerous polyps and one was cancerous. I was fortunate that surgery and medicine was all that was needed because it was caught early.
Please tell us about T & J industries Development & Contacting Inc. and Kenya Simmons Realtor.
We are a water pipeline utility company. We install and maintain water mains, fire hydrants, sewers, manholes, fore services, perform large bores and all water utility services for Municipalities, so 95% of the work we engage in is procurement contracts. We have worked in the Caribbean and also other States.
My real estate business assist sellers and home buyers in purchasing and selling properties. I also work with the Cartus Network and USAA and Navy Federal customers on corporate relocation. I also host home buyer seminars in our community.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing. I believe that God pre-ordains everything in our lives. Every single obstacle, challenge, triumph, victory and set back were necessary in molding me into the businesswoman I am today and preparing me for what God had in store for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.homesalloveratlanta.com
- Phone: [770] 940-6755
- Email: kenya@kenyasimmonsrealtor.com
- Instagram: yourrealtor4life
- Facebook: @kenyasellsatlanta
- Twitter: @kenya652
Image Credit:
Pheauxtography /Blair Devereaux Robinson
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