Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Harris- Villalva.
Hi Kimberly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Kimberly Harris-Villalva, owner of Klimb Jobs and CareerCommute by Klimb Jobs LLC. Klimb Jobs is a national career fair company that connects employers and job seekers through in-person and virtual hiring events across 35 states. Since launching, we’ve helped place thousands of people into meaningful employment opportunities.
The idea for Klimb Jobs came while I was managing a workforce development office for a major nonprofit. Every day, I watched people turned away from free services—not because they lacked potential, but because they weren’t “prepared” enough: no resume, not professionally dressed, or even judged for their hair. As the only person of color in many meetings, I also experienced bias firsthand. Being a single mother was seen as a limitation rather than the strength it truly was.
I wanted to build something different—a company where representation matters, and where everyone, especially those who’ve been overlooked, can access real opportunities. I’ve always believed that talent has no zip code and opportunity should have no barriers.
I started small, renting a church room for my first career fair. Only five employers and ten job seekers came. My teenage and preteen daughters would film me on their little Samsung phones as I shared career tips on Facebook to spread the word. I spent nine hours a day making sales calls, visited other fairs to build relationships, reached out to universities for discounted spaces, and partnered with nonprofits and colleges to host free resume workshops. I even worked with justice-impacted individuals transitioning back into the workforce.
That persistence paid off. We grew from five employers to fifty and over 1,300 attendees, with major national brands waiting to join our events. We’ve been featured in countless news and print outlets and have hosted over 800 in-person and virtual career fairs across the country. Most importantly, we’ve watched lives change as people found stability, confidence, and purpose through employment.
It’s incredible to think that a single Black mother’s vision has contributed millions to the economy and helped shape the workforce through equity, access, and heart
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely not been smooth. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2020, after years of determination, hard work, and sacrifice, Klimb Jobs was thriving. We were hosting weekly career fairs across the country, working with major brands like Amazon, Walmart, and Aflac. I had a team of ten, and we were in the middle of planning a national career fair tour — one day, one event, in every state capital.
Then COVID hit. Overnight, every event was canceled. That meant our entire business model disappeared. Registration fees had to be refunded, team members had to be laid off, and the world, along with my business, came to a complete stop.
I lost so much financially that I lived off credit cards and loans for nearly a year. But even in the middle of that storm, I couldn’t sit still. During the first three months of the pandemic, I hosted free virtual sessions to help job seekers navigate unemployment applications because the employment offices were closed. People were scared and hopeless, and I knew I had to be a resource.
Eventually, I rebuilt, but this time, digitally. We launched virtual career fairs and even drive-through hiring events that included groceries and essential items for families. It was far from easy, but it forced me to grow as a leader and an innovator.
The biggest lesson I learned was to always have a Plan A, B, C, D — and even F. Because when the world changes overnight, you have to be ready to pivot, rebuild, and keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Klimb Jobs is a national career fair and workforce development company dedicated to connecting employers with diverse, qualified talent across 35 states. We specialize in creating in-person and virtual hiring events that not only fill positions but also build bridges between job seekers and opportunity.
What sets us apart is our approach — we don’t just host career fairs; we create career experiences. Every event is designed to remove barriers and make hiring more human, inclusive, and accessible. We’ve worked with some of the nation’s largest brands, from Amazon and Caesars Entertainment to Sodexo and Aflac, but our mission has always remained the same: to help people find meaningful, sustainable employment and to help companies build diverse, high-performing teams.
Through our transportation division, CareerCommute by Klimb Jobs, we take workforce access a step further by literally getting people to work. We provide reliable transportation for employees, connecting talent in underserved areas to employers who need them most. That service grew from my belief that no one should lose an opportunity because of transportation barriers.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Klimb Jobs is Black-owned, woman-led, and nationally recognized for its commitment to equity and access. We’ve been featured in countless news and print outlets, hosted over 800 career fairs, and helped place thousands of people into employment.
I want readers to know that Klimb Jobs isn’t just a company — it’s a movement. We’re redefining how workforce access looks in America by combining innovation, inclusion, and impact
What’s next?
Looking ahead, my biggest focus is expanding CareerCommute by Klimb Jobs across the Southeast. Transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to consistent employment, especially in rural and underserved areas. I want to change that.
Our goal is to make reliable, affordable workforce transportation available to more people — connecting communities to job opportunities that were once out of reach. By growing our transportation network, we can help companies fill positions faster while empowering workers with access to stable employment and financial independence.
Beyond that, I plan to continue expanding Klimb Jobs nationally, building stronger partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and local governments. Everything we do moving forward will continue to align with our mission: removing barriers, increasing access, and helping people reach their next level — one ride, one job
Pricing:
- Free for jobseekers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://klimbhires.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klimbjobs/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klimbbrands/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/klimbjobs/
Image Credits
Photo courtesy of Klimb Jobs
