Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri Ford.
Hi Terri, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
While working in downtown Macon at initially First Nation Bank (SunTrust Bank) during the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s, I noticed there was a lack of support for small minority-owned businesses to start or further establish themselves.
I retired as the bank’s Vice President and Branch Manager, and I focused on identifying and meeting client needs. Through working with individuals, businesses, and youth, I was able to further understand what was missing and how to allow them to be on a somewhat level playing field as other medium and large corporations. As a result, I decided upon retirement in 2014 that we must make changes. So, through my company, TWF Business Solutions, Incorporated, we would offer services that would help people understand the legal aspect of starting and maintaining a business as well as offer a platform that would allow them to promote and sell their products and services. This has always been my vision and mission to help minority-owned businesses sustain and grow their companies.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. I myself had many of the same struggles as other entrepreneurs from starting a business, identifying my client base, marketing, and funding the business. I had to put in the work, knocking on doors and letting people know about the business and what I had to offer. Often times you share your story and vision with individuals that you feel can help you get your business off the ground floor and they don’t. Sometimes you even see individuals take your vision and try to imitate it but you can never ever lose sight of your mission and keep pushing. My passion keeps me going.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
TWF Business Solutions, Incorporated offers an array of services for small business owners and start-up businesses as well. Our services include but are not limited to Bookkeeping, Payroll Services, Tax Preparation and Commercial office space leasing. We give small businesses (youth and adults) exposure through advertising, marketing, pop-up shop(s) opportunities to name a few. We own commercial office space that we rent out to small business entrepreneurs and they can determine what their need is. We offer hourly, weekly, monthly and annual leasing. The intent is not for the company to stay forever but instead to use as a foundational launching pad toward becoming bigger and better.
Our vision is to be the “one stop” resource hub for transforming and helping businesses create sustainability through the Middle Georgia area and have a global presence to reach a wider market base virtually. TWF Business Solutions, Incorporated seeks to create comprehensive entrepreneurial programs (youth and adult) within communities where all small businesses develop the behaviors, attitudes and skills necessary to achieve economic freedom from poverty. Whereby they become the CEO and change agent of their life and others. Our mission is to utilize the power of integrated partnerships with organizations for at-risk and under-resourced communities to build entrepreneurial mindsets and opportunities to eliminate generational affliction while creating sustainable wealth.
While working in banking, I created a In-school banking program here in Macon, Georgia and partnered with several elementary and middle schools with the Bibb County Board of Education. It was a great program where the bankers were the students. We came in and trained them, they ran a youth bank in their school and the students and administration were able to make monthly deposits and at the end of the school year, they received their total savings back with interest. This is when I knew that the youth would be a focus of my business. We now offer youth entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate in Youth Pop-up Shops where they can come and network, promote and sell their products and services. We are now partnering with non-profit organizations that provide training for the youth (marketing workshops currently). We are expanding this program into a non-profit organization and will deliver additional training and exposure for youth ages 5 – 18. Super excited about this programming!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Individuals that would like to work and collaborate with us can reach out to me (Terri Ford) at 478-297-6781, visit our website and message me at www.twfsolutions.org, or email at twfsolutions59@gmail.com. We are looking for volunteers, donations, and sponsorship to grow our youth program.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.twfsolutions.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twford77
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TFordSolutions
