Today we’d like to introduce you to Therese Laster-Wakefield-Gamble.
Therese, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
On March 2014, my entire life took a 365 degree turn when I was employed with the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Reemployment Assistance program as a Claims Adjudicator where there were rolling on the new online unemployment system I was working literally seven days a week 12-15 hour days. I was working on reviewing claims on the computer instead of seeing two monitors I saw four monitors. I wiped my eyes, sat back to rest my eyes and try to start back working but it became extremely worse. So I stood up to go to take a walk and use the restroom to wash my face. The next thing I knew, I was laying on the floor and my co-workers were looking down at me and I trying to figure out how did I get on the floor when I was headed to the ladies’ room. My co-worker called my husband and my supervisor wanted to call the rescue and I did not want to go on rescue and my husband was on the way. I waited downstairs for husband arrived. He took me to the emergency room. I was there for hours, running tests, giving me IV fluids trying to figure out what happened. I was diagnosed with Vertigo this kept me off work for over a month everything was spinning.
Eventually, I was laid off due and filed for unemployment and social security disability. My unemployment checks were $275 a week and the social security disability claim filing process is a long-drawn-out process. As I prayed daily trying to understand the shift that was taking place, my health, and how can I help my spouse maintain our livelihood at the same time. Instead waiting for the solution the Lord downloaded divine strategy to take all the education, corporate America skill sets, business and community relationships and servant leadership that I learn as a preacher’s daughter to launch Concierge Resource Professional Consultants, LLC on October 21, 2015 with my unemployment checks. I spoke with my husband, Earnest Gamble Sr of 32 years, about this solution and he told me “You have the skills, resources, and relationships to go for it”. I knew I needed other things to launch the business, so I capitalized on 90-day free trial offers as a goal I needed to start making revenue within 60 days before the business expenses started rolling in.
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?
This was a difficult road and task because I was still dealing with the vertigo attacks that led to other multiple invisible illnesses of Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hypertension and Neuralgia and was prescribed over 25 opioid medications that I used a makeup bag to carry them around with me in order to manage these illnesses being on the go because there is not a known cure for them for four years 2014-2018. I had to start sleeping in a hospital bed because our bed would hurt my body and make it difficult for me to get up and out of the bed. The medication had my internal organs so vulnerable that I had to carry entire outfits and personal hygiene kits when I was conducting businesses, facilitating workshops. Those four years were rough mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. My husband was so supportive to do as much as possible to make sure I was comfortable. He would work two jobs and be my caregiver at the same time no help from family at all during these four years only a small circle of people knew about my private battles. But God!
My faith was yet strong, and I believe that I can do this with the help of the Lord. Meanwhile, I was launching an award-winning administrative management consulting firm headquartered in Jacksonville, FL and has franchised affiliate E & T Gamble Enterprises, LLC to Southeast and Coastal Georgia as of June 14, 2019.
I have had mentors along the way the came in phases and seasons, but my most divine and constant mentors were the Lord and the selfless support of my husband who continues to bootstrapped the business when payment delays, contract cancellations, underpayment for facilitation services, etc. to still keep the vision going at times it came close of losing our place of shelter because clients and customers would not pay and still have not paid for services rendered and received even with a contract intact; yet these individuals greatly benefits from the skills, knowledge, resources, and connections that they gain from me. It was too expensive for me to fight to make them pay instead. I prayed and told the Lord because he can take care of these types of individuals far better than I can. I had to stay focus on the goal not the drama by closing those chapters and begin creating and narrating new ones with a different audience and geographical areas who understand that any type of growth requires an investment. Many pray for answers and solutions but we can not ask who we want to deliver them to you.
Nevertheless, my husband always came through to keep the business expenses covered for business to start transitioning to audiences that value and will compensate me for the value I charge and not what others think I am worth. Meanwhile, I continue to track all the investments by my husband where I can be able to repay him and retire him.
Miraculously, on December 20, 2018, I started an amazing community partnership with the Microsoft Store in Jacksonville hosting events in their store and gaining exposure on their platform as well as LinkedIn with my events. My husband was ready to retire and work with me full-time as a professional industrial expert of the business. Yet, he was concern about me have the insurance to go to doctors and my prescriptions. I had an event that event at the Microsoft where over 45 entrepreneurs came, networked, learn about Microsoft Store their tools and resources, and I was exhausted and hurting all over but I ask the Lord to help me by healing my body and detoxing from opioids. I kept praying for me make me be the person I was before the illness and then I realize if I pray to be healed like I was before then I will have to revisit this illness again. So, I changed my prayer and prayed “Lord help Therese embrace the new women, wife, mother, faith-leader, and business owner that you have designed for me to become.” When I prayed this prayer in December 2018, that is when my healing journey begins.
Because of the global opportunities that I saw that was opening for my business to help entrepreneurs at any stages with the consulting, coaching, connections, and communication of their value to create multiple sustainable revenue streams regardless of their industry.
The Lord gave me the strategies to implement and I begin applying them and I am excited to say that I have been opioid-free since December 20, 2018 without any setbacks. My pain levels are very low only when the weather changes. I will be going back to all my doctors on December 20, 2020 to have exams and tests conducted as a testimony and miracle that you can be healed and delivered from invisible illnesses.
Fall 2020 of January 2021, I launch my book, how-to-guide, online courses, inspirational promotional products of the scriptures, songs, messages that keep me focused to overcome invisible illnesses to be healed to be able to fulfill my divine purpose as a woman of Faith and Business to share my healing journey from opioids and invisible illnesses.
Please tell us about Concierge Resource Professional Consultants dba CRPC Consulting.
Consulting, Coaching, Connections, Communication.
o Business Industry Research Services – Product and Service Descriptions, Industry Trends & Stats, NAICS and Commodity.
Codes for government contract opportunity/Opportunity Tax Incentive Zone Eligibility.
o Relational Referral Specialist Services – Vendor Pool Registration Coaching for RFP opportunities/Certification Resources – 8a, WOSB, DBE, DSBE, Cosmetology/Procurement Portfolio Prospectus Customization for Government Contracting.
o Operational Development Best Practices Create or Repair – Value Proposition, Capability Statement, Business Model.
o Business Plan, Business (Deck) Presentation/Graphic Designs are additional services/Business Presentation Confidence Coaching QuickBooks Business Banking Setup/
o LinkedIn Profile and Company Page Creation or Innovation.
Email Marketing with Constant Contact
o Relational Management Expert Referral Services private & public sector.
o Communication Cost Savings Phone.com – Business Phone Systems & Virtual Phone Numbers.
o Predictive Index Team Building Talent Optimization Expert Services/Public Speaking/Training – Microsoft Innovative Educator Certified/Coaching (Individual and Group).
Community Education – Monthly & Quarterly
Startup Grind Jacksonville partnership Google for Startups – www.startupgrind.com/jacksonville
Business Talking Library partnership with Microsoft Store Jacksonville m.me/B2BMarketplaceBusinessTalkingLibrary
Motivational Marketplace Mobile Outreach Ministry – m.me/biblebusinessbreakthrough
Podcast Passion 2 Profit$ – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-passion2-profit-60422183/
Online Entrepreneur Interactive Education https://crpcconsultingonline-school.thinkific.com/
Digital Services – Basic Graphic & Web Design
o Business Digital Portfolio On the Go Cloud Drive for digital device access – Google, One Drive, Dropbox.
o Printing, Publication, and Report Compilation and Packaging.
o Digital Fabric Printing for Business Brand Wear.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
My role is not whether I have good or bad luck it is the challenges and opportunities each role and experience brings is part of the journey in life and business. The challenges are experiences that is evidence of effort and how I can learn and evolve from them as stepping stones. Opportunities is when you utilize the challenges to grow and pivot to new doors, chapters, relationships and audiences that will position you for greatness while walking with humility at the same time.
Pricing:
- Expert on Call Services for COVID-19 (5 hours a month for 90 days) $97 deposit $97 a month – book at https://calendly.com/crpcconsultingllc
- Expert on Call Services for COVID-19 (5 hours a month for 180 days) $300 deposit $300 a month – book at https://calendly.com/crpcconsultingllc
- Consulting, Coaching, Connections, Communication, After Hours and Weekend – $300 per hour (2 hr min – 50% deposit required) book at https://calendly.com/crpcconsultingllc
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crpcconsultingllc.com
- Phone: 9042356672
- Email: thereseg@crpcconsultingllc.us & crpcconsultingllc@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/crpcb2bflusa
- Facebook: https://m.me/CRPCConsultingLLC
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/crpcb2b
- Other: www.startupgrind.com/jacksonville
Image Credit:
All photos where taken by Therese W. Gamble with the exception of 3 headshots – The professional headshot in the white was by Paul Stewart Photography. The headshot in the Blue with the bridge in the back ground was taken by Mike Jackson Photography and the photo with me and my husband was by Charles Griggs Jr. All photographers are based out of Jacksonville, FL.
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