Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Barnes.
Hi Adrienne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in the Baltimore City Government working in several agencies of government. I ended my career as Chief Spokesperson and Communications Director with the Baltimore City of Transportation in 2018 after 18 consecutive years with the department. I wasn’t ready to end my career completely, but I wanted to do something on my own. In June 2019, I started KOBA & Associates, a Public Relations Firm. I started working to get certified as a Minority-Owned/Women-Owned certification Firm. Today, I am certified with the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, and Prince Georges County. I was very fortunate to gain my first contract in 2019 which I still have.
I was networking, meeting people and I reached out to the contacts I made while in City Government. While the Pandemic interfered with many of my outreach efforts, I still found a way to stay plugged in by being active in the many organizations that would gain me the exposure and maintain the contacts I needed to stay in the loop. The results of my continued outreach efforts, staying plugged into the industry have afforded me 4 contracts with Prime Contractors as a sub-contractor with the City of Baltimore.
My business is still very young and we did not allow the Pandemic to slow us down. While work may have been delayed during the difficult days when COVID first hit, I still managed to engage and prosper through my volunteer work and committees. My work actually garnered me recognition as “Member of the Month” with the prestigious organization Women in Transportation (WTS) I was recognized and featured in the monthly newsletter.
We now have 5 contracts and still working. Working in the community and public engagement has always been my passion. I work with Engineering and Construction Firms that are awarded projects with the government. I just took my skills, knowledge, and information from my previous jobs in government and transitioned it into my own consulting firm. There is a growing need for infrastructure improvement and I can see where my firm will be prosperous in helping firms and companies engage, partner, and communicate effectively with the public and communities affected. I spent 18 consecutive years developing communication plans and coordinating outreach efforts. It is quite rewarding to turn this into my very own business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If there is NO struggle, there is NO progress. These are the words I tell myself each day I become frustrated or discouraged.
The biggest challenge was the Pandemic and not being able to network in an environment I had grown accustomed to. Oftentimes, Prime Contractors choose sub-contractors they are familiar with and those they trust, so it was hard breaking ground and becoming familiar with the decision-makers. It was tough getting an audience with the game changers and the people you wanted to meet. I had to think outside the box and do some research on how and where I can get the most notability and exposure. I decided to join groups like the American Council of Engineers (ACEC), Women in Transportation (WTS), and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) where I once served as the Maryland President. You not only have to join these organizations, but you must plug yourself into the many working committees that these groups offer. I worked on several committees and got to know a lot of people, but most importantly they got to know me and my business. You must stay connected in some way.
The other good thing is the use of social media. Make comments and post various things you are doing to make people notice you. There are many firms that are seeking MBE/DBE/WBE participation in their projects. Don’t be afraid to send an email to those companies introducing yourself and make sure you have a great website that tells all about you and your services. Being in business, you will always face challenges and obstacles, you must be strong to stay the course, believe that you can do this, and apply yourself. Be prepared to work without pay on committees to show folks your skills, commitment, and diligence in getting a job done.
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?
KOBA & Associates, LLC is a professional firm with expertise in providing public relations, community outreach & marketing. With experience in public speaking, training, and coordination of outreach events. KOBA’s team has the unique insight, knowledge, skills, tools materials, and resources needed to successfully provide first-class services. We have excellent relationship-building skills and will work to provide the desired results tailored to meet the needs of the client.
As President and CEO of KOBA, I was featured in the American DBE Magazine titled “KOB Consulting Aims to Bridge the Gaps for DBES. We worked to assist the mobilization of DBES to prepare for the biggest project in Maryland. I was also a featured speaker on several Small Business Entrepreneurship Conferences sponsored by the Small Business Administration. I also moderated a Mayoral debate and served as President of the Maryland Chapter for the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. These are just a few of the accomplishments I am proud of.
KOBA’s main core competencies are; expert in government relations, media relations and strategies, extensive crisis communication and processes, material development, project monitoring, and relationship building.
How do you think about luck?
Great question…. when I first became certified, I was invited to a dinner event. I didn’t really know too many people there which is never a problem because I love meeting new people and especially at an event like this one, where there were so many interesting people in the room. I was seated at a table with three other gentlemen. We all introduced ourselves and talked about who we were and who we were affiliated with. It was a great conversation, I told them I just received my MBE and was proud that I was now certified in the State of Maryland. Before the evening ended, the one gentleman asked me for my business card (I was so happy that I remembered to bring them). Being so new in the business world, I was always told to take your business cards everywhere you go, you just never know who you will run into. Well, this advice proved to be true.
Three months later, I received a call from the gentleman asking if I would be interested in joining him and his associate for lunch to discuss coming on with his team as a subcontractor. I was both thrilled and excited and couldn’t get the word YES out fast enough. The lunch meeting was engaging and productive. They called me a week later offering me the work as a subcontractor with the Maryland Port Authority. This all happened in 2019 and I am remaining a subcontractor with Ecologix to this day. This was a mixture of both luck and good fortune.
Contact Info:
- Email: abarnes@kobaconsulting.net
- Website: https://kobaconsulting.net
- Facebook: KOBA Consulting
- Twitter: @kobaconsulting
