Marsha Hopkins delivers a smile. |
When Marsha Hopkins went postal, she opened up a world of opportunity.
Daughter of a coal miner and one of nine children, Marsha learned
about hard work and fairness at an early age. It was the perfect preparation
for what became a career in managing people. “The first summer
after starting college, I took the bus to town to look for a job.
The last stop was near the Post Office. It was air-conditioned and
when I stepped in for a minute, I saw a sign inviting people to take
the Civil Service exam. I filled out the application, just to cool
off. They took my application, I passed the test and in three weeks
I was on the job.” She graduated with a degree in history and
a career with the US Post Office.
Marsha had a knack for organization and a talent for human resources.
“I worked in just about every department.” Her aptitude
took her far from home. In South Carolina, she supervised an affirmative
action initiative. In
Pennsylvania, she was the human resources director for 2400 employees.
There were 250 applicants for the human resource directorship in West
Palm Beach, Florida. “ I prepared and researched as much as
I could for that job,” she confesses with a grin. “I was
really tired of snow! With 8000 employees, there was plenty of opportunity
for change. I detailed a list of initiatives and objectives and how
I could make a difference.”
In 1994, she was offered Manager of Post Office Operations in Jackson,
Mississippi. “My son thought it was a really bad idea! I had
doubts myself. Imagine. A woman, an African - American woman –
as operations manager for 170 Mississippi offices.” She took
the job.
“Every where I went, it seemed there were tremendous opportunities
for change. Governmental entities are rarely conducive to change.
It is up to individuals. Making sure there were opportunities for
women and minorities was important to me. Making sure people are treated
right is important to me. I did my best to do both.”
Marsha might have stayed with the Postal Service, but at 39, she
had a heart attack. “”I spent two weeks in the hospital
thinking about priorities and what I really wanted to be doing.”
A non-smoker, non-drinker who exercised regularly, she had a 98% artery
blockage. “It came down to stress. I had moved a lot, made new
friends and plenty of changes, but it was time to start over.”
Marsha came home to West Virginia and started her own business. Although
her hours are 8AM to 10PM, seven days a week, she says, “This
isn’t stress. It’s excitement!” She acknowledges
another difference working for herself. “I’m a person
of integrity. When you work for yourself, you don’t have to
compromise your integrity for someone else. That is stress!”
As a human resources and business consultant, Marsha uses her years
of personnel and management experience to generate change and growth
for businesses and non-profit organizations. Over 45 clients have
come to her for help with business plans, marketing strategies, personnel
issues, and funding development.
She is reveling in her latest project, creating a minority business
development center. Like Marsha, the plan is audacious and enterprising.
With private and governmental economic partners, New Covenant Community
Development, Inc., will promote women and minority entrepreneurs,
offering technical assistance, business planning, mentoring and financial
support. Well on its way to being in place, it is no small undertaking
Marsha says, “Four financial institutions have already committed
to the economic development process with funding for technical assistance
of $40,000 and a loan pool fund of $200,000. The WV Development Office
has committed $60,000 for technical assistance funding. The WV Small
Business Development Center has promised $100, 000.” Marsha
beams with confidence and adds as a matter of course, “Phase
II includes establishing a revolving loan fund, tax credit vouchers,
and becoming a micro lender through the Small Business Administration.
Phase II makes certain we can sustain the growth we initiate.”
The carefully researched proposal she prepared for her client reflects
an astute understanding of the business process. Far beyond the scope
of usual good works performed by a local church, the plan resonates
with hope and promise.
But, the future is not at all uncertain to Marsha Hopkins. “This
is what I have worked for all of my life -opportunity for women and
minorities. I will see it happen here.”
Contact Marsha Hopkins of Professional Business Services and
Solutions, 131 Barrington Drive, Scott Depot, WV 25560 at 304-757-4865.
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