Key Services, Inc. President Michelle Deal presented at the GWBC 2014 Power of Partnering Marketplace on September 29, Deal shared of her experience in the Mentor Protege Program. View her speech here. Deal will serve as the Regional Voice Chair for North Carolina.

1. THE POWEROF PARTNERING

2. OUR JOURNEY OF PARTNERINGpresented byMichelle Deal, PresidentKey Services, Inc.

3. It matters to that one.

4. Good afternoon... As I reflect over the last year, I'm reminded of a story that I am sure that many of you have heard. It is a story about asmall boy walking along a beach at low tide, where countless thousands of small starfish, had been washed up, stranded and doomed to perish. A man watched as the boy picked up the individual starfish and took them one by one, back into the water. "I can see you're being very kind," said the watching man, "But there must be a million of them; it can't possibly make any difference." Returning from the water's edge, the boy said, "But it will for………that…….one."

5. What the GWBC Mentor Program means to Key Services
CONFIDENCE
CAPACITY
COMPASSION

6. One year ago, I received a notice announcing the 2013 GWBC Mentor Protégé programand that Protégés were being selected. I had taken over the reins of my 38 year old small business 3 years prior in 2010, I knew that Key needed a strong leader, and so I decided that I would apply. I am always looking to expand and develop my talents and this seemed like a great opportunity. Thanks to the GWBC mentors that brought me into the group and gave selfishly of their time, I additional confidence, capacity and compassionto take my business to the next level.

7. WORK ONYOUR BUSINESSNOT INIT

8. Thinking back to my early days at Key, starting with the company right out of college -I worked my way through the ranks and learned the business inside and out. I knew exactly how everything needed to be done, or so I thought. GWBC has opened my eyes as to how other companies are run. This has helped me to better work ONmy business rather than INmy business. I realize that many companies -both large and small -have similar challenges and that has added to my confidence, knowing that many of the initiativesthat we have going on at Key Services –are happening elsewhere.

9. Continual Improvement and Growth Plan for Key
The program mentors helped Key Services to implement its new strategic directionand has enabled my leadership team to create a new continual improvement and growth plan.
“
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Corporate Goals
Department Goals
Strategic
Direction

10. We have gained enormous insight through our interactions with WBENC supporting companies. This has helped to spark many new ideas related to running our business. It has added to our capacity and has given a new energyto Key Services. The program mentors helped Key Services to implement its new strategic directionand has enabled my leadership team to create a new continual improvement and growth plan. As part of this, my team has identified and introduced a dashboard software called “Tableau". This is used by each department within Key Services, making it easier for each to keep a close eye on our departmental goals. These departmental goals support our balanced scorecardwhich in turn supports our corporate goals. All of this ensures that we follow our strategic direction……..bringing data to life………………making it easier to understand the useful information that we use regularly indecision making.

11. Back to the familiar story about the small boy on the beach, trying to save as many stranded sea creatures as he possibly could. I can identify with boththe small boy and with the watching man. I have been on both sides and would be willing to bet that all of us have. Have you ever asked yourself…………………………… “Can I really make a difference”? Have you ever questioned if the effort would be worth the results -because they seemed so small? At the same time, we are all here. Each of you would not be here if you did not identify with the small boy on the beach. You each must know that it does make a difference, or you would not be part of this organization. Every one of my mentors acted in the capacity of that small boy -they each picked Key Services up, put us back into the water and without a doubt, havemade a tremendous difference.

12. “Can I really make a difference?”
Reach out to directly to a small business.
It matters to that one.

13. That and the rest of my GWBC experience has instilled in me a compassion to pay it forward. I have signed on as your regional voice chairfor North Carolina -in order to expand the number of companies that we can have a positive impact on. Ialso want to askeach of you -whether you are a WBE or a Corporate Sponsor, please reach outdirectly and make a difference in the life of a small business.Small business is a very important part of our country's economy.And if you are asking yourself "Will my effortsreally make any difference?” Be sure to remember………without a doubt, that each and every time………………..“It will for that one”. I want to again thank all of my mentors and everyone here at GWBC!

14. TOGETHER, WE EMPOWER SMALL BUSINESS.