DEFYING THE ODDS: Native Mississippian Taminko J. Kelley goes from once teenage mom to flourishing Mid-South entrepreneur
Andre Johnson 
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For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11/NIV)
STANDING ON BUSINESS
Although it came as a complete shock to Taminko J. Kelley, in many aspects, it was a life-altering defining moment, of sorts.
“One morning in May of 2012, the HR Director at my good-paying Corporate job called me in the office with no warning and said that I was being released, then offered me a bull crap severance package,” Kelly, during a recent interview with Making Headline News, said of her unlikely layoff that transpired 13-plus years ago. “It was right before Mother’s Day. My oldest son was about to enter his first year of college and my baby boy was about to go to kindergarten. I lost everything.”
Fortunately for Kelley, though, that she was unceremoniously shown the exit from what could be appropriately described as a dream job, what she had ultimately discovered was that God had other plans — plans to prosper her and not to harm her, plans to give her hope and a future.
And so it came to pass, Kelley’s fervent quest of delving into the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship, a milestone that would give way to her establishing CoolBird Studios, her Goodwater, Alabama-based business endeavor that went into full operations in 2013.
MORE ON KELLEY’S VENTURE: https://www.coolbirdstudios.com/
Widely regarded as a rising business incubator, Kelley’s CoolBird Studios has become a fixture for providing business consulting, coaching, project management, and brand development for their clients.
“We are full-service publishing company,” Kelley, a Jackson, Mississippi native, told MHN. “We publish books, children’s books, cookbooks, illustration, magazines, journals, coloring books, flash cards, newsletters, catalogues, etc.”
Not only that, CoolBird Studios customarily designs courses and workbooks, aids authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs create profitable brands, designs and print promotional materials, as well as offers classes, and provides a platform on its podcast to help advertise clients.”
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A business that mostly services individuals and groups ranging from ages 30-and-up — “but we have assisted younger clientele” — Kelley emphasized, among other things, her personal mission through her featured business endeavor, by all accounts, is twofold — “which is wanting my publishing company to be the tool used to help families create first generational authors and to convert some of the books into plays and movies,” she acknowledged.
Interestingly enough, CoolBird Studios, since its inception, is steadily attracting a widespread national presence, having garnered clients “from New Orleans to New York,” Kelley told MHN.
For Kelley, her rise to entrepreneurial success comes amid humble beginnings.
“I was a teen mom and grew up in a neighborhood called Virden Addition in Jackson, Mississippi, where nobody is expected to be anything but poor,” Kelley recalls. “I graduated pregnant and was supposed to be a statistic. In fact, the day I left the hospital, the lady said she would see me next year…I was only 18. Even worse than that, when I graduated pregnant from high school, no one called me in the counselor’s office to tell me about college options, scholarships, nothing. Nobody said nothing. No hope was instilled and my mother, who was also a teen parent only wanted me to graduate high school. I had never seen myself as a college graduate.”
All things considered, Kelley would ultimately acquire a new lease on life by the time she reached her mid-20’s.
“When I turned 26 and after working countless fast food jobs and holding a few management roles at retail establishments, I decided to go to college,” Kelley explained. “I fought hard to get my MBA (Master of Business Administration) just for someone to walk in a building and say without warning, ‘Taminko pack your things and leave the building immediately, and if we need to call the authorities, we will.’ All while handing me a gold envelope with a few coins in it.”
UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT
Regardless, in many aspects, it was a life-altering defining moment, of sorts, for Kelley whom, much to her delight, has been strategically set aside for God’s use.
In ways she never envisioned, to put it more precisely.
“After all of that,” said Kelley, “I realized that all I really needed was unshakable faith, a plan, pencil and paper.”
All of which has subsequently blossomed into one incredible feel-good story for the ages.
For more information about Alabama Businesswoman Taminko J. Kelley of CoolBird Studios, to inquire about her services, or to schedule her for a public appearance or speaking engagement, call 256-935-0958 connect with her via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coolbirdstudios; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolbirdstudios/; TikTok: @coolbirdstudios. Send email to [email protected].
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WHAT’S YOUR STORY? If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
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