Woman-owned business aids others in transition
Access Computer Training of Pasco County
After experiencing her own setback in the workforce, Kristin Pelletier saw a need to help those who are transitioning between jobs in Pasco and Hernando counties. With the closest computer training in Tampa at the time, she created Access Computer Training as a way to serve others who need education during transition periods.
“We provide workforce training for those folks who are currently in-between jobs,” Pelletier said. “They go to the workforce board, they get funding from them and then they come to us and we provide workforce training.”
Not only does Pelletier and her team provide computer training, but they also provide help with professional development in areas such as resume building, working on their interview skills, goal setting and time management.
When business started to become a bit stagnant, she started looking for new ways to grow and succeed. “I started to research federal government contracts, specifically being a woman-owned small business,” she said.
That’s when she reached out to the Florida PTAC at University of South Florida for guidance. There she met procurement specialist, Karen Krymski.
“It’s been a little over a year now that I’ve been working with Karen,” she said. “She has given me great insight into federal contracting and has helped me focus on the research. She has helped me figure out where my business needs to be as far as federal government contracting goes.”
When Pelletier first began with Krymski, she was strictly working with the county. “Though I still work at the county level, Karen also helped me channel some of that focus and target contracting with the state and federal level government agencies,” she said.
Pelletier is also taking advantage of the government contracting seminars and networking breakfasts held monthly at the Channelside office in Tampa.
As she moves forward with the growth of her business, Pelletier, a teacher through and through, frequently tells other business owners the benefits of working with Krymski and the Florida PTAC at USF.
“I want to help people just like PTAC has helped me,” she said. “I think anybody that has a business and wants to take it to another level really should know about PTAC and know about the resources and information that they provide. The help they provide through this very tedious process is really, really helpful. I know I’m going to continue to use PTAC to help my business grow.”
