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They provide consulting in work force development in areas of leadership, diversity inclusion management, conflict resolution, team building and much more.
Compass Consulting Services LLC marked its one-year anniversary in August 2009, has expanded services nationally and inspires to be an international firm.
Ramos earned her Master’s Degrees from Cleveland State University in Organizational Psychology with a concentration in Diversity Management and began her career at KeyBank as a Diversity Recruiting Coordinator. She is active in the Latino Communities, serving as Vice President of Young Latino Network, member of Cleveland-NSHMBA, LATINA, and is an alumna of Latinas Learning to Lead, a program sponsored by the National Hispanic Leadership Institute.
Passionate about giving back to the community, she said Compass Consulting gives her the perfect leverage to make a difference, especially in the deplorable education system. “Anything I can do to help our community advance I will.”
Tameka Taylor earned her Master’s Degrees from Bowling Green State University, and her Ph.D. from Kent State University. She worked at The Diversity Center for 14 years and ran the LeadDIVERSITY program. She is active on committees with Cultural Links, Unnatural Causes, and volunteers with Junior League.
The two met while working at The Diversity Center and formed a powerful bond based on mutual respect, friendship, and strong work ethic.
“We always talked about doing this ourselves,” said Taylor and Compass is their vision come to life.
As partners, they can assess matters more efficiently, provide customized solution models for lasting impact, and be selective about their clients.
“We keep our standards very high and don’t apologize for it,” said Ramos, adding they can only offer suggestions and the clients have to take personal ownership of the changes implemented to succeed.
“We wanted to make a bigger impact,” Taylor said admitting the work is very challenging and pushes skills to extremes, forcing them to find a unique balance between work and life. “Our own personal values are very much in line so we support each other and make sure our family lives don’t suffer,” Taylor said.
Taylor said seeing the result gives them a great ego boost and sense of accomplishment—two minority women business owners making it, thriving in a rough environment.
Ramos said larger corporations are hesitant to invest in diversity training and can learn from the creative ways non-profits and smaller companies stretch their budget.
As Ramos and Taylor reflect on their tremendous accomplishments, they realize more still needs to be done. Ramos sees much potential and different markets Compass can tap into, especially churches. Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., Ramos said Sunday afternoons are still the most segregated hour in the United States and houses of worship are the best place to begin implementing and practicing acceptance of diversity and inclusion.
Both insist diversity is more than race, gender, and socio economics, but extends to age, physical ability, and even family structure.
“When I was growing up, families consisted of both parents, children, perhaps grandparents, sitting around the table together for dinner,” said Ramos. Now a family can be single parents, grandparents raising grandkids, step relations, and same-sex parents.
“We have all been in situations where we are different,” said Ramos, adding, being ‘colorblind’ is not acceptance. “This is the color of my skin, and if you don’t see it, you don’t see me.” The emphasis, she said, should be on getting to know the person and not assigning social stereotypes.
“This is the first time four generations are part of the workforce,” Taylor said, and companies are faced with unique challenges in managing a workforce that has drastically different needs, communication styles, and work ethic.
Taylor said true inclusion can only happen when people consciously step out of their comfort zones, interact, and build personal relationships that melt away stereotypes and opportunities open up.
“We are the black and brown dialogue,” said Ramos. Both women keep strong ties to their communities and as partners are able to bring people together who normally would not have collaborated.
It is one of the dynamics that makes Compass successful. “Our work is never done,” said Ramos, who is grateful for the continued support from the greater community and especially board members who have kept them motivated.
For more information on Compass Consulting Services visit: www.compassconsultingservices.com
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