Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Bessix.
Crystal achieved a trailblazing marketing career becoming Director of College Relations for Lee College at the age of 24. Her strategy and branding initiatives resulted in Lee College becoming one of the fastest growing community colleges in the nation.
Five years later, she soon discovered that she desired to transform people, organizations and communities beyond the walls of Lee College. In 2009, she took the leap of faith to leave her senior leadership position to launch edOpp Solutions LLC, the total solutions provider for today’s workforce. As President, she leads a purpose-driven team to design and facilitate innovative workplace learning experiences and strategy consulting solutions. Over its now 8-year history, edOpp has partnered with small businesses, corporations, nonprofits, K-12 and Higher Education organizations to attract, hire, train and retain today’s new workforce.
When she initially took the leap of faith, it was with a business partner. Together, they built a successful company over the past 8 years. However, this year, the decision was made to part ways. As edOpp is now in its growth stage, the business is expanding into other cities and states. The projects are getting more complex, the clients much larger and this requires a more strategic focus. It was a momentum that her business partner could not handle with her personal life.
And so after 8 years in business and 5 years working together at Lee College, she is now leading edOpp by herself. This is both an opportunity and a challenge. Her business partner who was just as passionate about the company’s mission is now gone, but the work must still be done. Now, the challenge is scaling the company rapidly by hiring great people that can still be connected to our company’s purpose and passion while having the right talent, fit, and attitude to contribute to the growth and innovation of the company.
Has it been a smooth road?
Taking a business idea and making it reality is challenging. On March 14, 2013, I experienced my biggest personal challenge. That day I gave birth to beautiful twin girls, Baylee and Blayke. Unfortunately, six days later, Blayke tragically passed away.
On the days and months after that, I wasn’t really present in life. It seemed like an outer body experience. I would get flashbacks of that day and remember looking into her beautiful eyes and telling her that I loved her. I remember watching my baby take her last breath. The pain was unbearable. I wanted to just lay in bed and not feel anything. But I had to feel because I had another precious gift that was counting on me. She needed me to fight for her. I would spend my days going to the office and then going to the hospital to care for Baylee.
How did I overcome it? I had strength that I know only came from above. I overcame the challenge by realizing that there is still a reason for me to be present in life. My purpose is to be a mom, wife, and still CEO. Even when I doubted that I could keep it all together – a growing baby trying to survive and a growing business trying to survive – I still endured.
As a leader, I often reflect on this experience of life, legacy and resiliency when there’s a tough decision I’m facing, unexpected turn of events or when I feel like I am weary or I just want to stop. I remember the lesson that even when faced with my biggest personal challenge there are reasons to keep going, to be steadfast, to stay strong. If I could make it through that experience and now have a healthy, beautiful four-year-old, then I can push through anything.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with edOpp Solutions – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our purpose is to change the way organizations operate, people work and communities exist. Everyday edOpp Solutions LLC commits to working with purpose.
I love that my team is driven by our purpose and passion and that’s why we have a proven track record of results. With over 30 years of industry experience, we transform Workplace Learning, innovate Business Strategy, optimize Digital Learning, and impact Workforce Development. Our quality services and sound business practices meet the industry standards to be certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) through the City of Houston. We are also Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certified with METRO Houston and Port of Houston Authority.
I’m most proud of 2 things. First, we are the American Marketing Association – Houston Chapter Marketer of the Year 2016 for the Business-to-Business category. Led by our Creative Director Amy Shipley, we have built a strong brand over the years. This recognition demonstrates our ability to connect and engage with our target audiences in creative ways to cultivate leads and sales. And we just been recently notified that we are a Finalist again this year for the Nonprofit category for our YWCA of Houston Outstanding Women’s Luncheon campaign!
Second, I’m proud of the work my VP of Strategic Partnerships, Patrick Butler, continues to build around the country. We have a national partnership with ACT to be a Career Solutions Provider for talent and skills assessments. We are the professional development provider for New Horizons Computer Learning Centers serving their corporate clients across the region. We are also certified through the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality to assess and develop K12 after-school programs. And recently, we have launched a learning internship program with the University of Houston’s Human Resources Development undergraduate seniors class. We’re passionate about enhancing the talent of the Millennial workforce.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Houston for its cultural diversity, robust industries, supportive small business community and vested interest in community development and beautification. Houston is a city with so much opportunity! When I first started edOpp, I stepped into Houston’s small business community without a clue. I was able to receive support from SCORE Houston, WBEA Women’s Business Center, Capital One Bank Getting Down to Business Program, City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, METRO’s Small Business University, and more. If you want to start a business, Houston has the people, resources and programs to help you launch, grow and sustain.
And of course, everyone’s top complaint about Houston is the freeway construction and traffic congestion. Heck, have you seen 290? But we got to accept a little frustration, so our city can build the necessary infrastructure to support its people to move forward.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5450 NW Central Drive
Suite 250
Houston TX 77092 - Website: www.edoppsolutions.com
- Phone:8324297049
- Email: contact@edoppsolutions.com
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/edOppSolutions/
- Twitter:https://twitter.com/EdOppSolutions
- Other:https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoppsolutions/
Image Credit:
edOpp Solutions Creative Director Amy Shipley
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