The District Chronicles

Issue date: 2/22/09 Section: Business

Media Credit: Robert Eubanks/Staff Photographer

Janelle Taylor was a troublemaker. She posted business flyers in her building. She invited tenants and locals that needed help with pet projects into her apartment. She plotted to keep the kids that lived in her building from hanging out in the hallways and planned structured activities to rein them in.

So she wasn't surprised when Mr. Ogundipe, a slightly irritated building manager, asked her to take down the flyers. But Taylor didn't back down easy.

"We talked and I found out that he wanted to organize programs for the neighborhood kids, too," Taylor said.

Mr. Ogundipe dreamed of starting a junior golf summer camp and with Taylor's help it became a reality.

"He became a client," Taylor said matter-of-factly during a recent phone interview. Taylor designed a marketing plan for Ogundipe's golf program and was involved in the launch.

Taylor' strong desire to serve the public led her to the Department of Justice in 2002. There, Taylor performed research as a paralegal.

"It was a great job. I got to be a part of a great process," Taylor said. Taylor was often tasked to help businesses in navigating the murky landscape of government procurement and contracting. Soon Taylor found that her passion for entrepreneurship could not be confined to her cubicle. In 2005, JT Outsource Associates was born.

"It was the scariest thing that I've ever done," Taylor recalled. The unknown held promise for Taylor and she attacked the challenge of starting her own business head on. "I took a deep breath and said, 'I can do this.'"

JTOA provides customized client services specializing in project management and marketing solutions.

When she started JTOA she literally flipped through the Washington D.C. and Baltimore small business listings. She continued to support businesses in her own backyard. "For every ten letters, you might get one hit." Taylor said.

Three years later, Taylor has as much business as she can handle. Taylor's diverse client base ranges from companies that thrive in business law to independent artists and entertainment ventures.

Fatcatz Entertainment. Janelle saw their 2 person team grow to a 10 person team. Henry Lopez is the president of Fatcatz. She met Henry at a networking event for people in the entertainment industry at Platinum downtown in the summer of 2005. It was by chance she admits. "A friend of mine pulled my leg." Janelle said laughing.

Taylor is most proud of her ability to nurture entrepreneurs and utilize her network to meet the needs of her clients. "Small businesses have to grow together." Taylor said.

Taylor advises new business owners to constantly seek networking opportunities. "You also have to be creative with your approach and your strategies," Taylor said.

Although Taylor e-mail blasts with the best of them, she knows that JTOA can't survive on technology alone. "There's no replacement for the human element," Taylor said. "It's all about relationships."

Taylor encourages everyone to seek partnerships with small businesses in their community.

"Give a new small business a chance. New businesses deserve a break and often will treat your project with more quality, more of a personal touch, and more energy than larger companies will give you. Small businesses fight hard to impress." Janelle said enthusiastically.

Phone: (202) 352-4794

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