Yolanda Lockette
Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Guenola Nonet
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Pathway to Hope Counseling was created to bring hope and healing to people who felt hopeless and helpless. We met with CEO Celia Mitchell to hear how she turned her vision into a multimillion-dollar industry.
The company serves any nationality, creed, age, gender, social-economical class, religion, or origin in whatever their need may be. Its CEO is committed to its mission. She plans to open the services up to the public, giving people the opportunity to either volunteer themselves or refer someone in need.
Pathway to Hope has a tremendous impact on society as it creates income to sustain the families of its employees, as well as improve clients' quality of life through therapy and education.
Ms. Mitchell was a licensed therapist working for a privately owned company, serving clients who were in desperate need of counseling and therapeutic services. She was dissatisfied with the quality of service the company provided to its participants, and she was also disappointed in the treatment given to the staff along with the pay.
Ms. Mitchell's husband encouraged her to take a chance by starting her own counseling agency, which would treat workers with dignity and give the best services possible to the clients.
After taking out a small-business loan, Ms. Mitchell cleared out her garage and began Pathway to Hope Counseling.
"I have always considered it my passion to help people," Celia said. "When I would see others hurting or struggling, my heart would always soften. I would ask myself, what can I do to help. That is why I became a licensed therapist."
Celia took on the very first position that accepted her after she became certified as a counselor. "I was young. I did not know that it would be best to search and find a company that would accept my quality services in exchange for benefits and rewards. But, as I worked for a company that treated me unfairly with unethical practices, mediocre respect, and no guidance, I knew I had to do something different."
Pathway to Hope Counseling has served more than 150,000 clients in the last nine years. Through the vast array of services it offers, this company has improved the quality of life for many different people. Because of the skills taught to these clients and the healing therapy received for some of their darkest moments, participants are able to live a fulfilling life without many of the obstacles that bound their success. Now, many of the clients are not only able to co-exist in the world in which they live, but they are also able to share the knowledge they gained and help others who may have some of the same challenges.
Ms. Mitchell explained that the benefit of her company comes from the benefit of her clients. "I am pleased when I see their needs being met. I am pleased when they are given an opportunity to strive in their own communities. I know people want to know what is the profit for this agency but, as far as I am concerned, it was not and will never be as important as the healing of our families to whom we provide services. Sure, I started out with a vision in my garage with no idea of how I would be able to service an area with so many people in need, but I never gave up. I remember feeling overwhelmed the first two months because I was the only therapist working and I had one paraprofessional. All of the referrals, documentation, contracts, and marketing were my responsibility. I remember questioning what I was doing. I have bitten off an apple that I can't chew. But, I never gave up. As I increased clients, I increased workers.
To make payroll, I took out loans and used my home and my Jaguar as collateral. But again, I never gave up. Within the first year, I came out of the garage and leased a small office space. By the next five years, I built an office from the ground up with no debt accumulated. And now, my staff is so big, the monthly team meetings are held in one of the largest hotel ballrooms because even the office can not hold all of them. The Atlanta area staff joins the meeting through Skype. Sometimes, I cannot fathom how I was able to turn the vision of providing services to a single county to now serving over 20 counties in the state of Georgia. And, I am proud to say, we have officially reached the title of a multimillion-dollar agency.
However, my statement that I made in the very first team meeting will always be the first statement made from henceforth. I believe in quality over quantity. I believe the success of the company was greatly dependent upon the training of my staff to treat every client like they are the only one you have. And, I inform them, that I want them to always tell me if they have too large of a caseload that will interfere with that goal because I expect them to service their clients with the magnitude of care that I did when I was in the field."
Pathway to Hope Counseling employs over 150 workers in Georgia, with 30 official full-time staff. Ms. Mitchell smartly uses a system of self-employment for her paraprofessionals and therapists, which encouraged all of them to become small business owners. These subcontractors have increased their quality of life and their financial stability by being able to generate wealth for themselves. This process also increased the workforce in the area, which increases the economy in southwest Georgia.
Testimonial from Sinay Edwards, Paraprofessional:
"I am single mother of three and a school teacher in the county in which I live. I made enough money to make ends meet but I still had not been able to get my dream car or home. One of my students was receiving therapeutic services from a paraprofessional who became self-employed through encouragement of his contractor, Ms. Celia Mitchell, the CEO of Pathway to Hope Counseling. Sounded interesting, so I applied. I was hired and it was the best business decision I have ever made. I joined the team to help others while I made a few dollars on the side. But, I have been able to take better care of my own family because of my employment with Pathway to Hope Counseling. I increased my earnings by 25% in just one year! Ms. Mitchell taught me that I did not have to work for others. I could work for myself THROUGH OTHERS! I have bought two cars since I became my own business owner and I am now about to sign the contract on my first home."
This testimonial is evidence of the societal benefit of the subcontractors who take cases from Pathway to Hope Counseling. Through their affiliation with this agency, the subcontractors are able to improve their economic status. This pattern has subsequently increased the spending in the area. These factors all contributing to Pathway to Hope Counseling's benefits to the socio-economic status of its employees.
As Ms. Mitchell explains, "Our team is made up of dedicated professionals who include licensed psychologists, licensed psychiatrists, licensed therapists, supervisor trainees, masters-level staff, certified addiction counselors, registered nurses, parent aids, and community support individuals all available to meet the mental health needs of the client."
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