Chapter 18 Career decision

Kensi and Marty took her homework with them to meetings with her academic advisor (AA) and the duo of Roger/James.

Her AA gave her food for thought but didn't suggest anything that moved the needle for Kensi; she was assured that Stanford would do all they could to ensure a smooth transfer to another school if that was what Kensi chose to do. She really didn't want to do that.

Roger/James agreed with Marty that the foundation for Kensi's deal was gone. If she sought a scholarship in another context, they would support her as much as they could.

"Kensi, what do you really WANT to do? You know that with my career with Stanford becoming solid, you don't have to have a high paying job; you can go with what you like. As long as it's not a hobby that drains our bank account. You know what I mean?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely!"

"Thank you for that. That takes some pressure off. What is at the top of my list is self-defense and shooting. Can you/we live with that?"

"Yes, we can. Fortunately, you know a lawyer (soon to be) who can help you put together a corporation!" Marty winks and grins.

"Where do we start, babe?"

"Well, while we are forming the corporation let's start looking for a facility. Starting with an architect who will help us on the cheap!"

Both James and Roger were each able to recommend an architect they thought would do some pro bono work. It turns out that both of them were early in their careers and looking to build their portfolio. But one of them had a wife with experience teaching self-defense. That couple had a meal with Kensi and Marty and were quite compatible. Wendy and Adam were on board.

James and the chief of security at Stanford were asked re shooting instructors; they came up with 3 possibilities, all of which Kensi interviewed. Her top choice happened to be married to an accountant. Again, a couple of meals and the foursome got along very well. Valerie and Wesley were on board.

Marty put together an LLC for the 6 of them. It looked like this:

South Bay Self-defense & weapons training LLC,

Kensi Blye – CEO

Wendy Johnson – Vice-president,

Valerie Wilson – Treasurer,

Marty Deeks – Legal affairs,

Wesley Wilson – Accounting,

Adam Johnson – Architect,

James Edwards – LEO* liaison,

Roger Nelson – Chairman of the Board,

Roger, the 3 ladies and 3 others formed the initial 7-member Board of Directors.

They all set to work on assigned tasks. The first critical task was for Adam to find them space to house the business. He found space to rent, remodel, and start the self-defense part. He then kept looking for shooting range compatible space where the entire operation could be housed. Others tackled their tasks with gusto, hoping to have the entire business operational by the 1st of the year. Meanwhile schoolwork continued and wedding planning proceeded along.

The business (hereafter called South Bay) started up in the limited space that had been found. They organized the self-defense part first, as they only had facility space for that; they needed to decide which classes to offer and who would teach which class, scheduling, fees, promotions etc. Each of the 3 women would teach at least 2 classes, they had their own special skills and techniques they liked to teach. They exceeded their own expectations of opening January 2.

They opened their doors for classes December 1. The 1st set of classes was filled up in 2 days; reservations for the 2nd set were filled in 3 more days and they were looking for another instructor to join the team.

PROMOTIONS

They offered a Christmas promotion – buy 2 classes get 1 free. Another promotion for valentine's day – gift certificates for your girlfriend! Starting February 1st, they started a special class for high school girls; and if the mother registered too, she would get ½ off. They found that Wendy had an interest in marketing – they put her skills to good use.

MARKETING MATERIALS

POSTERS: Kensi remembered the posters that she and Nell had on the wall in their dorm room. They had attracted a lot of attention whenever other girls visited them. This of course brought up sad emotions for her former roommate; she really wished Nell was safe, wherever she was.

The three of them talked about doing some posters for Marketing purposes. They were confident that some of their students would like one or more, and the word of their existence would spread. Kensi showed them the poster of her and Marty (big eyes and OMG), and they brain-stormed. These 3 young ladies were starting to really work well together; they had a good feeling about this new and growing endeavor!

Both Wendy and Valerie agreed to drag their hubbies in and sit for some pictures to produce posters similar to Kensi and Marty. Wendy had a friend who was expert in Photo-shop, she had agreed to work with them in this area. Wendy was hoping that this friend – Annie – would join the team in a larger more permanent role. Time would tell.

Next, they decided on "Bad Ass with a Heart". This would be a picture of the 3 ladies from the rear – showing their posterior assets. Them looking backwards over their shoulders with a smile/grin/glare on their face, aviators over their eyes or up on their foreheads. A large red heart over where their hearts are anatomically.

In addition to making them available for their students to purchase for low cost, they thought of giving 1 away to a student who performs exceptionally well at a training session.

CHRISTMAS: They selected 4 middle schools in the area that served primarily children below the poverty line and did a Christmas show for the kids. Through Roger and James, they got sponsors to purchase a medium cost present for each child. They all dressed in costume, did an exhibition of self-defense techniques with the hubbies being faux attackers; then passed out the gifts including 1 poster of each child's choice. Cookies and milk sealed the deal! Their 'fame' was spreading!

April 1 – April Fools: 45-minute trial sessions (Try Us – You'll Like Us!), no charge but RSVP, 7 AM to 11 PM, 1 session per person. With their new trainer on board – now a 4th – they had 2 sessions going each hour. Classes were kept small to medium sized, and ALL sessions were full to the max.

FACILITY: Adam had found space where they could have a gun range. It was going to require significant remodeling, but the growing group felt up to the task. Roger, James and Kensi met with the head of department for construction careers (a first for a university such as Stanford) and secured agreement to use this major remodel project as a part of the students learning for this academic year. They agreed on one of the faculty of that department to be the liaison with South Bay. James, with his LEO experience, was on point for South Bay. Work started and Kensi talked with her dad. She warned him that they needed to firm up a plan for him to train sniper shooting; they still were not sure what the demand would be. They needed to sort that out.

Wendy sent out a questionnaire to all the law enforcement agencies, gun clubs, veterans' organizations and others within a 75-mile radius; trying to assess the community need for long rifle and/or sniper rifle training. The feedback was mediocre at best. The group talked it over and decided NOT to offer sniper rifle training in the first year of firearms training. They would emphasize in their marketing efforts that sniper rifle training was a possible future offering and that they had a retired Marine officer available to teach that skill. They would reevaluate that need on an annual basis. Kensi was disappointed – she was looking forward to working with her dad – but she recognized the sound business decision that waiting was.

The New Year started full of optimism, AND THE WEDDING WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

*LEO = Law Enforcement Officers