Meet TreNise Holloway | Chief Executive Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with TreNise Holloway and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TreNise, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Beginning New Outreach is a faith-based nonprofit organization. Our focus is to help encourage, empower and educate economically disadvantaged and at-risk families in the community. We meet families in their place of need and not just assist them in that need, but then we provide educational resources to help them build a brighter future. We provide the following four programs: 1. Food resources for food insecure families 2. Clothing resources for homeless and juvenile justice involved individuals 3. Educational training to youth regarding preventing teen pregnancy, preventing drinking and drug use, preventing bullying and increasing college and career readiness. 4. Family and Community education programs educating parents with budgeting skills, mental health training, communication and parenting skills training. We care for the community with compassion and love and are passionate about helping and providing for the community.

In 2023, we fed 1,059 people, clothed 135 people, and educated 617 youth.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness. I have over 25 years of experience in project management and corporate leadership. Over 15 years of that experience is in a Fortune 500 company. While I loved what I was doing in corporate America, I was also passionate about what I considered a ministry to help disadvantaged families and youth. Prior to officially forming our nonprofit, our group of founders were providing these outreach programs on a smaller scale ourselves. The group of founders all grew up in an at-risk neighborhood where they faced the difficulties of financial challenges, teen pregnancy, and the peer pressure to use drugs. We were able to succeed and achieve above expectations with a good support system. Therefore, we know the importance of support, encouragement and vision with families. We would provide groceries to families, coats and clothing to homeless in our neighborhoods and educational training classes which we instructed ourselves to participants in the community. As I was working my way up the corporate ladder, I still longed to help and support the families in my community. I would work my corporate job and increase my skills in leadership, managing budgets, creating growth and marketing strategies, and building effective processes. As I continued to hone these skills, I became more and more prepared to lead my own organization.

At one point someone suggested that we start a nonprofit organization. In my opinion, I knew nothing about running a nonprofit and initially I was not sold on the idea. My pastor, who is now our co-chairman of the board, told us that God had already provided everything that we needed in order to start and be successful helping our community. As I assessed the skills already available in myself and the rest of my executive leadership team, I realized that was absolutely true. The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Nakia Walker has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and over 15 years of experience working with at-risk youth. She was educated and trained in various programs that would be beneficial to the target population of youth. Our Chief Financial Officer, Connie Mayo has a Master’s Degree in Business Management and 18 years of financial industry experience and they both have been invaluable and just as passionate as I have been regarding serving the community.

While we had the skills that we needed, there were still a lot of unknowns that we would face. An executive leadership team which is all African- American women and new to the nonprofit space was initially doubted among the larger organizations and the community as a whole. We began creating our programs and submitting grant proposals, by the second year of formation, we had landed a significant federal grant and were serving large numbers of youth with our services. Since we were still a small organization, we were diligently working to provide the services daily, hire and train new staff and now learn all about this new grant world. It was very challenging and exhausting, but we kept pushing forward.

Receiving a large amount of grant funds sounds great and super exciting, but there is a significant amount of work that comes with implementing a large-scale program with all of these new rules, regulations and policies according to your funding source. Another twist that added to our complexity was the fact that Covid had just hit around the time we were first receiving funding. We had to not just implement a new program but make on the fly modifications because we could not do all the services in person as had previously happened. Our team was brainstorming daily to determine what things we could or could not do, what things we may need to try, and how we could be flexible to ensure we succeed.

I learned that it is important to stick together as a team because everyone is needed and valuable. The diversity of our group was integral to our success, as we all had different skills that we could put together on the team to get the job done. I also learned not to try and do it the way everyone else does. Your individuality is your key to success and has helped us to blossom.

I want the world to know that Beginning New Outreach was formed out of love of people and service to others. It is a principle that we believe in as family of God and faith-based leaders. It is what drives us to work hard and be dedicated every day to making an impact in the same streets and neighborhoods that we literally grew up in. We know that we can provide the same support to others that was provided to us when we were growing into the strong, educated, committed women we are today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend were visiting, I would take them to our downtown Columbus area which has beautiful scenery as you walk through the historical district, which is also now infused with new modern restaurants, businesses and decor. There is a beautiful museum with great art, a theatre with live productions and wonderful music, live entertainment on each street corner.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am dedicating my shoutout to my outstanding support system who were with me from the foundation of the organization. The Board of Directors which is chaired by Pastor Claudett Moss and Co Pastor Valencia Jefferson has been brilliant with their leadership and organizational guidance to move our programs forward and be innovative in how we support our community. Also, my absolutely magnificent executive leadership team, which is comprised of the Chief Operating Officer Nakia Walker and Chief Financial Officer Connie Mayo. This team has been invaluable to the growth and stability of the organization and our programs. From the start of the organization, we have worked diligently and consistently, day in and out to provide the level of service to our community that we can be proud of.

As a majority group of African American women our team has experienced significant success within the first five years of formation. This is very rare for a nonprofit organization and even more so for an African American led organization. This team has shown resilience, passion, and dedication. We have faced every challenge head on and found solutions that ensure we can consistently provide quality service and grow with the needs of our target community. I could not be more pleased to share my days and efforts with this outstanding group of women.

Website: www.beginningnewoutreach.org

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