Karen R. Jenkins, President and CEO of KRJ Consulting, LLC, has been named Chair-Elect of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Karen has been a member of the Columbia Chamber Board of Directors, serving on the Executive Committee since 2019. The Board of Directors of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce is a group of dedicated volunteers who set policy and direction for the Chamber. An Executive Committee from within the Board of Directors governs Chamber operations.
Jenkins will serve alongside newly elected Chair, John Griggs of Synovus Bank. In her role as Chair-Elect she will support Griggs and work closely with the Chamber staff, committee chairs and board members.
Jenkins’ nomination is historic, as she is the first African-American woman to serve as Chair-Elect of the Board. Jenkins stated, “Diversity, equity and inclusion are an integral part of an organization, and I am proud to represent women of color and stand in this leadership role. I am honored to serve with the leadership of the Columbia Chamber and those within our community who give of their time and talents to foster a vibrant business environment.”
KRJ Consulting is an organizational growth and human capital consulting firm specializing in people by transforming leaders, integrating cultures and building organizational capacity. KRJ Consulting provides corporations the tools to build an environment of trust, develop knowledge and skills, and inspire others within their organizations.
Jenkins has received the Icon Award by Columbia Regional Business Report, as well as the Small Business of the Year by USC Columbia Technology Incubator in 2020. Her consulting firm made the 2020 Inc 5000 list of fastest growing small businesses coming in at 546. Jenkins was named South Carolina Female Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration South Carolina District Office in 2019. Jenkins is active within the community and involved in numerous organizations including the SC Chamber of Commerce, Vistage and the Women’s President Organization. She is also an alumni of the Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Program and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Karen and her husband, Raoul Jenkins, have been married for 34 years and are blessed to be the parents of Patrice and Raoul Jenkins II.
