Life & Work with Tiffany Hughes

From the beginning our mission was clear; we wanted to economically empower our community through job opportunity. I’ve found this work to be so much more than job creation but also a building of a community through support, partnership and care. KBI Staffing sits right in the heart of Parramore at 711 S Parramore Avenue a location we intentionally chose in order to best reach a community we care about so much. KBI has orchestrated and sponsored, toy drives, backpack give away, drive thru Halloween events, community lunch and so much more. I don’t want KBI to just be a staffing firm in Orlando but THE staffing firm of Orlando. A place where employees are treated with care, a place “Where Respect Meets Workmanship.” My involvement in the community spans far beyond KBI. I am a member and co-chair of a City of Orlando Board, a member of an Orange County Board and am the current President of the NAACP – Orange County, FL Branch. Under my NAACP leadership, I alongside my community am building a more Transparent, Present and Publicized NAACP unit. We, as a collective community are our own greatest asset.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
“Smooth “is not exactly the word I would use to describe the road I’ve traveled to get where I am today. More like a nice drive down cobblestone. It looks nice and regal from afar but quite the bumpy path to drive on. Much like a baby which required a lot of time, care and nurturing so does a new business.

In 2015, when Kenneth and I decided to move back to Florida to start KBI Staffing Solutions I was initially not supposed to be coming right away. Kenneth was to move first, and I would come later on as he got things settled. Clearly God had other plans for us because just as we finalized the plans for him to move – my job transfer came through. Within days of our ten-day international trip to China, which we purchased on a whim from Groupon, we were packing up our apartment and driving my car down to Florida. KBI has come such a long way since then. I have come such a long way since then. I can recall Kenneth and I waking up at about 4:00am every morning to pick up employees from their homes in Orlando, driving to every individual one and taking the long drive up to Daytona Beach where we were doing work at the time.

Then, rushing back to Seminole County to make sure that I got to work by 8:30am. Only to finish at 5:00pm and drive back to Daytona, pick up employees, drop them home and get to bed so that I could do it all the next morning. It was draining but Kenneth and I was, and am, building a business, a Legacy that we hope will span far beyond us. Five years later KBI has an office space in Parramore, logistics personnel to coordinate how employees get to and from work and a fantastic office staff which help keep operations running smoothly so that we can continue to focus on business and community.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
KBI Staffing Solutions Limited Liability Company Orange County Branch NAACP.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was a pretty quiet child, must like my personality now. I am typically one of the more reserved people in a room but once I know you and/or spark a conversation on a topic of interest I’m extremely opinionated. Until the age of 11 I lived in New York. Most of the friends I had known since starting elementary school and my closest cousins I had known all my life. Somewhere around age 9 or 10 my cousins started migrating to Florida which was very sad as we had all grown up much like bother and sisters rather than just cousins. In the summer of 2002, I visited my cousins in Florida and decided that I wanted to stay.

As I recount the story, I am amazed at my 12-year-old self; as filled with determination and fire as to what was best for me even then. Reluctantly my parents allowed me to move without them at which point I would live with my aunt and cousin Ally for the next two years until my mom finally moved to Florida as well. Self-sufficient and driven are a few other words I would use to describe my younger self. I’ve always had some level of autonomy to create my own path and so I did. In High school, I was the only African American on the Cheerleading team and first African American Yearbook editor in a number of years. The road less traveled somehow always seems like a fun adventure I suppose. As I progressed through High school, I would go on to buy my own car, schedule my own SAT prep courses/test and apply and get accepted to Florida International University early admissions where none of my friends would be attending. Even as a young child I’ve never felt uncomfortable being “the only” or “the youngest” in any room or space. This year I celebrate being named an honoree of the 2021 Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, the youngest to be honored this year and was recently elected President of the NAACP- Orange County, FL Branch,  the youngest President to serve ever.