Business Spotlight: JB Screening Partners, Inc.

Janie Wilcox, President of JB Screening Partners, Inc., started the business in 2016. JB Screening Partners, Inc. is a hiring and leasing partner to help you secure the top talent or finding the perfect tenant. JB Screening Partner’s Inc. is one of the Chamber’s women-owned business members.

Janie started out her professional career after being a stay-at-home mom for 12+ years. “The most rewarding job of my life!” she says.

In her forty’s she went back to college and obtained a second degree in Computer Information Systems. That decision led her to a position at Smithville Communications working the night shift as part of their newly expanded Technical Support Department. From that job, she worked her way through the company to end her career with Smithville Communications as the Operations Manager Telecom Residential and Business Solutions.
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After leaving Smithville Communications, Janie went back to school and received her certification in Project Management. It was at the end of this schooling that John Bethell contacted Janie and offered her the opportunity to be part of a new background screening company. Today Janie is the owner of JB Screening Partners, Inc. “And as they say… the rest is yet to come,” she said.

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Question & Answers:

What motivated you to start your own business? How did you develop the skills to start your own business?
I was incredibly lucky to have many great mentors throughout my career and for John Bethell having faith in me. What motivated me was something the HR VP of Smithville said to me on my last day. She asked me if I had ever considered owning my own business. I asked, “Why are you asking?”

She went on to say, “Because you have all the skills necessary to be a successful entrepreneur.”

It was this comment and something that Terrantia Brown from the Small Business Association said to me. Terri told me to take a chance on myself. Those were particularly good words and I decided to jump all in.

What inspires your work and what sets you apart from everyone else?
I have a long history of working with different businesses and this has helped me to develop a particularly good understanding of their potential risks. This, along with my well-honed client relationship skills, helps in building trusting relationships with my clients. I become a partner in their hiring process; someone they can go to for help and assistance. We help small businesses who do not always have a big HR department. We help to take some of those tasks off their plate to allow them to focus on other important tasks.

After I made the leap and bought the business, I decided my focus would be to help people, whatever that looked like. If I were able to help not for profit organizations, if I were able to offer a service that was not readily and easily available to small businesses or small property managers, I would try to help. Most importantly, I wanted to be able to hire others that would not normally find a place where they felt comfortable, and I wanted to offer them that kind of place to work. I wanted to be a business who helps others. It might sound weird for a background screening company, but business is about relationships, and I wanted to build relationships that helped others.

What makes your business stand out from other businesses in Bloomington?
There are so many great business owners in Bloomington. I feel extremely honored to be among them. What we like to offer our clients is a partnership, someone they can lean on for help, information, and support.

What has been your biggest success to date?
Every time we get a client referral, that to me is the biggest success.

What has been your biggest challenge?
No different than for most people, COVID. I was a new business owner when March of 2020 came around. We were just starting to see hope and then there was a huge halt. We have been working hard the last year to get on track again and we are hopeful this will be the year to see a major turnaround.

What are your plans for the future of your business?
My focus this year is updating our strategic marking plan, along with updates to our website, and other client facing communications.
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You can find more information on JB Screening Partners, Inc. at jbscreening.com
Check them out on social media as well:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbscreening
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbscreeningpartnersinc./
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbscreening/