Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/764709
A corporate layoff led Lucita Fuqua- Jones to open her own business and follow in her family's entrepreneurial footsteps. "To this day, I don't know if I would have stepped out on my dream without the layoff," says Lucita, "but I do believe it motivated me to move forward with my plans to go into business sooner." Dreams of owning her own business carried her through the challenges of teenage motherhood, earning college degrees as a single mother and starting her career. From that perseverance, Elite Financial Services was born in 1992. Elite Financial's initial goal was to help family and friends with their tax preparation and filings. Today, 24 years later, the company has two locations (Athens and Decatur) and 10 employees. It offers tax preparation, as well as business payroll services and can also assist taxpayers who have received an IRS inquiry letter. As a way to give back to the community, Elite Financial often conducts financial literacy workshops with Redstone Federal Credit Union's Barnard Montgomery, a Redstone Brokerage Services financial advisor. Elite Financial also utilizes Redstone's business services. In addition to business checking and savings accounts, Elite Financial has had a business loan, money market and other investment accounts. Business relationships grew from Lucita's personal relationship with Redstone. She enjoyed the service so much that she moved her company's accounts to Redstone in 2002. Lucita, who is now married with three children, uses her personal experience of overcoming challenges to inspire and mentor young people in Lawrence County through a women's social organization. "I am thrilled to be living my dream of owning my own business," she says. "It means so much to give back to the community through our workshops, mentoring children and creating jobs." ELITE FINANCIAL SERVICES S M A L L B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T r e d f c u.o r g | 3 To find out more, contact Elite Financial Services at (256) 350-6644 or visit their website: www.myelitesite.com.