08 Mar WILLIAMS, SKNVIBES OWNER, CELEBRATES 14 YEARS! |
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POSTED AT 08:23PM BY Kimberly Erwin —
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Stachio Williams is satisfactorily prudent in his celebration of fourteen years of business leadership in recognition of his first company SKNVibes, an online media outlet, started in 2002 along with Gregory Gilbert, and Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) student graduates, John James, Teon Bedford, Angela Pinney and tutor, Nigel Carty.
A nostalgic air prevailed, as I interviewed this young business owner and entrepreneur of whom Kittitians and Nevisians refer to politely as Stachio. But most, especially those who call Sandy Point "home," makes it a point to call out "Stach" (pronounced "STAH-SH") or "Sharp" whenever they spy him out publicly while driving about or stationary put—conducting business in familiar locales. As an interviewer, I found it a rarity—a sustained time without interruption in which to ask questions and receive a response with regards to SKNVibes, an online media brand, whose start was compelling enough to create within him a fire, or "passion" as he states purposefully, serving as the ignition to every business move since then.
Karma may have been what sent Stachio's cousin, Ophelia (Blanchard) into our hallway sanctuary, planted outside of offices within the government headquarters building—the only place I could sneak in some time for this long awaited SKNVibes interview. Her presence changed the direction of our interview. It lent itself to a momentary glance back at how this island's one stop, online community resource came into being. "Ophelia," Stachio says, smiling perfunctorily at her, "was one of the individuals who joined us at the company." They shared a moment recalling the time so long ago when they both, while still students at CBFC with "interests in programming and web development," were recruited by St. Kitts expatriate and Sandy Pointer, Calvin Gilbert. Gilbert hired them with the intentions of "giving back," leaving the United States to start Liamuiga Computer Services. He procured young (Williams was 16 years old), Kittitian talent to service the needs of business clients in the U.S.—an endeavor which later provided the impetus for all but one of these young student worker to build their own company. These five of the six showed their industriousness early studying well into the early morning hours—"sometimes 'til 2 am" Williams asserts.
Prior to ending their service at Liamuiga, this bright group of recent 6th form graduates from CFBC, in their spare time on weekends, poured all of their talent into developing a platform project (with the domain of "gotoSKN.com") providing SKN locals with online news and classifieds—movie and ferry schedules. After having their steadfast propositions of having Liamuiga provide quality tech service to locals was put down, with Gilbert citing—"No money in local market" and with his determination of the market as being "not ready," they simply left. Their departure showed how they were simply no longer content with the myopic money-making venture founded by Gilbert evidenced by Williams' take on how it came to pass that the company, EBIZZ Business Solutions was formed. "[T]here [were] companies here…leading large organizations who could benefit…[and] I saw an opportunity of being the first mover…[to] deploy the quality of product on a local level," he said. Still, on the scope of this vision, he is sure to give well-earned credit to Mr. Gilbert as it was "same model" on which EBIZZ in 2001 was based. The business model provided was to seek out hardworking interns—like these six principles (Stachio and the five named in the opening paragraph of article at his request), who had made a foray into the unforeseen largesse of online IT business and services in SKN, indeed the world.
The Earlier Years…" a man from 'The Back Way' Sandy Point" To provide context of how formidable it is that Mr. Williams is now able to celebrate fourteen years, over a decade long staying power in business one must make the effort to put themselves "in his shoes" so-to-speak. Stachio (Williams) was born on November 24 in 1981, a man from "The Back Way", who heralds his Sandy Point community and his upbringing even though it began in poverty. His large and supportive family lived under one roof and consisted of nine brothers and sisters and a single mother who he saw struggle to provide for them all.
"I grew up without my father, though I knew him," Stachio shares of the one member of his family who, though not present during his formative years, he bore no animosity for, Even without his dad as a role model—"we only got close when I was about 17," he states, life's lessons were not foreign in his world—on the contrary. "We learned that education is the key to fight poverty. Educate yourself. Get a job," he voiced with resolve. "I saw the impoverished state I was in…and I decided…there must be a better way." Oftentimes, people are known to "talk the talk", but not to "walk" it. Not 'Stach.' Here is how, in his own words, he truly espoused his 'talk:"
"In my early days of primary school, I barely went…[not having shoes at times]. When I got to high school, I had some teachers and some good friends who encouraged me to stay on the right path. I was always ranked in the top 5 of my class throughout and graduated 2nd of my 5th form class. Interestingly, in 3rd Form in high school, I chose to do Informational Technology, Business Studies and Mathematics, and French…all of which I mastered at high school level. I was always on the straight and narrow. I was an athlete, into sprints and high jump. I held the senior high jump record—6'4". I thought to hold back, yet another accolade he commends upon himself, and yet it is one of real substance (at least in America and "black" America, specifically). "Math was my favorite subject while going to school," Stachio intimates. "I was a math God."
(STEM programs are now proliferating in minority educational communities in the U.S. recognizing that education focused on science, technology, engineering and math "can help teenagers develop problem-solving skills and provide them with a foundation to pursue a number of growing, in-demand careers." A U.S. Education Department, www.ed.gov headline reads "Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: Education for Global Leadership.") Clearly, he "pats himself on the back." But before you view his statements as 'cocky,' know this. In my short month in St. Kitts and Nevis, I have not come across any one person who has had anything but the most accommodating statements in regards to Stachio—and Kittitians and Nevisians are not particularly known to keep what is in their hearts and on their minds to just themselves.
During an outing, I witnessed first hand, how amongst him, his family and hometown and its community members, there was a virtual love fest. Stachio and I were accompanied on this island tour by other St. Kitts visitors from the U.S., an employee from an IT company with which Stachio's company was doing business and his family. Instead of keeping to the more traditional tourist sites, he made particular efforts showing where he grew up in Sandy Point, and while doing so proudly recounted his humble upbringing. "See that!" pointed out Stachio excitedly from the taxi van (borrowed from one of his brothers—another of his entrepreneurial family members). "That's the [spigot] "Stand Pipe" where I would go and get water." "We didn't even have running water in this home," he informs us—his business colleagues. In our short trip through Sandy Point (destination Brimstone Hill), friends and family members waved him on or stopped him briefly to catch up and to ask for favors. No one was disappointed. 'Sharp' was keen on demonstrating his affection with smiles, handshakes, fist pumps and, here and there, a subtle reach into and out of his wallet or dashboard. For even our youngest traveler, six-year-old daughter of colleague much chagrined at not being allowed to touch the monkey—her parents respecting the warning they had been given to be wary of the monkeys—Stach secured for her not only a touch, but photos with her holding one! [It was at this time, the entire van oohed and awed and father and brother joined her, including yours truly grinning ear to ear as Stachio took our picture with the vervet monkey.] Utter devotion to those in his charge both personally and professionally, Williams exhibited. His smile—a betrayal of his pleasure or "joie de vivre" is displayed when one is in receipt of his generosity.
Though, kindness is an unusual characteristic for those who have an entrepreneurial nature. Business acumen is arguably judged well in those who are more cut-throat, as befitting of business moguls of the past. In the tech field, a host are known for being of this nature—the heads of American giants, Microsoft and Apple waged war on each other for years in the American courts and have had little good to say about one another. Social media mogul, Mark Zuckerberg, of Facebook infamy "for alleged intellectual property infringement"—an idea of the platform developing it for himself having to in the end settle for hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars out of court for the sole rights of the portal (forbes.com article, dated FEB 20, 2014). Certainly, this behavior is not known of Mr. Williams, a person who emphatically states, "I realized […] that life owes me nothing." Though he had talent and the strong will to persevere that was not to be enough to create the businessman of the caliber of who I interview now. He shared with me stories of when he was a boy. "From age 9," he continued, "I began doing part time work. I would go to find work. Just to find some money." And he reminisces of the lean times in his childhood. "I would get paid and give it all to my mom," he relays. "Supermarket packing, wholesale stocking in Rams, scuba diving on boats, even construction work, I did."
Williams recognizes that a harder road for him than what he had already experienced would have existed if it were not for others. To make a start of it in an IT industry on a small island that few revered as up- and-coming was impossible without the thoughtfulness of a myriad of "others." His attending CFBC, which ultimately led him to his choosing an IT career path, was not inevitable although "across the entire Federation" (encompassing 7 high schools) he had "the highest mark in Information Technology." "I could not afford [it]," he admits. "All my other friends were going to CFBC," Williams continues, then "when some teachers recognized that I could not afford it and that I was struggling with lack of financial support, [they] were willing to help." Stachio mentioned two Sandy Point High School teachers, Cordette Henry and Glenville O'Flaherty who stepped in and up and "bought my uniforms to attend 6th Form," he espouses, proudly enunciating and spelling out their names clearly to me after running a search on his cell. Not to be forgotten, his CFBC French Lecturer, Julie Martin who aided him in tuition, securing two scholarships for him from S. L. Horsford & Co. Ltd. through Mark Wilkin and "Eyes First" eye clinic's, Dr. Alvin Edwards.
The Birth of SKNVibes…"in the era of pagers" At each level of existence, perhaps due in part to his pure desire and energy, or in a word, 'spunk', he was able to transcend each quagmire that arose. SKNVibes was founded in 2002 with the support of one Nigel Carty who, being very aware of how valuable IT services could be to native St. Kitts businesses, offered his assistance to the aforementioned "recruits." This came by way of the delivery of needed IT hardware equipment. "This was the era of pagers," Stachio informs me, further alluding to his being stalwartly prescient. "This was before [the wide island use of the] internet and cell phones." Next, on March 1, 2002 EBIZZ Business Solutions rented an office in Basseterre with the assistance of Leroy Richards who was a family friend to the property owners and the uncle of Gregory Gilbert. This was the ultimate beginning of SKNVibes place as news leader in the Caribbean region. At this time, Stachio, Gregory Gilbert, and fellow CFBC student graduates, John James, Teon Bedford, Angela Pinney along with tutor, Nigel Carty were the sole employees.
Stachio remembers Mr. Cuthbert Woods of Woodsrite Enterprises contracted them to help with technology in its shipping logistics—"our first customer." Though, aiding SKN businesses in the same manner as U.S. business were being serviced by Liamuiga—the company from which they departed—was not all these young IT techs-gone-entrepreneurial were about. Strictly performing services in the IT field to island businesses with clients such as (Damion Hobson of Hobson Enterprises) and others in existence was only one of their interests. Their endeavors primarily during their Liamuiga 'moonlighting weekend hours' requiring two servers locally hosted at The Cable TV Company was what truly inspired them—the eventual revision of GoToSKN.com. SKNVibes was borne of the philosophy of being in support of SKN citizens as "customers," with emphasis on "providing customers online services," says Williams. "—Not in the way tourists accesses it." He was sure to mention how the platform, "based on the YAHOO! model" would "showcase national symbols [and events]." Today, with online payments and streaming music and media services, it is easy to see perfectly how such an online website could be used and desired. Still, Williams remembers how difficult it was "[i]n the early days, [to] get people to understand and embrace the concept of service online," referring to a time when "[p]rint was normal." Stachio recalls how they were gifted by mother nature with customers. "In October 2004, we made a significant breakthrough. There was a flash flood. We ran out with our video crew and posted this on our website," he told me. They were able to capitalize on a real life situation providing for a lot of images and videos—the hallmark of the internet success. "There was a lot of rain and Basseterre was flooded," he continued. "We were able to show [it]."
Stachio notes in wonderment at such an achievement SKNVibes was—aided by there being "no competition." "We are older than Google," he ascertains, matter-of-factly. (I shall qualify this here as Google's renown, that is, with its stock option offerings of 2004 had come into being—the company itself was incorporated in September 1998). SKNVibes, unencumbered now by the lack of SKN citizens' knowledge of or access to the internet became the place to-go-to-know everything St. Kitts and Nevis. "Events and parties were posted—pageants and sporting events. Hundreds of people came [to the site] to see themselves," intimates Stachio expressing how much the company was a forerunner to "the beginning of social media." Earlier addressed was the fact that Google was yet to be known as a major search engine at this time and, not to be overlooked is that Facebook was started in 2004—two years after SKNVibes was available to the SKN people bridging together its island communities. However, unlike Facebook and Google—two online sites that revolutionized internet usage for billions of people globally, there was no major funding support for SKNVibes—a regional entity—headed with talented and entrepreneurial youth with initiative and drive. With revenue not being as primary as the focus of keeping the philosophy and vision of the principles in creating this technological marvel, the company was faced with closing down. "It took us 3-4 1/2 years to earn money," Stachio patently revealed, showing just how necessary financial support or the lack of it can hinder even the best ideas and keep tomorrow's future leaders down. [Research shows Google with its monthly unique searches at 117 billion with just under 11% of Chinese (the world's largest populace at 1.3 billion) as users and with Facebook sharing that number with approximately 1.49 billion of monthly active Facebook users—as of 2015.]
With revenue-making possibilities and cash investors extremely limited, SKNVibes needed to excel quickly to not fold. The finance-strapped organization saw even its principle team members come and go over the first several months. Those of the original members who were less staid prevailed over the early challenges to incorporate in 2004. EBIZZ Business Solutions, Inc., owner of SKNVibes had, with Richard Caines, Sr., the chairman of the board, held on to four determined to succeed team members. The new team was able to pioneer a staple product in the tech market—an online method of "topping up" in 2006. Now, EBIZZ by way of SKNVibes had established itself as an e-commerce company, doing what PayPal did for e-Bay (an American multinational, online auction and shopping website owning 70% of its payment transactions) instantly securing payments for SKN prepaid mobile phones. "[Users] could add funds to their phones…by logging onto SKNVibes.com," instructed Mr. Williams. No need to purchase a card with a number. No need to leave the comforts of home or a busy office.
Soon to follow, in 2008 was the launching of SMS Text platforms. These were used to "run surveys…[allow] bi-directional channels,…" offered Stachio. Admittedly now, I was not understanding the logistics. So he spoke in layman's terms. "People could load and view the schedules…movie and ferry schedules were shown on the site using SMS Text messages on their mobile phones." Other victories of this same period were 'text top up," PEP TV and PEP Radio. "We later sold [PEP TV and Radio] in 2010 to a popular local entertainer and DJ, Leslie "Sugar Bowl" Morton," Stachio sighs. Perhaps these were two properties he held dearly. Still, like most newly structured companies, the learning curve for new entrepreneurs oftentimes prove costly, like that of the company's fangled importing of vehicles from Japan. "[We] lost money…," Stachio exclaimed with a brief shoulder shrug. "[We] were scammed." Williams justified getting into the business by telling me of his desire to increase SKNVibes' Classifieds section. "We were selling other things. Why not cars? You know I have an Auto Sales section?" he states presumably this last bit with a question. So I nod. 'Yeah right. I get it. Makes sense.'
Since, I am a writer (and educator)—not a successful entrepreneur, it seems apropos to include here a quote from a well-known American, multi-millionaire businessman, with a Harvard MBA to provide meaning to what—someone—say, one staunch Sandy Pointer—who did not grow up poor and who did not start a company without a million dollar investment from family and a bank loan account was in for as a business owner: "In the private sector, there is always innovation. There's always change. There's always improving productivity, and if you're not leading that, you'll be passed and ultimately go out of business. So there's an urgency to constantly update and renew and to rethink your enterprise." These words encapsulate what was proven faulty—the auto sales debacle and was yet to come.
In 2009, EBIZZ Business Solutions, Inc. was "closed" and SKNVibes, Inc. took center stage, prominently. The leadership changed, too. Only two of the original members recruited by Liamuiga, Stachio and Gregory G, remained. Cliff and Leroy Richards, a mentor and longtime consultant to the team who became the Director, were two additions. This change came with "improved productivity" and a workforce that had more than tripled in size, requiring a larger location (Lozack Road in Basseterre) for the once again burgeoning enterprise. And, just when things were looking up—"[there was] a financial crisis with lowered revenue due to outside forces…[we lost] service to Top Ups," Williams stated plainly, though clearly disgusted by this turn of events. The 2010 move to Lozack Road that took place in March was followed in September of that year to a smaller place at Palms Arcade (Basseterre). "Downsizing and restructuring was needed," continued Williams. And with the issuance of a new year an 'update'—2011 brought about another "completely new platform," the company's fourth upgrade since 2004. Clearly, there would be triumph over the setback. (I expected to hear of a story much like that of 'a Phoenix arising from the ashes—not, what I heard.)
"My mother died in March 2011," Stachio tells me. Some personal tragedies affected other team members. Later in the year, with another death of a team member's parent Stachio and company members were brought down. From this low space, they searched for a solution, with inspiration coming in the likeliest of places for people of his generation—a movie. Columbia Pictures' release of "The Social Network," an American (rather inaccurate) biographical film depicting the creation of Facebook, a social media platform with its high and low points as well as its ultimate success, singularly proved good timing for Williams. It portrayed a 19-year-old who begins a company and how relationships falter, unscrupulous decisions made and how eventually things were made right to create an online media, industry titan. So, off Stachio went. Following the lead from the film, he, Gregory and Asquil ("Sharp's" younger brother who was training on IT programs and web development in St. Kitts) hopped onto a plane bound for SILICON VALLEY, CA. "I was looking for training, investment—avenues of success,' he explains, noting they were there for "six months in that business environment…[taking part in] incubators." Did he return home with any investments? "No," he admits. Though, he equates his time from June 2012-December 2012 as a gift.
December brought about a move of SKNVibes to its current home (his father's place) in Monkey Hill. And out of Williams' Silicon Valley hiatus, an idea—a brainstorm between Stachio and his brother, Asquil ushered in a new company—'CAVE DEV Solutions.' This company marked the revival of Stachio's personal mission to aid the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and his earlier company's philosophy—to give back. CAVE DEV Solutions produced a renewal of vision which inevitably led Stachio full-circle to some extent—allowing him now to SKNVibes' 2016 celebration of 14 years. No prestidigitation—no sleight of hand-'iwork,' just hard work forged initially at Liamuiga and cemented in 2013 by his hiring of—what else? Interns. Stachio eagerly shares how he transformed CAVE DEV. "I took 10 from CFB college to start," tells me. "The PEP Online System was completed with interns." PEP (another acronym!) was a portal for the People Employment Program which was developed after FREESH, an online portal to aid in low-income financing for housing. These were all initiatives of the SIDF-St. Kitts Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation.
Williams' U.S. visit to Silicon Valley—a tech start-up's funding mecca was not a profligate one in that way, however. Though it did lead Stachio to search purposefully for funding opportunities on the island. "In October 2013, I applied and received funding from the SIDF's SEED Program," he said smiling. And although he could not recall the acronym fully, he knew 'Small" and "Entrepreneurship" were in it and both were fully representative of his company. And though the company was slowed perpetually at this time—all six interns had left while waiting for the funding. CAVE DEV still built and launched mobile apps. More portals plagued with acronyms soon followed. "SIP, a Student Internship Programs portal, REACH (national scholarship program), HELP Program (a Housing Initiative, and the GRASP Program which was for Student Loan and Housing Consolidation," lists Stachio recollecting projects completed in 2014. It was a busy year for Mr. Williams, indeed, who credits SIDF CEO, Terrence Crossman, an 'investor' of sorts. He apportioned business to CAVE DEV having it create its portal programs in SKN. Another business owner, Adam Anderson, was to provide yet another opportunity in 2014. This American businessman and IT developer began a partnership that spawned the creation of yet, another new company. OPEN Interactive (OPEN) replaced CAVE DEV Solutions as Williams saw how this special partnership provided him with the impetus to acquire full ownership of SKNVibes, Inc. and in November 2014, it was so.
There were advantages to being an owner of both OPEN and SKNVibes which was self-supporting and still thriving in the community even after more competition in online media persisted. "Other young people started doing their own business," relays Stachio. "We saw a few companies that came and went who tried to mimic what we did. He spoke of one particular as an example, "Nevis Pages" while noting "its STRICT Nevis focus." That is certainly what Stachio is NOT—solely focused on one island—and now, more so with OPEN he found himself able to "open" his reach up even further—veritably to the entire Caribbean. To better align himself and his goals to support the youth of St. Kitts and Nevis in technology and of the countless business owners and local customers who could be aided by better awareness of and use of the latest technology. Whether it be online payment portals, cell phone apps that offer a better lifestyle, he—via OPEN is prepared. OPEN Interactive, Inc. began its Election Services in 2015 to help bring technology and other aids to the nations campaigners. After 20 years of the same kind of governance—of a one man's reign—the stakes were pretty high. Like Barak Obama in his first election bid (in the U.S. in 2008)—the internet was positioned to make a great difference in the outcome of the election in St. Kitts and Nevis.
OPEN proved itself a strong force behind the Unity Party. "Momentum and traction," started Williams touting his new company's election services that, in merely two weeks in operation, was able "with SKNVibes [to] provide messaging, cartooning, caricatures, branding, and consulting" aiding the Unity Party's big win. This was no small task as it ushered in a new government. The Unity Government now that it was elected had much work to do—a Manifesto of 193 promises for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis had been delivered. And Williams and his new team at OPEN found the Manifesto as a way to leverage themselves by providing services to this new government. February 2015 saw the Unity Government in office and at work on its Manifesto Promises. Team OPEN began producing a Nation Building Framework based on it—a way to supplement and support the government to enable its accountability of its Manifesto to its citizenry. A coup for OPEN—the government favored it. It being—a document demonstrating all programs and projects which would satisfy the Manifesto AND was in line with OPEN's mission and the philosophy of its owner, Williams. What better way to help the people of SKN become technologically advanced and to support the youth in their creative and career endeavors than in performing under this Public-Private Partnership (P3) and seeing the plans—both for the SKN government and OPEN—be implemented? How does the P3 relationship work? "We were contracted in phases," Stachio responds, "…with the first phase…the e-Gov portal." The government website was contracted in August 2015.
Excitement was in the air all over St. Kitts and Nevis. Even other governments were keeping a watchful eye on how might this blended "Unity" Government could work well and rejuvenate a nation—again, after twenty years of same party rule. This moment in history was not loss on Williams or OPEN who quickly found in its employ—expatriates and other international employees who were psyched at being a part of history in working at OPEN that had established ties with SKN's new government. Team OPEN's workflow had to match its notoriously slow government partner in pulling off its Phase 1 project—with public institutions there are plans and procedures, requiring meetings and paperwork and votes and, of course, consideration of various interest groups—political patronages, as well as one's personal wishes when a decision or sign-off is required—and there were a few setbacks Williams notes. But after 20+ years in business, he (along with Adam—a principle at OPEN) showed patience and resolve, and within a year, on February 18, 2016, the e-Gov portal (gov.kn) was launched. Special recognition at the launch was given to those to whom he owed the success for the government platform build out. The assistance provided by the various government entities, with its key partners being the government's IT department—which among other things "aided in content acquisition" emphasized Williams. Almost daily morning meetings with key personnel, Pierre Bowrin and Ophelia Blanchard. (Remember, she was one of the early hand-picked Liamuiga Computer Services interns—'back in the day.") Phase 1 Launch of gov.kn was televised live [view here] and attended by all Federation Ministers, earning the praise of the Prime Minister and Attorney General from whom strong support was given. Also unveiled at the launch last month, the naming of the (currently being rebuilt and redesigned) ICT Center's board members (representatives compiled across the various government departments). The ICT Center launch is a marked event in so much as its a joint effort of SKN and partner nation, Taiwan. Therefore, it is expected to facilitate technology advancement now and encourage future growth within the nation by "assist[ing] the government of St. Kitts and Nevis to train ICT seed teachers" among other purposes.
This Center is indeed a boon for Williams who has reported to me the construction of the OPEN Creative Campus (begun in September of 2015). "The creative campus [is] established to do that," he states, observing how this vision brought about with aid from Adam and others at OPEN "[works as a liaison between IT youth and the Center's services]. He tells of even how it is "strategically placed in the Fortlands area near CFBC and the UWI Open Campus." This endeavor which I was able to spy on two occasion looks to be on schedule and will be offering to its patrons both indoor and outdoor creative facilities, along with an internet café—providing the opportunity to imbibe caffeine for all who are inclined to meet and connect with like-minded others. These 'others' are expected to be youthful, creative and entrepreneurial. Exactly those who would be of value to and put good use of the SKN ICT Center. So, what else might the youth and people of St. Kitts look forward to as its new government's seeks to honor its Manifesto in conjunction with OPEN's P3? More of the same from Williams--expect quality work and untiring dedication to his mission. When I asked him what 'fired him up' early in his entrepreneurial career, he responded, "[When people…on the platform realized they could do services online." This was in acknowledgement that "TOP UP" made for a better consumer experience for his Kittitian and Nevisian peoples. Another response to a similar question—'what makes him so certain of success in his mission'—brought forth, "I felt like I was finally making a difference" from Williams. "It was pleasing to me that people were now recognizing the talents of young persons who came together," he exclaims.
And true to form, Stachio Williams continues to 'blaze a trail' once set by early mentors, like his Sandy Point High School Headmaster, Mr. Vincent Hodge among others. The opportunities provided to him are given to others who, like him are 'born and bred' Kittitian and Nevisian. "Just as I had an opportunity in my teens to join…I adopted that same philosophy of giving back and passing off," he pronounces of his recruitment of young people. In the government project of Phase 1, three young men (hired initially as interns in 2013-2015) were the main techs: Asquil Ferlance a Sandy Pointer, Rovin Dore of St. Kitts, and Kurvron Wallace of Nevis. A man with vision, a family man of two little girls (ages 4 and 8), a mentor to Federation youth, and great friend (armed with a smile and wave to all who encounter him) and supportive colleague (who "always shows up" says American business man Adam Anderson)—a lover of his beloved Sandy Point (always quick to point out his hometown neighborhood to all who visits his beautiful island home) is Stachio Williams. One may supply him with all these attributes—but not modesty. Thankfully. There is no quit in this young businessman. His last words to me during the three-hour interview were:
"[SKNVibes is going to be] instrumental in pioneering technology in the online marketplace here in St. Kitts and Nevis. Now with OPEN Interactive, we…want to continue leadership in this space [government P3 relationships], to expand our services within the Caribbean. Our company stands second to none in this market." And with this coming from Williams, at the age of 34, celebrating a 14-year anniversary of business success with SKNVibes, a major milestone in any career—I, not unlike the multitude of others I write about in this article, am grateful for his prowess and lack of modesty. Of his continued future career successes, and in him—I, for one, believe. |
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