MBN USA

September 06, 2024

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

CRC Group offers staffing, diversity certification, stakeholder communications services

Q: Tell us a little about your business. When and why was it started?  

A: Our family office has been in existence since 2000. CRC Group offers staffing, diversity certification and stakeholder communications services. We saw many businesses flourish overnight and collapse just as fast and we set out to try to insulate from dramatic market shifts. Over the years, as many businesses flourished overnight and collapsed just as fast, we’ve survived because of our diverse portfolio, which includes activity in construction, real estate, retail, restaurant and business process outsourcing. We have been fortunate in that we have always managed to identify excellent business opportunity, clients and strategic partners that have allowed us to move seamlessly between sectors and ever-changing economic conditions. 

Q: How has being a certified Hispanic business enterprise (HBE) impacted your business?

A: As a Hispanic business enterprise, or any other diverse business category, it is always important to bring our best in offerings and services. This requires a very disciplined approach in our personal and professional activities and investment in resources, talent and our leadership capabilities. As a Hispanic entrepreneur, I face the same challenges of everyone in my community: access to funding, opportunity and networks.  By far, I believe, that access to networks is the first challenge. If we don’t have a way to access networks, such as those in the diversity space, like the Women’s Business Council Southwest, we will expend precious resources without any return. It is organizations such as this one, and many others in the diversity space, that provide a gateway for partnership and business growth.

Q: How is your company taking advantage (or preparing to take advantage) of an ever-changing, artificial intelligence (AI)-focused global marketplace?

A: More and more AI is playing a vital role in the economics of all small businesses. We have begun to ask ourselves what are the processes that can be managed with AI. For now, it is the simpler tasks that have begun to be impacted. We use a few platforms currently to help us manage some of the more repetitive administrative tasks. We are beginning to see the displacement of entry-level positions that are administrative in nature and involve many repetitive tasks, for example, arranging for travel or data entry.

I recently saw a demonstration involving a person making travel arrangements for weeks-long itinerary based on likes, dislikes, time available, distance, etc. I anticipate that in the future we will be provided many more choices that will be tailored to our individual tastes, characteristics and interests with much more precision. This is good for businesses and customers alike. This is the opportunity for businesses to differentiate themselves.  

Q: What impact has (or will have) recent court rulings and policies threatening diversity equity and inclusion’s (DEI’s) continued advancement — and, thus, supplier diversity — had on your business?  

A: For the time being, we have been unaffected by the recent rulings. We have found that most major corporations are pausing on any action to the rulings. Pending legislation is currently in process, and we will continue doing business as usual.  I would like to emphasize that in some cases involving challenges to DEI initiatives, courts have ruled the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate an injury in fact because they could not show they would have received the benefit sought in the absence of the alleged discrimination. In two cases against the same defendant. I believe it is important to know that the existence of DEI initiatives does not necessarily mean that there are non-DEI-led businesses losing out on their opportunity to compete. All leadership and ownership attributes aside, organizations will always choose the best candidate for the work.

To learn more about CRC Group, visit crcgroupinc.com.