We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Jenkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Last year, I was part of a reduction in force. On Friday afternoon, I sat at my desk and watched my access to systems disappear one by one, then I got a message from my boss telling me to call this number in 15 minutes. My first reaction was driven by fear and uncertainty. After a couple hours of panic, reason kicked in and my newest future was launched. I had spent the last four years working a job that was far lower than my experience and skills, but it was comfortable and I could leave it behind at the end of the day. This was a bit of a rest, but it didn’t take advantage of the talents and skills I’ve spent a lifetime building. It was exactly the wake up call I needed. I made a few phone calls to friends I have worked with before and talked it over with my wife and decided to start my own consulting practice. This way, I decide when I work and who I work for. Since I have continually upgraded my skills and kept up with industry trends, it was a fairly easy transition. I had to learn how to budget for taxes and handle the paperwork, but the effort was truly minimal compared to the freedom. I launched JenTech last spring and spent six months helping a former colleague migrate his information security infrastructure from on-premise to the Amazon Web Services public cloud. During this, I signed on with another company that focuses on technical due diligence, architecture assessment, and interim leadership roles. This company provides the sales and accounting, freeing over a hundred colleagues with similar talents to work with technology clients all over the globe. After surviving several layoffs in my career, I can promise, this is life’s way of telling you to move up. Spend a day feeling sorry for yourself, then refocus all that energy into building your brand. Sorry doesn’t pay the bills. Use this downtime to market yourself. Take some classes. Get certified. Go to church. Prove to everyone you are adding value for yourself and for others.

What should our readers know about your business?
Jenkins Technology Solutions (www.JenTech.Biz) provides cloud and software architecture, project management, full-stack website development, and technical due diligence services. Mike Jenkins, the founder, has over 30 years as a Cloud solutions architect, full-stack web developer, business analyst, and corporate trainer with successful P&L leadership and team building. Mike and his team designs technical solutions that are feasible, cost-effective, and timely. Mike has taken professional services teams from near failure to the highest profitability in the company. Mike is comfortable communicating at the C-suite and rolling up his sleeves with the technologists. Mike brings his knack for identifying the root causes of business problems and designing feasible fixes and has a track record of successful strategic planning/execution combined with short-term firefighting.   JenTech offers a solid blend of technology and general management skills, with some sales and marketing, combined with keen analytical skills. The company passion is to make our customers look good. Mike’s recent work includes migrating a worldwide information security infrastructure to the public cloud, buy-side and sell-side technical due diligence, solution architecture assessment, and interim leadership roles.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I live about 2 hours north of Miami in the Stuart/Jensen Beach Area. My favorite spots are the beach and about six miles off the coast chasing Mahi. My optimal itinerary is: Day 1: breakfast at Jans in Jensen Beach, surf fishing and shell collecting off the beach, lunch at Shuckers, the afternoon touring the Seal Museum, Dinner at Cobbs Landing in Fort Pierce. Day 2: Pack the coolers and head east out of St Lucie Inlet to the bullshark wreck. Catch greenies using Sabiki’s until the live well is full. Head to the Sandpile or 6 mile marker chasing mahi, tuna, and kingfish while hoping to snag a sailfish. Come in around noon, and filet the catch. Hang out at the pool for the afternoon and have Dinner at Kyle Gs. Day 3: Drive to Cocoa Beach to watch the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. Grab lunch on the pier and wait for the big event. Take photos and videos of the rocket as it pierces the atmosphere. Then, wait for it, take another video when the boosters land at the cape and stand in awe when the sonic booms reach the pier. Spend a few hours browsing RonJon’s surf shop and drive back home. Day 4: Since it is raining, we go shopping at the Palm Beach outlet malls. Enjoy dinner at Guanabana’s. Day 5: Wrap up the week on the beach collecting shells, surf fishing, and stand up paddle boarding. Get coffee and a danish at Stuart Coffee Company, then some last minute shopping at Sunrise Surf Shop. Go for dinner at the Dolphin bar and restaurant. Day 6: Have a light breakfast at home and go to church on the Beach. After treating my guests to a fascinating exploration of scripture from Pastor Eddy, we hop over to LouRonzo’s in Stuart for an early dinner. Day 7: Take our guests back to the West Palm Beach International Airport to return to the frozen north.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Betty is my wife and Best friend. Her faith in God has inspired my own. While I have spent most of my life learning technology, traveling, meeting people, and constantly working, Betty has built a home, raised our son, and made it super easy for me to keep doing what I love. Her support and encouragement got us here. I thank God for her every day and, when I’m not completely self-absorbed, I remember to tell her how much I appreciate her.

Website: www.jentech.biz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikejenkinsfineart/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mnjenkins/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/technologychef
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeJenkinsFineArt