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

Hi James, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The initial thought was to create and give young kids that look like me and come from similar backgrounds the opportunity to grow and develop into a better version of themselves through mentorship and sports, mainly basketball. My desire was to provide youth with opportunities that I didn’t have growing up and to reassure them a support system.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
ATI Training and Development Inc, is a basketball training and mentoring program. Our purpose is to bring inspiration to inner city kids that feel they have no chance of making their dreams come true. Through the game of basketball, we strive to bring the best out of clients and athletes by sharing knowledge that will help them to grow on and off the court. The route to get to where we are now wasn’t the easiest but it was worth it. The long days and weekends have been paying off. We began training and meeting outside at local parks as a result of Covid-19 and the closure of all indoor gyms. With all that has happened, we’ve still managed to grow tremendously. The joy and excitement we bring to our athletes when they accomplish something they’ve worked hard for makes everything worth while. I believe the one true thing that separates us from others in our field is that we’re driven and motivated by the success of our clients and athletes, not so much by what we can get done. ATI Training and Development Inc, is exactly what our name states, “above the influence” . We strive to live and stay above the influences that surrounds us and our community. We teach our athletes that you don’t have to settle for what society says about how far they can go in life. We set standards and hold ourselves to them honestly.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our days would definitely consist of food, music, sightseeing, and experiencing different cultures in our diverse southern Florida cities. A place that I visit often is Wynwood. We could spend a couple days experiencing various shops, taking pictures near all types of art on the walls, grabbing tacos from The Taco Stand, and maybe even ice cream from Dasher and Crank. One of our nights can be spent at a nice place for food, great drinks, music, and dancing called The Wharf. It has a nice scenic view along the water and we might even catch a look at some elaborate yatchs parked or passing through. Another adventure is riding the local Brightline train up to Ft. Lauderdale and ubering to a nice family owned coffee shop called Magnolia Coffee, grab some freshly made spiced chai and a quick bite to eat before heading out to Ft. Lauderdale beach. Another day can be spent in West Palm Beach at City Place. They have a movie theater, different spots and restaurants to discover, and ending the night with laughter at a comedy show at The Improv. There’s so much to do, see, and enjoy in South Florida to where a week wouldn’t do justice.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly all of my coaches over the years have taught me so much. Through mentoring and showing me the best way to solve a problem on and off the court. The relationships I’ve built with other professionals in my field has given me a blueprint on how to do things the right way. Overall, God has played the biggest role in the thought process and dedication behind ATI Training and Development Inc.

Website: www.Atibasketball.com
Instagram: @ati_training_development
Youtube: ATI Training and Development

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