Hello again, it was nice to have met you. If you’re reading this, it’s because you actually asked me for a business card.
I hadn’t carried cards or even had any for some years now until recently. I never even talked about work to anyone beyond needing to be out of town or in their town soon hence perhaps catching up. The reason is that all my work tends to be with the same people, isn’t about sales, and doesn’t require new relationships. I don’t have a title, I don’t have a department or division, and I don’t really have to be anywhere at any specific time. For the record, I did have a regular career for 17 years [trading, banking, government (finance/operations)] through 2007.
Now I work on various projects that sometimes require more or less of me but usually not all day every day. In fact, my friends at times have joked that I don’t do anything and then wonder how I live as they further joke that I must have won the lottery. The truth is that sometimes it does feel like retirement as I do nothing beyond hang out and work in my yard for two weeks. But not so fast – I’m not independently wealthy – I’ve simply built a comfortable life wherein I manage processes, connect people, and build things – and refuse to be a “slave to the rhythm”. This is based on long-term relationships and is about results, not tracking my movement/hours. Yet, it’s one of the reasons I travel a lot. While it’s true that my boots need to hit the ground in specific geographic locations from time-to-time, I like visiting with friends and moving around. In this day and age, the work can almost always be done from my back porch in Knoxville. But tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us and as Kenny Chesney says, “Don’t Blink.” Anyone with ‘grown’ kids knows exactly how fast 20 years goes by.
Still seem a little nebulous to you? I get it, it’s actually funny to me too. But yes, my entire professional life has been definitively eclectic; starting with having an African – American studies degree to then go straight into equity options trading on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and then into managing portfolios of millions of dollars. So enough of that as this is not a Bio’ [but I grew up in Chapel Hill, NC; attended 4 years and graduated boarding school in Northfield, MA; attended 4 years and graduated college in Philadelphia, PA; lived in Oklahoma City, OK for many years; and now reside in Knoxville, TN].
Over the years I’ve developed quite the acumen for general business understanding and some complex things as well. While it’s true that I have an Ivy-League education, it’s also true that I operate more on common sense, connecting the dots, empirical experience, and understanding that almost no two things are mutually exclusive; than operating on specific business principles and theory. This is one of my favorite clips:
Over the years I’ve developed or fallen into certain processes and/or procedures that I only learned later had a name (whatever it’s called in business schools). But, there are a few things I look for, one of them being recession-proof businesses or immediate cash-generators versus long-term synthetic opportunity based on build and sell. I’m willing to chat with just about anyone (as some say, kissing frogs) to determine if the fit is right. However, I’m not interested in startups, just businesses with at least a few years of positive cash-flow. For your further entertainment, here’s another take on assets and cash-flow courtesy of Ving Raines (Gunz and Butta):
General
Family
My son is a smart, strong, steady young man who graduated from Oklahoma City University with a BA in Marketing. He is a Sergeant with the Oklahoma City Police Department patrolling the most active (Southwest) area of the city. He also did a stint as a Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. My daughter is now a Senior at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) now also majoring in Marketing. And, I’ve been blessed with the addition of another amazing daughter; now a father-in-law as of July 24, 2020. She is kind and thoughtful and moves through the world with love, grace, and a certain inquisitive innocence that is refreshing.
Fun
I spend a lot of time on the road doing “something” whether it’s at an NCAA football game (University of Oklahoma Football season ticket holder for 25 years), skiing, riding my motorcycle, or visiting friends. I’m rarely anywhere longer than 10 days (including home).
Hobby
In the past, entry to the business was based entirely on the numbers/investment, but I never drove/had a CDL. Now, because I’ve always had an affinity for big trucks I recently got the CDL so I can drive! .As a young boy I used to ride my bike and pretend I was taking wide turns to maneuver the truck. I plan to drive about 6-12 days per month for now and so this bucket list item is checked! Nice to have a joy that actually makes ca$h, versus a boat or otherwise, lol. And, It also works with a new part of the construction business per selling construction materials, primarily rebar. So I’ll deliver my own stuff instead of paying someone else to do so – so far so good, I’m loving it!
Sports
Competition, comradery, and the overall experience helps to shape one’s thinking and ability to work ‘naturally’ with other people. More than that, it feeds the innate thing inside of us that loves his fellow man and wants the best for everyone else in supporting as much – family.
Sports was a big part of my life from elementary school through college, where I played a little football, a little basketball, and even did a season as a triple-jumper on the track & field team. Conventionality has never been my thing, and luckily God graced me with the ability to explore different areas. But the older I get the less I’m interested on a pure fan level, and the more I’m intrigued about the stories and development of the young men who play – far beyond the sport.
Portfolio
Current Projects
All projects have an undercurrent of activism because of my underlying belief and philosophy in the power and promise of investing in people.
Affordable Housing Duplexes (Knoxville, TN)
We have a housing crisis in this country. It’s extremely difficult to build affordable housing, but we who can must have some skin in the game. As gentrification and urban renewal spread, so does the displacement of many urban dwellers. The government does some but it takes capital stacks from varied sources and it’s not terribly profitable, but it’s impactful and what does it profit a man…you know the rest. Investment capital is an important piece of the equation, but widening the aperture to human capital is also important
EMERGE (Oklahoma City, OK)
Development and Construction. Government construction is pretty recession proof (US government and State Government). Affordable housing development is on the rise as old developments age. The city is also growing by leaps and bounds and is now a world class city – maybe even one of the best kept secrets still – OKC’s metro population is now what Boston’s is and OKC is the 27th largest city in the United States.
URBAN COTTAGES (Knoxville, TN)
This is an Urban Cottage Community. They are not “tiny homes” as to me that is something with a pitched roof than can fit on a trailer. Instead, they are 650 – 850 sq ft with modern nice amenities. They also have ample deck and storage space along with small yards. The community will also enjoy green spaces and a play area, all surrounded by woods, but only 12 minutes from downtown Knoxville. One could make many comparisons: detached small town homes; detached condos; or small homes. There are many small homes in many urban areas of about 800 sq. ft. This is a newer twist and can serve older couples downsizing, college students, single people, starter homes, or investment property. Many applications. I can get you in one for $130K! How about that mortgage. We’re building about 13 of them this summer.
Politics
I’m open to listening and/or helping if I believe your agenda and thoughts align with things I care about. I’m not a huge Political action person these days but I have worked in two US Senate campaigns in the past. Frankly, I like who I like and care nothing for labels. In fact, the two campaigns I worked on were:
Black female Democrat in the Red state of Oklahoma
White male Republican in the Blue state of Massachusetts
On the surface, one might believe such campaigns offered diametrically opposing views, yet those two individuals (John Kingston and Connie Johnson) have far more in common than different. I respond to hearts, minds, and sometimes new ideas; wrapped in character. I say sometimes new because there’s really nothing new under the Sun – it’s about doing the right thing within the framework of what already exists, in most cases.
I hosted a party at my home, for Knoxville Mayoral Candidate Indya Kincannon, on July 30th, 2019.
The overcriminalization of marijuana and the war on drugs are costing our state more than just money.
Boston, MA
Not only am I working on several residential development projects in the area, but I’m also consulting on the United States Senatorial Campaign of a friend from college. Additionally, I’m working on a solar farm project nearby in Connecticut.
Kincannon for Mayor
Super Tuesday – Kenneth Fikes
Voice Work
Just by being in the company of folks who work in the industry, from time to time they’ll say something like, “You have a great voice, ever done any voiceover work?” I say a little, and we do something fun.
ALL MEMX4
CENTMX4
Robbins Roofing Better Business Bureau
Service
Ubuntu Living, Inc.
I stumbled into this by simply providing help to others who’d struggled with the same thing I struggled with (alcoholism) for years – my last drink was February 2008 – dropped it like a baby drops a pacifier, by the grace of God no struggles – just done. As I was pouring thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours into “it”, “it” needed a name and to become an entity. While watching the Celtics w/ the Big Three, they came out of a time-out and said cohesively, “Ubuntu!” The name made sense and I made it a 501c3. However, I funded it myself (my form of tithing – costs far more than 10%)) through February of 2017 (about 9 years) when I no longer felt I could keep it going on my own. Ubuntu helped a lot of people effectively at a lot lower cost than typical government programs do. It’s still technically alive but inactive. I never got around to raising money via the 501c3 status.
iKnow.media
This project was designed to provide useful information on a web-based platform. It’s had little to no momentum or success because quite frankly I don’t know what I’m doing. I simply launched it without a plan because I thought it was a good idea and could be useful information to folks that either needed it literally or simply would enjoy it and “need” it to filter through all the current noise out there. I also expected that the combined brain trust would make it work as a team. That has not happened to date.
5607 GREEN VALLEY DRIVE ◊ KNOXVILLE ◊ TN ◊37914
❹⓿❺ ◊ ❺⓿❸ ◊ ❼❺❹❾
© Copyrights KennyFikes.com