Meet Justin Blake An Entrepreneur Making a Difference with the Federal Government

Justin received his Bachelors in Manufacturing Systems & Technology from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University graduating with summa cum laude honors. Justin’s work ethics have been unparalleled, and recognized for creating strategic roadmaps to support organizations in their pursuit to achieve best-in-class capability. Specializing in applying his expertise and market knowledge, Justin’s keen assessment implements a driven value to exceed his client’s investment desire and goals towards successful outcomes.

Vocal Readers Enjoy the Conversation

Veronica Charnell: Tell us a little information about yourself?

Justin Blake: Born in Sögel, Germany to a military family exhibited the kind of motivation to aspire to be the best I can be no matter the environment or situation. A key factor that I could never forget is to always be prepared and ready to go for when my family had to move from one military installation to the next. That experience helped me to be dedicated to go after what I wanted; motivated to keep moving and determined to never give up. That helped shape who I am today.

During my collegiate athletic experience, sports was one that was unmatched, which created an enormous number of long-lasting friendships. With a dueling and hectic schedule to run a business, maintaining a holistic health regimen is the ultimate key. Partaking in an array of physical activities includes cross fit training, road cycling, weightlifting, skiing and racquetball. These activities help to decompress daily activity, decrease stress, and increase thought process creativity. In addition, being a motivational speaker and mentoring young entrepreneurs continues to be on the agenda with the passion to make a different in their lives.

Veronica Charnell: You graduated from NC A&T one of the major HBCUs. Can you tell us how it prepared you for the fields you are currently working in?

Justin Blake: As graduation day grew closer, I planned for the special day and coordinated future career prospects. The execution went off without a hitch. As I reflect on the greatest opportunity as a young black man who entered North Carolina A&T with unknown prospects; leadership and business experience were the ultimate challenges to overcome. Graduated with a Bachelor of Manufacturing Systems & Technology, with summa cum laude honors. After several months of reviewing offers, I was selected into the United States Army Communication Weapon Systems Graduate program. After four years with the Department of Defense and aspiration on gaining more private experience, I researched and was recruited to work with Genpact as a Business Process Reengineering Consultant who worked in various regions of the United States. Learned leadership acquired, I developed experience working with the establishment of the Operational Excellence & Design Management Group (OEDM Group).

With a successful career as the founder of the Operational Excellence & Design Management Group (OEDM Group) that launched in Washington, D.C. in 2018, the experience garnered from being part of a HBCU environment has been both beneficial and rewarding to acquire and exhibit such professionalism, management, and leadership traits. It was truly a blessing and privilege with keeping the family legacy to call my alma mater the greatest selection on earth. As the HBCU’s growth is inevitable and abundant, I would recommend this positive and rewarding experience to all that are interested in establishing a HBCU footprint.

Veronica Charnell: You are the founder of Operational Excellence & Design Management Group. Can tell us more about your company?

Justin Blake: As the Principal and CEO of OEDM Group, we are a leading small business management consulting firm with deep experience with the federal government. We provide process improvement expertise across an array of operational functions such as Operations, IT, Cyber Security and Statistical Performance Management.

OEDM differs from that of our competitors is the ability to work with change-oriented and progressive leaders in small and large organizations with unique mission and vision statements. Our mission is to help organizations in their pursuit to make better decisions, then convert those decisions into actions and deliver sustainable success to the operations.

OEDM develops the right processes based on data to ensure that your entire company is running as efficiently as possible, so you will be able to effectively adapt to change. We guide organizations through a series of questions to identify, sequence and implement the changes and actions that will put your business on a trajectory toward sustained value creation. We ensure that your organization will begin to be managed by insight through a series of step-by-step processes. Our deep and rich experience in both the private and public sector will provide clients a broad horizon on cutting edge solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of organizations conducting business in the current economic climate.

Veronica Charnell: Tell us what is your ideal client?

Justin Blake: The ideal client or target market are startups, small businesses, government organizations and supporting midsize private services corporations.

We assist startups in understanding and establishing necessary infrastructure, processes and procedures required at ground zero, such as a business plan, business model, regulations and guidelines and operating procedures. From my own experiences, support small businesses in maintaining day-to-day operations in realizing maximum performance outcomes. Service Federal, State, Local Governments, with an understanding of mandated policies to aid leaders in the decision-making process for operations.

Lastly, support midsize private service corporations in reducing the cost of doing business via technology to enhance profitability increase.

Veronica Charnell: Why did you feel it was necessary for your firm to have Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification?

Justin Blake: Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a unifying standard for the implementation of cyber security across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The framework includes a comprehensive and scalable certification element to verify the implementation of processes and practices associated with the achievement of a cyber security maturity level. CMMC is designed to provide increased assurance to the Department that a DIB company can adequately protect sensitive unclassified information, accounting for information flow down to subcontractors in a multi-tier supply chain.

The CMMC is a vital assessment for the need to assess small businesses. Attaining a high-level CMMC accreditation is a signal for companies to meet the DoD’s core objectives when it comes to cyber security. Currently, the DoD needs to perform a separate evaluation of each supplier, on a task order by task order basis, to ensure that the suppliers meet certain cyber security controls. The CMMC will mean the DoD will no longer need to perform its own assessments. It also ensures DoD will have a pool of accredited suppliers that have already been vetted and meet the necessary controls.

Veronica Charnell: Do the automated systems you create for small businesses replace the need for Administrative Assistants?

Justin Blake: Business automation is transforming the way organizations operate, allowing them to do more with less and scale in ways never possible. In theory, this means business size may not matter so much and automation can give the advantage to smaller brands that are often able to react to new trends faster than their larger rivals.

One discussed issue is most of the automation tools on the market are still geared toward medium and larger businesses, but not all of them. The selection of the best business automation tools designed for smaller businesses should account for the need of human interaction, or lack thereof.

Veronica Charnell: If someone is interested in a consultation how can they get in contact with you?

Justin Blake: Initial contact: [email protected] (Business questions and opportunities.) Second contact: www.oedmgroup.com (Details on OEDM Group's services.)

Veronica Charnell: Please let us know how can we follow you on Social Media?

Justin Blake: Instagram: @justindevblake