Arkansas APEX Accelerator Success Story: Advantage Business Solutions

by Kim Magee - March 26, 2019

Dr. Kellie Jennings, operations manager for Advantage Business Solutions doing business as Eagle Courier Service, is a former Army Logistics Officer. 

Prior to this business ownership, Jennings operated a travel agency and she was concerned about the professionalism of the delivery people that came to pick up and deliver vacation tickets.  Out of that concern, grew the formation of Eagle Courier Service which operates in the Central Arkansas area.

In 2017, Jennings and her husband purchased the business which had been in operation for 32 years.  They expanded the business to include more services than previously offered.  In 2018, the business became an Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center client. 

Procurement Counselor Mary Love worked with Jennings to get the business registered in System of Award Management (SAM) and prepare a bid packet.  Shortly after becoming a client, great news for the business arrived and they learned that they won a state contract. 

The contract was for approximately $270,000 and consisted of picking up lab samples from veterinarian offices and delivering them to the state lab.  On the downside, a company bidding against them protested the outcome.  Eagle Courier Service eventually prevailed and was awarded the contract.  Because of the protest, the award process was delayed by several months. 

Love was able to connect Jennings to the Arkansas Office of State Procurement to better help her understand the delay in the awarding of the contract and state procurement regulations.  The delay was enough that the first day of the contract corresponded with the day that Jennings also gave birth to their first child. 

We congratulate Jennings and the company on the award and overcoming several obstacles in order to fulfill the obligations of the contract.

“It was such a great asset to be able to come into Mary’s office and sit down and have a face-to-face conversation.  Mary always knew exactly what I needed to do," Jennings said.

Connect with our Arkansas APEX Accelerator counselors at 501-671-2390 to learn how you can expand your business into new areas.