Trusted Field Services is cementing change in the heart of East Knoxville
Kimberly Black received the City of Knoxville’s 2023 Rising Star Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE) Award.
Kimberly Black, a Texas native with a heart of gold, found her new home in East Tennessee in 2019. Despite having no previous ties to the region, she quickly made her mark by becoming a beacon of hope, a business mentor, and an inspiration for those in need. Since moving, Black has dedicated herself to helping her East Knoxville community, particularly through her business, Trusted Field Services.
“There’s something really special about this community, in particular,” Black shared, as she motioned toward the streets outside her East Knoxville office. Trusted Field Services is located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Harrison Street.
Black has seen people cycle in and out of jail, only to return due to the lack of stable employment. “It breaks my heart to see it happen around me, and I need to do my part to fix the problem,” she said.
For Black, the solution lies in providing opportunities for gainful employment. Trusted Field Services is her way of doing just that. The company offers critical jobs to people in the community, providing them with a chance to rebuild their lives.
Her approach is simple yet profound: offer people the dignity of work and a path forward.
“I can train anybody who wants to work how to do this job,” Black explained. But there’s a hurdle—many in the community lack the proper identification to apply for jobs.
While many business owners might turn away potential workers without an official ID, Black goes the extra mile. She collaborates with local organizations, like the Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL), to help applicants obtain the necessary documentation.
“It’s not enough to want to help. Sometimes you need to literally show people how to overcome the barriers that are in front of them,” Black explained. “A lot of times, people don’t see a path forward unless someone is kind enough to show them.”
Black’s success in construction is remarkable for another reason. She defies the stereotype of what a construction worker—or construction business owner—typically looks like. As a Black woman in a male-dominated, blue-collar field, she’s proven that gender and race are not limiting her ceiling for success.
As a testament of that, Trusted Field Services is recognized as one of the most successful cementing companies in East Tennessee.
Black received the City of Knoxville’s 2023 Rising Star Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE) Award. She is also the Business & Industry nominee for the 2024 YWCA Tribute to Women Awards. “It’s an honor,” Black said, but what means more to her is the impact she’s having on the lives of others.
Black’s business has grown rapidly. Trusted Field Services has secured government contracts, including a partnership with Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) to upgrade bus stops throughout the city. The company also handles driveway paving, sidewalk installations, and ADA modifications.
Beyond her business success, Black is focused on changing the mindset of her community. She believes that many people simply need exposure to successful role models in order to see their own potential.
She pointed out that many professionals—like nurses, plumbers, carpenters, or entrepreneurs—often follow in their parents’ footsteps because it’s what they know.
“If you have never seen someone in your immediate circle start a business, you may not even think of this as an option for you,” Black said. “I want to show people that you can.”
Black is also part of the network of entrepreneurs working to uplift Knoxville’s Black-owned businesses.
She joined the fall 2024 cohort of 100Knoxville at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC), a program that connects Black business owners with mentors and resources.
The program provided her with invaluable one-on-one guidance, business support, and a grant that allowed her to purchase a branded truck for her company.
“For the first time, we can pull up to projects with a truck that represents us,” Black said proudly. The grant also enabled her to raise some workers’ wages, reinforcing her commitment to improving the lives of those around her.
Looking back, Black is grateful for her decision to relocate to Tennessee. During the pandemic, many construction companies in Texas shut down, but Knoxville’s economy continued to thrive.
“The economy here was booming, and we didn’t skip a beat,” she said.
As for the future, Black sees no limit to what she and her team can achieve. She’s committed to growing her business organically, all while providing more opportunities for local workers.
“I love it here,” she said. “We plan to grow by employing people locally and making a real impact on this community.”
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