Influential Woman · Vending Machine Operator

Jocelyn Holloman

Owner, Echelon Vending LLC

Jacksonville, FL

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree High School Graduate Degree 9 Credits Away from Bachelor's Degree Cert Woman-Owned Business Certification Cert Black-Owned Business Certification

Her Story

About Jocelyn

I've been in the vending industry for 6 years, and I'm incredibly proud that I turned my company, Echelon Vending, into a six-figure brand in just one year. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get here. Before I got into vending, I worked for a college here in my city - first in their call center for about a year, and then I moved up to become an academic advisor. Now, a typical day in my life as a vending machine owner starts with checking my locations and picking up products to place in the machines. Then I head to my office to handle emails and deal with clients. After that, I pick up my kids from school, make sure they're good and doing their homework, and then I'm normally doing mentorship with clients. What makes my business unique is that I'm not just owning vending machines - I'm actually the only one-stop shop here in my city when it comes to my industry. I'm certified as a woman-owned, Black-owned business within my state. In the last couple of months, my friend who has a construction and plumbing business pushed me to start networking, and ever since I started networking within my city and state, it's actually opened a lot of doors for my business.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Jocelyn

01What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I believe you can have it all - you just have to learn how to balance. A lot of people told me you can't be a single parent of two, you can't run a business, you can't go to school, you can't have a social life. But I wanted women to know that you can have it all. You just have to get a schedule, you gotta get things in place, but knowing that you can be successful even if you have kids, or be successful even if you're going through a divorce, be successful even if you're trying to find love and you are a woman who has a boss mentality. When people tell me what I can't do, it just puts a battery right in my bag - I'm like, okay, don't worry about it, let me show you. I've also been learning that you never know who you can reach or who you can help, especially through networking and showing people what I do.

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