Local · State · Federal Contract Agency — Charlotte, NC

Where Strategy Meets,
Transformational Results.

Grace-Mar Training & Employment Services delivers high-impact consulting, AI workforce initiatives, and business incubation for organizations ready to grow.

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10,000
AI trainees targeted by 2027
1,000
Businesses to $1M revenue
15+
Years delivering impact
2025
Guinness Record — AI Training
Our Practice Areas

Three Disciplines.
One Standard.

We bring the rigor of enterprise consulting to the organizations and communities that need it most — with measurable outcomes at every level.

01
The Black Box™ Experience

Our flagship consulting methodology — a transformative engagement model that uncovers leverage points, reframes organizational thinking, and drives lasting strategic change.

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02
AI Workforce Initiative

A bold commitment to train 10,000 individuals in AI by 2027 — closing the digital divide through hands-on programs, certifications, and employer partnerships.

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03
Business & Nonprofit Incubator

A performance-driven incubator with one clear goal: help 1,000 small businesses and nonprofits reach $1 million in annual revenue through strategy, systems, and capital access.

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BB
Flagship Consulting

The Black Box™
Experience.

Not a consulting report. Not a workshop. A live, immersive decision intelligence environment where leaders test assumptions, surface hidden risks, and experience the downstream effects of their strategies — before committing capital and organizational energy.

In aviation, the black box is analyzed after failure. We reverse that model.

Accelerates
Organizational Learning Rate
Surfaces
Hidden Risks & Misalignment
Creates
Behavior Change Through Experience
Improves
Decision Quality Before It Matters Most

"The organization that learns fastest — wins."

Request a Black Box™ Engagement
AI Workforce Initiative

10,000 Trained.
By 2027.

We are on a mission to close the AI literacy gap — one person at a time. Our initiative is bold, measurable, and built for the communities most at risk of being left behind.

  • Hands-on AI literacy and tools training for job seekers, workers, and professionals
  • Digital skills certifications aligned to real employer demand
  • AI readiness assessments for organizations and government agencies
  • Employer partnership program for workforce placement post-training
  • Government and grant-funded cohort delivery for maximum reach

Join the Initiative
10K
AI Workforce Initiative
10,000
Individuals Trained in AI

Building a pipeline of AI-ready workers drawn from communities most impacted by automation.

10,000 Individuals Trained in AI
Building a pipeline of AI-ready workers

Building a pipeline of AI-ready workers drawn from communities most impacted by automation.

40%
Jobs at Risk by 2030

40% of all task level jobs will be impacted by AI.

40% Jobs at Risk by 2030
40% of All Task Level Jobs

40% of all task level jobs will be impacted by AI. We are training today for the economy of tomorrow.

"The communities most threatened by AI must become the communities most empowered by it."

Kenneth Smith — Founder, Grace-Mar Training & Employment Services LLC
Business & Nonprofit Incubator

1,000 Businesses.
$1 Million.

We don't just help businesses start — we help them scale. Our incubator is built around one audacious goal: 1,000 small businesses and nonprofits reaching $1M in annual revenue.

  • Strategic business planning and revenue model development
  • Investor readiness and pitch preparation for small businesses
  • Nonprofit grant strategy and capacity building
  • Technology infrastructure, SaaS tools, and digital operations
  • Access to capital networks, CDFIs, and grant opportunities
  • Peer cohorts, expert mentorship, and accountability systems

Apply to the Incubator
$1M
Business Incubator
Learning & Development

Build Your Skills.
At Your Pace.

Grace-Mar's learning platform delivers professional courses, AI training, and certification programs designed for individuals and organizations ready to grow.

Enroll in self-paced modules covering ChatGPT, Claude, Canva AI, and workplace automation — earn a Grace-Mar AI Literacy Certificate upon completion.
01
Self-Paced
AI Literacy & Tools Training

From zero to AI-ready. Master the tools, concepts, and workflows that are transforming every industry — built for working professionals and job seekers.

Enroll Now
Join a 12-week cohort with fellow entrepreneurs. Covers business planning, revenue strategy, digital systems, and investor readiness — with weekly accountability check-ins.
02
Cohort-Based
Business Growth Accelerator

A structured, cohort-based program for small business owners and nonprofit leaders on the path to $1M in annual revenue. Strategy, systems, and accountability built in.

Join a Cohort
An executive certification grounded in the Black Box™ — systems thinking, decision intelligence, and high-performance team alignment for senior leaders and executives.
03
Certificate Program
Strategic Leadership Certification

An executive-level certification drawing from the Black Box™ methodology — systems thinking, decision intelligence, and organizational leadership for senior teams.

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Coming Soon
Hosted by Kenneth Smith
The Podcast
Coming Soon

Conversations That
Move Communities.

Deep conversations on AI, systems thinking, entrepreneurship, and community transformation — hosted by Kenneth Smith, Founder of Grace-Mar Training & Employment Services.

Sample Episodes
Episode 001
Why AI Is the New Civil Rights Issue of Our Time

A deep dive into the widening AI divide and what communities of color must do right now to avoid being left behind by the most disruptive technology in history.

Episode 002
From $150 to $1.5M — The Grace-Mar Story

Kenneth Smith shares the journey from a single $150 donation to a $1.5M federal grant — and the systems thinking principles that made it possible.

Episode 003
The Black Box™ — How Organizations Really Change

An inside look at the Black Box™ methodology — why traditional consulting fails, what immersive decision intelligence really means, and how leaders can think differently.

Member Community & Portal

Your Hub for
Growth & Connection.

The Grace-Mar Member Portal is a private, web-based community for clients, program participants, and partners — bringing together learning, resources, networking, and support in one place.

Course Library

Access all enrolled courses, certifications, and downloadable resources in one dashboard.

Peer Network

Connect with fellow entrepreneurs, program participants, and consulting clients.

Program Tracking

Track milestones in your incubator, AI initiative, or consulting engagement.

Events & Announcements

Members get first access to workshops, cohort launches, and Grace-Mar initiatives.

Request Portal Access
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Member Portal
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Kenneth Smith
Consulting Client
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Jordan Marcus
AI Initiative — Cohort 3
AP
Aisha Porter
Incubator — $1M Track
Member Portal
Not Sure Where to Start? Take our free AI Readiness Assessment and get a personalized report in under 10 minutes.

Ready to Engage
Grace-Mar?

Whether you're a government agency, foundation, corporate partner, or entrepreneur — we bring the strategy, the systems, and the conviction to move you forward.