COO Linda Dilworth urges unemployed to stay focused

Jaylen Christie
Outlook Staff Writer

For some individuals retiring can mean to retreat or simply give up working, while for others it can be an opportunity to put their skills to use in another work environment. For Linda Dilworth, the latter rings true. As the chief operating officer of KMR Consulting, a firm under the Knowles & Randolph law agency, Dilworth is enjoying her new job after retiring in 2002.

“After I retired I was asked to run the consulting firm,” said Dilworth, who has been married to her husband, Jerome, for 35 years. “I’ve been there since I retired, and I really enjoy it. I guess you could say I am semi-retired.” Dilworth, who has a son, Glendon, 28, retired from the Department of Financial Services where she was the division director of finance.

“We are consistently engaged with private organizations and companies,” said Dilworth, who has a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and a master’s from Florida State University. “I enjoy staying engaged. It’s my mode of operation. I retired at 48 and felt that I had a lot more to offer.”

Perhaps there is. Since retiring and reentering the work force, Dilworth has been active in her church – Saint Michael Episcopal – and has even become president of the Tallahassee Chapter of The Links, an organization dedicated to helping others. She likes staying active and admits that God is essential in everything.

“Knowing God gives us an anchor,” said Dilworth, whose father was a schoolteacher and mother was a librarian. “It gives us a higher source of connection and communication.” One could definitely say we needed it with what is going on with our economy today. Dilworth believes that while things have changed in the economy, African- Americans must be steadfast.

“I do believe from a diversity standpoint that the market is inclusive,” Dilworth said. “I think the economy has created challenges which require us to be more focused. I don’t think it’s just African- Americans. I think the national workforce is being affected, but as African- Americans we have to have our act together.”

She certainly has hers together. Her friend, Alexis McMillan, definitely agrees. She said Dilworth is a hard worker and a great friend. “She has a strong faith,” said McMillan who has known Dilworth since they were children. “Her Christian faith is so strong it helps her to be the person that she is. She always has a smile. You can hear it on the phone. She always opens up her arms to help you. The difficult part is trying to reciprocate her bountiful goodness.”

As a business professional, Dilworth believes that the key to success is to have a goal. She also has advice for aspiring professionals. “You have to have a work ethic and core values in addition to preparation,” she said. “Those three things propel you. Preparation starts with a good educational foundation. It puts you on the pathway to success.” And who could disagree? Dilworth has certainly accomplished a lot, and she has managed to stay very upbeat.

“That’s just my perspective in life,” she said. “Take whatever hand you’re dealt and make the most of it.”