PV Power Couple Kelley Taylor ’99 and Troi Taylor ’00 Give $50,000 to Endow Scholarship Fund and Empower Young Lives
Kelley Taylor ’99 and Troi Taylor ’00 are always up for a challenge—perhaps because the husband-and-wife business team greets every challenge as a new opportunity.
“The thing about challenges,” says Kelley, a graduate of the College of Business Master of Business Administration program, “is that when you step into your purpose, challenges don’t seem much like challenges, but more like opportunities.”
Recognizing that few minority-owned project-management firms in Texas had the capacity to oversee big projects, Kelley and Troi launched Taylor Construction Management (TCM), a global project management firm in Houston, eight years ago.
TCM’s first contract was with a biotech facility in China, and now TCM touts a diverse client base comprising organizations in education, health care, aviation, life sciences, and mass transportation. Texas A&M University System, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport are among TCM’s most notable clients.
In 2017, the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce honored TCM with a Pinnacle Award. And, in the same year, the company was nominated for a Black Enterprise Small Business Award.
“Our success story begins with simply getting started and overcoming the fear of the unknown,” shares Kelley. “We are both first-generation entrepreneurs and are proud to offer opportunities to individuals with promise. Extending opportunities through entrepreneurship to others is one of the best perks of owning your own business.”
As the power couple reflects upon its rise, the two make sure to acknowledge the boost that a Prairie View A&M University education provides. “Prairie View was the perfect place for me to start my career,” states Troi, a graduate of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering.
“PV has been pivotal to the success of our company and the way we conduct business,” adds Kelley. “At PV, I learned how to communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with various experiences. I firmly believe that my time at PV helps us communicate better with our international clients, especially as we aim to integrate our teams to advance multifaceted projects.”
Now that Kelley and Troi are in a position to give back to their alma mater, they seek to create more opportunities for the next generation. They recently pledged $50,000 to establish the Troi and Kelley Taylor Family Endowed Scholarship Fund at Prairie View A&M University, a gift that will open doors for deserving students in perpetuity. The Taylor’s contributions, moreover, will be matched dollar-for-dollar through the university’s scholarship matching gift program for a total investment of $100,000 to the fund.
“Our family has committed our time and treasure to PV because we want to create financial resources for students who need assistance to attend college.”
In addition to volunteering and providing philanthropic resources, the Taylors want to serve as a source of empowerment for young minority entrepreneurs. “It is important to us that anyone who feels marginalized sees us and knows that we are no different from anyone else,” states Kelley. “We want our legacy to be that we dispelled any and all doubts about working with emerging minority businesses.”
And, like that, the Taylors are off to tackle their next challenge—oops—opportunity.
To learn more about ways to empower students at PVAMU, please visit www.pvamu.edu/developmentor call 936-261-1550.