Tammy Cohen is Founder and CEO of InfoMart, a 2022 WBENCPitch Finalist, innovator and leader invested in supporting her employees to be the best they can be, including through industry-leading internal engagement programs and initiatives. When you meet Tammy, you are automatically struck by her compassion and passion for not only what her company does, but how she does it in a way that inspires everyone around her.
Each year, WBENC presents 14 women business owners with the prestigious Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Star Award, the nation’s premier recognition for excellence among certified women-owned businesses, honoring female owners for their leadership skills, business success, and ability to serve as an inspiration to others.
Get to know Tammy Cohen from the Greater Women’s Business Council, and get inspired by her dedication to her people and to the WBENC network.
Tammy Cohen, Founder and CEO of InfoMart
InfoMart is a background screening company that provides the technology needed to screen customers, job applicants, students, contractors, and more. Our solutions seamlessly integrate, quickly onboard, and mitigate risk while reducing the time to contract or hire. Powered by innovative technology, AI, a RESTful API, and customizable solutions, InfoMart streamlines screening and onboarding for companies of all sizes, from startups to the Fortune 500, and is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy.
“Resiliency means persevering against all odds. Since I founded InfoMart, I’ve had to defeat all odds. I started with little-to-no money or experience, but resilience made InfoMart stand the test of time. The screening industry has evolved over the years, but I’ve led InfoMart to innovate our solutions and adapt with the changes. As the leader of a WBE whose work history began with non-traditional jobs, I strive to bridge the gap of understanding and respect among diverse populations. I’ve learned first-hand that diverse business owners face unique obstacles, but that won’t stop me from being bold, resilient, and fearless.”
When COVID brought hiring to a halt in 2020, the background screening industry was severely impacted. Tammy knew that, to keep her doors open and to provide a needed service to her clients, she and her team needed to pivot, and create an additional revenue stream. The entire company came together to develop SymTem™ — an all-in-one COVID screening tool that assessed daily symptoms/temperatures, managed PPE and cleaning requests, and served as a single point of contact for facility management.
Read on for even more inspiration from Tammy!
When and how was your business started?
I founded InfoMart over 30 years ago in 1989. A 25-year-old administrative assistant, I was frustrated by a situation at work. Making an irrational decision, I quit. I had already been investigating the idea of providing employers with background checks and decided to take the leap and start my own business. Without a degree or money in the bank, I worked tirelessly to pull the pieces together. InfoMart, a pioneer in screening, was born.
What does resiliency mean to you? How do you practice resiliency as a woman leading a business?
Resiliency means persevering against all odds. Since I founded InfoMart, I’ve had to defeat all odds. I started with little-to-no money or experience, but resilience made InfoMart stand the test of time. The screening industry has evolved over the years, but I’ve led InfoMart to innovate our solutions and adapt with the changes.
As the leader of a WBE whose work history began with non-traditional jobs, I strive to bridge the gap of understanding and respect among diverse populations. I’ve learned first-hand that diverse business owners face unique obstacles, but that won’t stop me from being bold, resilient, and fearless.
What is a challenge or opportunity your business faced because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and how did you face it?
When COVID-19 arrived, I quickly realized that background screening would take a hit. I knew we would see a reduction in hiring as businesses tried to survive in a pandemic-
stricken world. I wasn’t going to let that hurt InfoMart, which is why we innovated quickly to create a new product.
We poured our efforts into quickly developing SymTem: a COVID-19 screening application that monitors employees’ and contractors’ symptoms remotely. Through resiliency and innovation, we allowed the pandemic to be an opportunity, not a force of destruction. My team faced the challenge beautifully – everyone pitched in to pivot, innovate, and deliver.
Provide an example of how innovation helped you overcome a challenge, pivot, or adapt to a crisis.
Over the past 3 decades, we have faced many challenges. Starting with the advancement of the Digital Revolution in the 90s, I discovered it’s easier to stay ahead of trends than recover. Now, InfoMart is a leader and innovator in the industry.
Our most recent innovation, continuous criminal monitoring, tackles high unemployment rates for candidates with criminal records. We offer tools that help employers hire ex-offenders while protecting their organization, like real-time employee arrest updates. This provides a cushion and opens the door for more inclusive hiring. I innovate to not only change my industry but positively impact the world.
What have you learned about yourself as a leader from mentoring or coaching others?
Over the years, I have learned that I lead best by example. My words, work ethic, and values mean more when a person can experience them versus hear about them, so walking my talk is the most impactful way to lead. I am always my authentic self.
What do you view as benefits of being part of the WBENC network? How has your company grown and changed since its inception and since becoming certified?
The WBENC network has provided incredible professional growth opportunities for me—I’ve collected tips on how to best represent InfoMart via sales, marketing, accounting, business strategy, and so much more. WBENC’s network combined with my ability to identify potential business opportunities has contributed to the growth of my business and the expansion of my brand as a technology expert and thought leader. This community gives women in business the tools they need to thrive, so it’s crucial to seize every opportunity and grab every star within reach.
What guiding words would you like to share with a newly certified WBE who is looking to get involved in the WBENC community?
Two key words to remember as a WBE member are “involvement” and “participation.” You must be involved in WBENC activities to connect with people, build relationships, and find opportunities. However, just because you meet someone and complete a portal doesn’t mean you’ve secured a contract. It’s so important to create genuine relationships with fellow WBEs and corporate suppliers. I have made countless friendships and business connections by consistently participating, and those relationships continue to grow the more involved I get.
What areas of innovation do you foresee for women entrepreneurs over the next few years?
I think we’ll see an uptick in female tech industry leaders, particularly in tech relating to automation and manufacturing. Women are becoming more sophisticated at knocking down the barriers to raising capital, opening a new lane of entrepreneurship that once had too steep of a start-up cost to pursue. As women continue to grow in tech and tech-related industries, I foresee that women will become more competitive in using automation to make life easier.
Women have unique perspectives to offer in the typically male-dominated tech industry. Besides life experience, they bring empathy, authenticity, and ethics in industries across the board, so power skills like emotional intelligence are going to be huge for leaders. This gives women in business a great opportunity to apply their skills and talents in this arena.
InfoMart is a background screening company that provides the technology needed to screen customers, job applicants, students, contractors, and more. Our solutions seamlessly integrate, quickly onboard, and mitigate risk while reducing the time to contract or hire.
Powered by innovative technology, AI, a RESTful API, and customizable solutions, InfoMart streamlines screening and onboarding for companies of all sizes, from startups to the Fortune 500. Our company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy.
