Caribbean Catalyst celebrates 18 years

On April 1st, 2023, Caribbean Catalyst Inc. will mark 18 years of serving clients throughout Barbados and other English-speaking Caribbean territories including Jamaica, St. Vincent, St. Kitts and Grenada. The company began operations in 2005, with the mission “to be the catalyst for meaningful change, helping our clients achieve through their people”. 

Through its range of professional services, including human resource (HR) advisory, strategic planning, recruitment and selection, training, payroll processing, performance management, employee opinion surveys, job evaluation, immigration and compensation and benefits services, Caribbean Catalyst Inc. works with clients to understand and meet their HR and talent development needs. 

As a full-service HR consultancy, Caribbean Catalyst Inc. has further distinguished itself through the Barbados’ Best Employers (BBE) Award, which was launched in 2010 to recognise private and public sector organisations demonstrating exemplary HR practices. The biennial programme provides organisations with extensive feedback and practical recommendations for improvement based on an in-depth management interview and an employee opinion survey. In order to promote the adoption of best practices, improvements made within participating organisations are also tracked over time and recognised as part of the programme.  

Founder and Managing Director of Caribbean Catalyst Inc., Mrs. Rosalind Ros Jackson has 40 years’ experience in the field of HR and is a self-described passionate professional dedicated to assisting others with their development.

 Speaking on the company’s 18th year of operations, she noted, “It is with pride that I look back on the start of Caribbean Catalyst Inc. We have made significant strides since our humble beginnings on River Road 18 years ago with a staff complement of just four people, including myself. We have since grown our practice to eight team members and have collaborated with many regional organisations, especially through our recruitment and selection services and our leadership development workshops. In the past five years, we have been able to differentiate ourselves in the market by incorporating proven neuroscience research as an integral part of all training offerings.” 

Throughout its 18-year existence, Caribbean Catalyst Inc. has thrived on the strength of its team, which comprises qualified HR practitioners and facilitators with a combined 100-plus years of HR expertise. 

Working alongside Jackson, the team includes Directors Jacqueline Elias and Laura Husbands, Senior Consultants Althea Browne and Jennifer Hinds, Consultant Junelle Brathwaite, Consulting Assistant Angela Boyce and Business Development and Marketing Officer Tresha Nelson. Together, they work to ensure seamless service delivery to clients. According to Director Mrs. Jacqueline Elias, “Teamwork is the foundation of our success. Each member brings diverse industry and consulting experience. We value each other’s opinions, appreciate our differences, and learn from each other. As a team, we value our strengths, and purposefully leverage our collective wisdom for the benefit of our clients.”

From inception, Caribbean Catalyst Inc. has been progressive, not only with respect to its range of services but also with regard to philanthropic initiatives. The company spearheaded the Kregg Nurse Memorial Scholarship, which is granted to an individual with a disability who has successfully completed at least one year of post-secondary school education and is continuing formal education at a recognised tertiary learning institution. 

To date, the Kregg Nurse Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to 18  recipients who have successfully gone on to further studies in various fields including visual arts, business management, accounting, economics, banking and finance. The scholarship significantly impacts the lives of awardees not only through provision of financial assistance to cover tuition fees, textbooks and other essentials but also by bringing recognition to the stellar accomplishments of those with disabilities. Currently, plans are underway for the commencement of the application process for the 2023 Kregg Nurse Memorial Scholarship. 

This is but one way that the company has focused on community-centred initiatives. Director Laura Husbands elaborated, “Serving our community is as important to us, individually and collectively, as serving our clients. We do not make a big ‘splash’ about what we do in the community; our recognition comes from those whose lives we touch. Every team member contributes monthly to the company’s Benevolent Fund and these contributions, matched by the company, are used throughout the year to benefit families in several communities, now that we are all working remotely.”  

In celebrating another successful year, the Caribbean Catalyst Inc. team is optimistic regarding the firm’s progression. Jackson stated, “Despite the challenges we will inevitably face, our team is committed to working cohesively to deliver premier HR offerings and exceptional customer service, which are the essential hallmarks of our brand. The outlook of Caribbean Catalyst Inc. is very strong, with our solid, dedicated team to lead us into the future. We certainly look forward to continued growth and development.” (PR)