uring an approximate 5 year period through 2003, Jim Byrd lived and worked in South Africa as an expatriate employee of Telcordia Technologies, Inc.  During the initial period, Jim was part of a team responsible for international sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

After Telcordia won a government contract to upgrade the infrastructure of Telkom South Africa, Jim was appointed to manage the company’s Industrial Participation Program, as administered by South Africa Department of Trade & Industry.  This mandatory program provided a mechanism for Telcordia to invest a portion of the contract back into the local economy.  This was accomplished through a range of government approved projects, including building a state-of-the-art library in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal Province.

Jim retired from Telcordia and started a rural economic development company working primarily in Limpopo Province, South Africa.  However, his real passion involved supporting an international outreach for Black South African master craftsmen & women.

In 2007, Jim created Nkosi Distinctive Imported Crafts, LCC, www.nkosiimportedcrafts.com, to import and retail the unique one-of-a-kind, hand-made crafts created by these extremely talented individuals.

The tag line for Nkosi Imported Crafts is, “A beautiful handcrafted work…..inspires.”