Alumni Profile: Shimeka Jones-Ricks

After losing her uncle during a medical emergency, Blueprint alum Shimeka Jones-Ricks turned grief into a mission to equip New Yorkers with lifesaving skills.

Shimeka Jones-Ricks recognized that many people want to help when someone collapses, stops breathing, or experiences cardiac arrest. Yet without proper training, fear and uncertainty can prevent even the most willing bystander from taking action. For Shimeka, that realization became the inspiration behind SecondBeat CPR, a mobile CPR, AED, and first-aid training company serving all five boroughs of New York City.

Her mission is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: Every heartbeat deserves another chance.

SecondBeat CPR brings professional, hands-on instruction directly to workplaces, schools, churches, community organizations, and families. By meeting participants where they are, the company aims to make lifesaving education more accessible, convenient, and empowering—especially in communities where formal training opportunities may be limited.

Rather than expecting people to travel to a traditional training center, Shimeka is building a model that removes common barriers to participation. Her goal is not only to teach the technical steps of CPR and first aid, but also to give everyday people the confidence to respond when every second matters.

Now in its early growth stage, SecondBeat CPR is focused on developing partnerships across New York City and increasing awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness. Shimeka sees community relationships as essential to expanding the company’s reach and impact.

Her experience has also taught her valuable lessons about gaining traction as a new entrepreneur. Chief among them is the importance of building genuine relationships early. Community partnerships, she believes, can create opportunities that advertising alone cannot.

She also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on solving a real and identifiable problem. For SecondBeat CPR, that problem is clear: Too many people are unprepared to respond during a medical emergency. By offering an accessible solution, Shimeka can demonstrate both the practical value and the social impact of her business.

Her third lesson is patience. Building a company rarely produces immediate results, but consistency creates momentum. Continuing to show up, strengthen the business, and nurture relationships is central to her growth strategy.

Shimeka credits Blueprint Clarify with helping her transform a deeply personal idea into a business with a defined mission and direction. Through the Progress Playbook program, she received mentorship, resources, and support from a community of fellow entrepreneurs who encouraged her to think beyond the initial concept.

One of the program’s most meaningful outcomes was the confidence she gained to refine her vision and position SecondBeat CPR as a company capable of creating lasting impact throughout New York City.

For Shimeka, entrepreneurship is more than building a successful business. It is a way to turn personal loss into public service—and to ensure that more people are prepared to give someone a second chance at life.