Today we’d like to introduce you to Ritha Washington-McFarley.
Hi Ritha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
.What began as a response to crisis evolved into a mission rooted in service, compliance, and public safety.
In 2021, as COVID-19 overwhelmed healthcare systems nationwide, I was encouraged by a fellow business owner to pursue certification in COVID-19 testing. Health departments and physician offices were stretched thin, and stepping into that gap allowed me to serve communities when support was most urgently needed.
As the pandemic waned, I was introduced to Consortium/Third-Party Administration (C/TPA), a discipline that expanded my work into transportation compliance and workplace safety. Through this model, I began supporting CDL drivers, employers, and individuals requiring regulated drug testing—ensuring compliance with FMCSA regulations and safeguarding safety-sensitive operations.
My work includes managing compliance programs, coordinating testing, and supporting drivers through the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) return-to-duty process when violations occur. I guide drivers through counseling, monitoring, and required follow-up testing, helping them restore compliance and safely return to work.
With a master’s degree in counseling and years of experience as a substance abuse counselor in methadone clinics, this intersection of behavioral health and regulatory compliance felt like a natural calling.
That calling led to the creation of Velocity Logistics & Compliance, which I co-operate with my son. Alongside Velocity Lab Services, we offer integrated solutions—from clinical testing and compliance management to logistics support and 24/7 mobile workplace safety services. Our goal is simple: protect public safety while supporting drivers, employers, and industries that keep the economy moving.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say some of the struggles have been wanting to allow others to step in but this is my baby and I am not sure if someone can care for My Baby Like I would and or the indivduals we serve, partner with, and being a listening ear and making a client at the end of a service to want them to come back or refer someone they know.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a CEO who leads with both experience and empathy. I relate to every client I serve because I am not only a compliance professional and substance abuse therapist, but also a human being—a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother—who understands that life happens.
As the founder of Velocity Lab Services and Velocity Logistics & Compliance, I specialize in regulated drug and alcohol testing, transportation compliance, and workplace safety. My background as a substance abuse therapist allows me to approach compliance with accountability, patience, and compassion, recognizing the person behind every process. I believe in a Higher Power, the strength of community, and the principle that when we help others—whether through guidance, listening, or simply extending grace—blessings follow.
I am most proud of building businesses that restore opportunity while protecting public safety. What sets me apart is my ability to combine regulatory excellence with genuine understanding, creating a space where clients feel supported, respected, and empowered to move forward.
I am a growing CEO and African American entrepreneur who was not expected to succeed—yet here I stand, building legacy-driven businesses rooted in purpose, resilience, and service.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Traveling with my family to diffrent softball terniments due to both my bio mom and my step father was on a coed team playing and enjoying with their team members, hanging out with friends, Becoming a young teen mother of two and having my family support me and loving my children although I was a child myself and sitting in the sun under a tree in our yard saying when I turn 40 I want to be a powerful woman and strong like my mother.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://velocitylabservicesllc.biz/
- Other: velocity lab services
