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AUGUST 2007

$2.50 US

Premier Issue

“Workin’ Hard
and Lovin’ It”
Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas

Growing My Own
College Education
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation
n

Mooo-ving Forward
Marketplace for Kids
WHERE IS YOUR
INVENTION
TAKING YOU?

www.YoungInventorsHub.com
August 2007

In This Issue… For Tomorrow’s Leaders Today!


The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education has been providing leadership for
4 Learning Hard Lessons
NFTE
over 25 years. Our primary focus has been assisting instructors, which has been
quite successful, but we still felt something was missing…and that something was
5 Standing with Hope direct communication with the students.
National Museum of Education
Knowing that “experience is the best teacher”, we decided that who better to com-
6 Urban Hip municate with potential young entrepreneurs than young entrepreneurs themselves!
IL Institute for Entrepreneurship Ed.
Thus, Future CEO Stars was born.
8 Ask GoVenture
MediaSpark
Our mission is to create a monthly publication that features successful young entre-
preneurs from Consortium member organizations…designed to generate the entre-
9 “Workin’ Hard and Lovin’ It” preneurial mind-set!
Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas
Each issue has feature articles dedicated to stories written by students that tell the
10 Passion secrets of their entrepreneurial success. Our hope is that this magazine will mo-
tivate, educate, and stimulate young people to follow their examples and chase
11 Real Property…Real Benefits
Buchholz Entrepreneurship Academy
their own dream.

13 My Summer Startup
YEABiz/Utah State Office of Education
Founder of National Entrepreneur-
ship Week, the Consortium for Entre-
Published by The Consortium for
14 Tea for Who? preneurship Education is a non-profit
Entrepreneurship Education
collaborative representing 90+ mem- 1601 W Fifth Ave. #199
15 Growing My Own College Education ber organizations from national, state
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Columbus, OH 43212
and local levels. Together we repre- www.entre-ed.org
16 These Kids Mean Business sent over 40,000 teachers and more mashmore@entre-ed.org
PBS Special — August 30, 2007 than two million students.
Publisher: Dr. Cathy Ashmore
19 Making A House A Home Our common bond is the philosophy Editor: Michael Ashmore
Home Builders Institute that “to be successful in the emer- Graphic Design: MediaSpark Inc.
gence of a new global marketplace, Graphic Artist: Jeff MacNeil
20 Planning…To Get Ahead entrepreneurship education should
21 NEW Ideas be a critical component of the overall Publishing Advisors:
National Entrepreneurship Week 2008 education experience as a lifelong Soorena Salari, Young Inventors Hub
learning process.” Al Abney, Consortium Advisory Council
22 Name Game
We invite readers to meet the Annual Subscription Available - $25.00
23 Mooo-ving Forward Consortium members at: Contact: mashmore@entre-ed.org
Marketplace for Kids
www.entre-ed.org/_contact
24 Emily’s Advice
Learn about the Young Inventors Hub
25 Have A Dream? at:
DECA, Inc.
www.younginventorshub.com
26 Inventorpreneurship
Join us!
27 Taking Charge
Prominent Youth, Inc.

28 More Than Marshmallows


National Council on Economic Ed.

29 Out of the Park


NY REAL

31 Our Sponsors
Learning
Hard Lessons
BY MICHAEL SIMMONS

I was a sixteen-year-old, high school junior when I co-founded


Princeton Web solutions with my best friend. It was 1998,
the internet was the Wild West, and we were spurred on
by stories in magazines of young people who became
millionaires ‘overnight’. Most businesses had an unprofessional
web page at best, and we knew that every business would
be online in the future. It was an opportunity made in heaven!
My friend and I learned how to design web pages via the
internet and ‘how-to’ books, and spent only $70 to set up our
web site. We hit the ground running with our first client—a
company that found us while searching Yahoo. The contract
was for $1,000!
The next few years were both exciting and turbulent. We formed
a partnership with another company and went to Chamber of
Commerce events to get clients. We increased the price of our
service to $100/hour and outsourced our contracts to a web
development company in India that did all of the work for us at
$25/hour. By our senior year, we had made over $50,000
and were named by YoungBiz Magazine as the top youth-run
web development business in the country.
Unfortunately though, the winning streak did not last forever.
We lost almost all of our clients when the dotcom bubble burst,
and we were cheated for $15,000 by a 38-year old CEO
we brought on to help with the company. In the end, during
our freshman year in college, my partner and I decided to
close the company down. You could say we failed.
Or could you? Actually, starting and running my own business
was the best investment I ever made. I am still an entrepre-
neur. I have a life filled with passion, purpose, and prosperity,
working full time on a new company called the Extreme
Entrepreneurship Tour (www.extremetour.org). We have seven
people working with us. I get to travel the country doing what I
believe in. We’ve been recognized by Business Week as one
of the top 25 entrepreneurs under 25, and in USA Today, the
AOL homepage, ABC, NBC, and CBS.
The best advice I can give is to…Start a business today.
Whether it succeeds or fails, it will probably be the best
investment you make and the best experience you have.
©iStockphoto.com, Andreea Manciu

Michael Simmons and


partner Sheena Lindahl.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


4
“Standing with Hope”
BY GAY EVANS

Grayson with his


award-winning invention.

I nvention and innovation, key elements


of many entrepreneurs’ success stories,
require thinking out of the box. Well,
he created “muscle like” shapes around
the artificial limb’s traditional metal rods.
Pretty amazing for a 15 year old! It only
goes to show that it is never too early to
start working toward your future.
Who would use Bubble Wrap® instead
Grayson Rosenberger, this year’s winner
of the standard covers typically seen The National Museum of Education is
of Sealed Air Corporation’s first Bubble
in the US? Many citizens of Ghana, proud to have developed and adminis-
Wrap® Competition, actually used what
Africa would and are grateful for it too. tered the Bubble Wrap® Competition.
Grayson’s father’s organization, “Stand- It will now be an annual contest, with
ing With Hope”, works with Ghana’s the due date for this year, on Thursday,
government to provide artificial limbs November 1, 2007. This is only the
for its citizens who can’t afford them beginning of many creative efforts for
otherwise. Although they can walk with students grades 5-8. Check the website
these limbs, they are still looked upon at www.nmoe.org for further details.
as outcasts due to their unnatural look.
Prosthetic covers typically cost $1,000
or more and are unfortunately out of
the question. Grayson’s solution is a
practical, effective, and cost-efficient
way to not only give Ghana’s amputee’s
mobility, but also return their self esteem.
Grayson in Ghana.
Grayson’s father and mother, who lost
both of her legs in a car accident as
people throw away with it. Grayson in- a teenager, say they are astounded by
geniously substituted Bubble Wrap® for Grayson’s ingenuity and his winning of
very expensive prosthetic leg covers. By the $10,000 savings bond given as first
shaping Bubble Wrap® with a heat gun, prize for Sealed Air’s annual competition.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


5
©iStockphoto.com, Lisa McDonald

M y name is Angela Robinson and I


am the CEO of Aqutie Wear 12, a
fashion design company in the Greater
line. I’m so excited because I’m actually
hosting my first large fashion show next
month at the Chicago Urban League.
Chicago area. I have always been inter-
Although things are happening fast for me
ested in designing my own fashions. In
now, it took a lot of work to get here. My
fact, I have been drawing and building
advice to anyone with a dream is to go for
a portfolio since I was 12. I figured it
it, but remember your dream may take time
would be fun to run my own company
to develop. It doesn’t happen overnight,
and create my own line. After years of
especially in the fashion industry. You have

Urban Hip
BY ANGELA ROBINSON
carrying around my portfolio, I entered
Mr. Steward’s class in November of 06’
and got my chance.
to do a lot of networking and sometimes
it feels like it is never ending. Also, look
for resources and circulate your business in
Scott Steward, in my opinion, is the your community first. This really helped me
best entrepreneurship teacher at the to keep operating capital coming in. You
School of Entrepreneurship, on have to always put school first, and then
Chicago’s southeast side. He encour- concentrate on your business.
aged me to interview for the Illinois
Institute for Entrepreneurship Educa-
tion’s (IIEE) E-After School Program. The Illinois Institute for
The IIEE E-After School Program helped Entrepreneurship Education
me actualize my business and guided provides teacher training and
me through many of the challenges youth Entrepreneurship support
facing a new business owner. After going throughout the state of Illinois.
through the program, I was soon able to Their 2nd annual Youth
start designing and creating custom tee
Entrepreneurship Conference
shirts. They sold so well at our school
expo that I was soon receiving orders will be held May 1 -3 of 08’
and the next thing I knew I was hosting in Lincolnshire IL. For more
my own school fashion show. information or to enroll go
to www.iiee.org or call
One thing led to another to the point
Kandi at (312) 587-9296.
where I am now being mentored by
Erika and Monica Simmons of the
renowned Double Stitch Clothing Co.
Also my teacher has introduced me I am very excited about my future. I plan
to a manufacturer that currently works to attend Spellman College in Georgia,
with many well known hip-hop clothing major in Law or English, and minor in
lines. My designs are not only growing fashion design. In a lot of ways Atlanta
in popularity, and putting money in my is a long way from inner city Chicago
pocket, but have also helped me in other but I know with the work I have done to
ways. I was a finalist in the spring break prepare, I am ready.
business plan competition and took 3rd
You can contact me at
place in the annual city wide competi-
Aqutiewear12_co@yahoo.com
tion. In May, I attended the IIEE Youth
www.aqutiewear12.com
Entrepreneurship Conference for three
days at the Lincolnshire Marriott. I was
selected to compete in their Advanced
Business Plan and Expo Competitions
with students from all over the country.
Running a business is a challenge and it
keeps me extremely busy. On a weekly
Angela shows her designs at the basis I have to juggle my obligations
with the Local School Council, Junior
Institute’s competition.
Leadership Team, the Sew-Sew sewing
club, school and business organizations
like IIEE. It’s all paying off and custom
orders are already pouring in for my fall
Future CEO Stars August 2007
6
What’s Your Idea?
Do you want to get your
story in this magazine?
How about a chance
to WIN FREE STUFF?
We know that sometimes
students make the best teachers.
Gaining knowledge off another’s experience is so much
better than trying to learn from reading a boring old text
book. And that’s why we want to hear your stories!! Do
you have a product, invention, or business idea that you
know the world needs? Or a story of pure success?
Well…let us hear it!

We want to print your stories in this magazine! For your


effort you could win prizes including magazine subscrip-
tions, cash, or even the Grand Prize of a trip for two
to the ‘08 National Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education Forum (location to be determined in November
07) to receiverecognition for your achievement.
Sound Good?
What are you waiting for? No idea is too big, or too crazy!
Big Dreams Lead To Big Results! We look forward to read-
All we need is 300 to 500 words telling ing and sharing your future success story, so get started!
your story. Here’s some of the information
we’re looking for: Also remember that all submissions could be printed so
don’t share anything that you want to keep to yourself.
* What is your GREAT Business Idea? Our goal is to help make your plan a reality, not to spoil
your competitive edge. If you want to keep it secret,
* How do you plan to tell the world keep it to yourself until you have a patent, copyright, or
about it (Marketing Plan)? trademark.

* What problem are you solving? Send your story, name, grade, school, and home ad-
dress to Mike Ashmore, editor of “Future CEO Stars” at
* How do you plan to get the money mashmore@entre-ed.org (please use the words “Student
you need to make it happen? Submission” in the subject line) or mail it to Consortium
for Entrepreneurship Education,
* Would there be any problems in 1601 W Fifth Ave. #199, Columbus, OH 43212.
making it happen?
Ask GoVenture FAST FACTS

“ My friends and I are Top 10 advertising slogans


about to go into business Slogan Company
1. Diamonds are forever DeBeers
together. Any advice? 2. Just do it
3. The pause that refreshes
Nike
Coca-Cola
4. Tastes great, less filling Miller Lite
Yes! First, clearly establish each person’s her role — either because of personal 5. We try harder Avis
role in the company by assigning choice or for reasons beyond his or her 6. Good to the last drop Maxwell House
7. Breakfast of champions Wheaties
responsibilities and expectations, and control — that there is a clear way to 8. Does she, or doesn’t she? Clairol
what the consequences are for not meet- dissolve their interest in the company. 9. When it rains it pours Morton Salt
10. Where’s the beef? Wendy’s
ing them. Write this down on paper in
The first shares of the new company
as clear language as possible for all the As selected by the editors of Advertising Age.
(called “founders’ shares”) and stock
business partners to sign.
options should be structured so that they
This is not because you don’t trust your are allocated based upon each partner’s
partners — if you didn’t trust each other
you wouldn’t be going into business
future performance.
For example, what happens if a partner
About GoVenture
together!
is given 30 percent of the company’s GoVenture is a line of award-winning
Do it for two reasons: first, make sure shares upon incorporation but that part- educational games and simulations,
there hasn’t been any miscommunica- ner decides to leave the company a including software, board games,
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You’ll stay friends longer if you have it on
sure that if a partner cannot fulfill his or
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GoVenture Activity Similar to how pilots train using flight


simulators, highly visual and realistic
Business Financing GoVenture programs enable youth and
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2 Become the CEO of a virtual business,


a stockbroker trading on a virtual
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future.
ACROSS:
4. Borrowed amount, excluding interest More than just fun and learning,
5 6
5. Fee charged to borrow money
8. Lender
GoVenture provides an experience that
10. Type of financing enables you to realize your potential,
7 12. Type of investor both in terms of what is possible and the
8 wisdom of how to make it happen.
DOWN:
9 1. Type of plan you should develop GoVenture is used in homes, schools,
before seeking financing
10
universities, and businesses throughout
2. Net Income
3. Another type of financing North America and around the world.
11
6. Possibility of loss
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Down 1. Business, 2. Profit, 3. Debt, 6. Risk, 7. Capital, 9. Seed, 11. Flow


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www.goventure.net
Future CEO Stars August 2007
8
“Workin’ Hard and Lovin’ It”
BY JASON BAYLESS

I absolutely
love being an
entrepreneur. Few
With my 64 page maga-
zine in hand I was in
business, or so I thought.
career paths offer In my first week I was hit
the freedom that with major bad news.
comes with being My largest client, who
the purveyor of provided me with 20 pag-
your own success- es of listings, had decided
ful enterprise. In to drop me. This was my
my quest for knowl- first shot at real success
edge I discovered and failure was not an
that traditional option. It took a little time,
education provides and a lot of effort, but like
a lot of useful infor- a true entrepreneur I hit
mation but nothing the streets to fill the void
can replace actual that this potential disaster
experience. created.
My first taste of en- Through continued effort,
trepreneurship came my company did more
my senior year in than merely bounce back.
high school when We have expanded to
I enrolled in an Jason and his son, Cohen, hard at work. a 72 page publication
Entrepreneurship and growing. Also, in
class sponsored by keeping with the market
Youth Entrepreneurs For my class project I created an on line trend that made this company available
of Kansas (YEK). This class opened wedding planner business. It was such to me in the first place, we now provide
my eyes to career paths I never knew a success that not only did I win first our clients with extensive online exposure
existed. Free enterprise where anyone in the city in YEK’s annual competition, unmatched in our area.
can buy, sell and create value for profit, but I also was able to partner with an
If you dream of becoming an entrepre-
what a concept! I was hooked from the actual web designer to create a fully func-
neur, and you work hard enough, an
first day. tioning site that is still in business today opportunity will present itself. When you
(WichitaWeddings.com). I didn’t realize decide to chase your dream you will
it then, but I now know YEK taught me work harder and longer than you knew
Secrets of Success the critical basics that I definitely needed you could. The funny thing is, you really
• Sell, Sell, Sell: It may take in my future success. won’t mind and in fact you will find it
several attempts but persistence Soon after I completed my college educa- hard to imagine doing anything else.
pays off. tion, by keeping my entrepreneurial eyes
open, I found my first opportunity. A local
• Create Value: if you are not franchise named The Real Estate Book, a
creating value for your customers magazine used to sell houses, was for
they do not need you. sale so I checked it out to find out why. It
• Sincerity & Integrity: Make appeared to me that the publication had
grown stale and the owners hadn’t kept
sure you’re honest with your
up with market changes created by the
customers and work hard on computer age. I knew from my YEK days
their behalf. There is no better that all this business needed was some
advertising than word of mouth. Entrepreneurial hustle so I went for it.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


9
©iStockphoto.com, Bülent Gültek
Passion
W hen people talk about being an entrepreneur you
hear the word “passion” thrown around a lot.
“You have to have a passion for it”, or “my passion
one of the great advantages of learning about entrepre-
neurship early in life. You have time to discover, define,
and develop your true passion.
for what I do is my driving force”, are common
So, what do you love? Are you a musician, an artist, a
statements used by successful business owners but
class clown, a writer, or an athlete? Do you spend time
what do they really mean? Could someone actually be
solving puzzles, talking on the phone, or creating your
“passionate” about being an accountant or a mini mart
own clothes? What can you do for hours on end and
owner? How about passion for waste removal? Could
never be bored? The answers to these kinds of questions
that really exist? Could someone really love picking up
can steer you toward a very fulfilling and successful
other people’s trash? Most likely not.
career. A person doesn’t have to work at a job they hate
Often times the passion is for one particular element just to be able to afford to do the things they love in their
of the whole entrepreneurial picture. It’s not that the off hours. It may take a lot of work, creative thinking,
accountant dreams of balance sheets but more likely and overcoming of obstacles to create a career path out
enjoys working with numbers. The mini mart owner of your passion, but it happens every day.
probably likes interacting with lots of different people
There are other types of passion that motivate entre-
more than constantly restocking shelves and the waste
preneurs beyond those that are directly involved with
removal “tycoon” is probably very concerned with the
the specific function of their chosen path. Maybe the
environment.
accountant really loves the freedom that comes with
Of course, passion is not always the reason one being the boss. It could be that the mini mart owner truly
chooses a particular livelihood. Often times a person’s is passionate about having the power to control what is
career path is dictated by economic need, available in his or her store, and our waste removal tycoon might
resources, or experience. Kids in Oklahoma rarely just be passionate about making lots of money. The
grow up with the dream of becoming a crab boat own- bottom line is this: entrepreneurs typically spend a great
er in the Bering Sea. Doesn’t it seem to reason though part of their lives doing what they do, so it definitely
if you could choose a career based around something helps to love at least part of it. Passion is a powerful
you truly love you will be a happier person? This is motivator, what is yours?

Future CEO Stars August 2007


10
Real Property – Real Benefits
BY ERIC HUNT

L ike many high school students I


wasn’t exactly sure what my future
held but I knew it would include college.
on to college. I didn’t look at entre-
preneurship as an alternative to higher
education; on the contrary, it was just
While checking out my options I came the supplement necessary to make my
upon the Academy of Entrepreneurship college experience exactly what I needed.
program at Buchholz High School, While continuing my pursuit of a
in Gainesville, Florida and decided public relations degree, I also acquired
it was for me. I was immediately taken my real estate license on the side, an
with the freedom and excitement of action I attribute directly to the Academy’s
being my own boss. This sounded influence.
like my path so I threw myself into it
In 2003 the opportunity arose for
full force. In fact, I was so into it that I
me to put my degree, license, knowl-
became the program’s vice president
edge, and experience from Buchholz
my junior year and CEO my senior.
to work. My grandmother, the owner of
This experience opened my eyes to what a real estate agency, wanted to retire.
my future really could be. Both through Due to my efforts I was ready to take
the program itself and the inspirational over and knew I could handle it.
lessons I learned from my teacher, I immediately incorporated a new website
Dianne Lauramoore, I can’t say enough (www.RealtyResourceGnv.com), local
about how valuable it was. I know it’s television, and real estate publications
an over-used expression but this program into the marketing strategy of my new
changed my life. company and it has paid off quickly!
In 4 short years I have become a multi-
Even though I was taken with the entre-
million dollar producer with my future, here
preneurial spirit early on, I still continued
in Florida, looking sunnier every day.
The Academy of Entrepreneurship at
Buchholz High was the start of it all. It
helped me grow in ways I didn’t know
were possible. If you have the opportu-
nity to get involved in an entrepreneur-
ship program , don’t hesitate. Even if it
isn’t your ultimate educational goal, it
will enhance whatever path you choose
in remarkable ways. It did for me and it Eric Hunt breaking new ground.
can for you!

Eric Hunt and his sign of success.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


11
My Summer Startup
BY IAN ANDERSON

I have always wanted to start my own


business. I thought that it would just
somehow happen when I was an adult.
paper. Pitching
a business plan
isn’t exactly
Until recently, I didn’t realize I could get something I am
started during my high school years. In used to doing.
my mind, it just wasn’t a possibility that As I am sure
I had imagined. Well, I signed up for a most people
program called YEA Biz, and suddenly my age under-
got my chance. stand it’s just
a little outside
YEA Biz did a lot more than just teach
of my comfort
me about the basics of being involved
zone. Regard-
in a business start-up. Of course we
less of how I felt,
covered a lot of that, but the program
I knew the out-
also opened my eyes to many of the
come would be
business possibilities that are available to
well worth it, so
me right now. Before YEA Biz, I would
I did my best to
look at a dirty carpet, and if I even no-
finish it up.
ticed it, I would just think somebody
needed to clean it. I certainly wouldn’t Presentation day
have seen it as an opportunity to put was considerably
cash in my pocket. It’s funny how an more valuable
experience can change your perspective. than I could have
ever imagined. I Ian Anderson, Carpet Cleaning CEO
As Brian Acord, my YEA Biz Advisor,
knew it was my
helped me devise my business plan
chance to pitch
for this program, I just couldn’t help but
my idea to busi-
think of all the possibilities. Even though
ness people that
it seemed I had a lot of potential oppor-
could help make it a reality. What I didn’t For more information on YEA Biz go to
tunities, when it came right down to it,
know was how valuable listening to the www.yeabiz.com or
I was nervous about choosing one. It’s
ideas and feedback of people that had www.blog.yeabiz.com.
kind of scary to pick a business to com-
“been there and done that” could be. The
mit your efforts to, knowing that it might This article sponsored by the Utah State
amount of information was overwhelm-
not be successful. I finally got over my Office of Education.
ing. I couldn’t believe how quickly they
fear and found one that I believed had
had brought up so many thoughts and
the most potential for me, steam clean-
ideas to improve my business in the little
ing. Cleaning carpets may not seem
time they spent talking about it. I felt I
exciting to most people, but for me it’s now
was in the company of some of the most
just like picking cash up off the floor.
business savvy minds in Utah. I gathered
Looking back on the night before I loads of extremely helpful information
was to present my business plan to my and I couldn’t wait to get started! This
YEA Biz mentors, I was pretty stressed. information gave me the confidence I
I remember that it was a late and frustrat- needed to know I would succeed. In one
ing night. All the ideas were there but I week I would be the owner of my very
just couldn’t seem to put them down on own thriving business, Stansbury Steamer.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


13
Tea For Who?
I magine being in high school
and dreaming of owning your
own business. Could it become
a reality? It did for two sister
Future Business Leaders of America
(FBLA) members who have recently
launched their new company, Flea
Tea, Ltd.
Julia La Roche, 18, and her sis-
ter Caroline La Roche, 17, were the
winners of the Invention Showcase
sponsored by the Electronic Retailing
Association (ERA), in partnership with
FBLA-PBL and sponsor Koeppel Direct.
Both were members of FBLA at Fuqua
School in Farmville, Virginia, and are on
their way to success as they launch their
new business.
Since winning the Invention Showcase’s
$20,000 grand prize, the sister team
has incorporated with Julia serving as Commission and we received our cor- sister and I were inspired by our love
the chief executive officer and Caroline porate charter. Next, we got a tax of animals. We wanted to provide pets
as the president. I.D. number and then we became with something that was useful and
incorporated.” necessary that was not on the market,”
“The process for becoming an incor-
said Julia.
porated business varies by state,” Julia “Flea Tea is an herbal and mineral rem-
said. “We became incorporated by ap- edy bath tea made of a dozen ingredi- While Priscilla is enjoying her flea-free
plying to the Virginia State Corporation ents from three different continents, and life, these inventors and young business
it is uniquely packaged in a large leaders have gained national attention
tea bag.” Julia said. “It after a recent taping for the Montel
safely and effectively Williams Show. The show topic, “Young
kills fleas on cats and Kids with Big Ideas,” aired this past season.
dogs without harmful “Appearing on the Montel Williams
side effects.” Show was an incredible experience.
“We are currently When I first received the phone call, I
marketing our product was in disbelief,” Julia said. “I believe
locally. Right now we making an appearance on the show
have a Web site, www. will help increase awareness about our
fleatea.com. Hopefully, product.”
we will be able to “We are proud of Julia and Caroline’s
expand soon.” accomplishments,” said Jean M. Buckley,
The sister team is also FBLA-PBL, Inc. president and CEO. “These
business savvy—invest- young ladies are true examples of future
ing the $20,000 in a business leaders and reflect the vision,
money-market account mission, and values of our association.”
in hopes of making According to Julia “If other FBLA
more in the future with members and young adults have an idea,
Flea Tea. I encourage them to go ahead, pursue it,
Julie and Caroline backstage at Montel. They credit their cat and make it a reality. Also, it is extremely
Priscilla as the impetus important that parents and advisers are
for their product. “My supportive of kids’ ideas.”

Future CEO Stars August 2007


14
Growing My Own
College Education
BY JOE PASCARETTA

W hat do lawn care, software


design, and wolverines have
in common? Me, I’m Joe Pascaretta,
Our peers thought no one would
purchase our services since we
were so young. In the preliminary
Mowing Joe!
cofounder of ALPS Lawn Care, ALPS stages of establishing Alps, I sent I discovered that it is
Technology International, and a full time an email to Aaron saying, “You build a difficult to be taken seriously in business
student at The University of Michigan. To website and I will sell the template and when you are still young. I didn’t let this
say that I stay busy is an understatement. It
consulting services.” The overhead was stop me though. In fact, it motivated me
doesn’t bother me though, because being very low for a start-up company. Because to break through this age/image barrier
able to handle everything going on in my of our youth, we had to do something and prove that in fact, I know what I am
life, through effective time management, different from the competition, so we talking about, and can do what I claim.
is an entrepreneurial skill I developed narrowed our profit margin, and offered I never have let detractors slow me down.
early on. incentives such as 24/7 customer sup- There will always be people who try to
port, complementary consulting services, discourage risk taking. Of course, they
I have always had a passion for follow-
and flexible finance options. That, along don’t think like entrepreneurs and can’t
ing companies and learning from their
with our great see the benefit of facing the challenge.
founders. Biog-
products and Facing fear head on is the only way I
raphies, annual Secrets of Success services, drove know to conquer it, so that’s what I do.
reports, and
1. Manage your time well; if you don’t Alps into what
news stories The benefits reaped from being an
it will manage you. it is today. If we
taught me a lot entrepreneur are substantial. Of course
would have lis-
about traits I am 2. Don’t listen to detractors having a successful business, or two, is
tened to other
now glad I have. fantastic, no doubt about it. In reality, that
because they don’t understand your people’s ad-
My objects of would probably be enough for me, but
passion or how an entrepreneur vice, Alps and
particular inter- I have been fortunate enough to receive
thinks. our successful
est included even more. I am a recipient of the NFIB’s
joint ventures
the founders of 3. Research those that were Young Entrepreneur Foundation’s Young
would have
Oracle, Cisco, successful before you. It is cheaper Entrepreneur Award. Not only did this
never been es-
and Hewlett give me recognition that I am definitely
to learn from others’ failures than tablished.
Packard. What doing the right thing, I also received
to make the same mistakes.
I learned from We began Alps $5,000 for college in the bargain. It’s
this “hobby” has as a website a long way from an 11 year old with a
been invaluable and spurred me on to development company, providing lawnmower and it just goes to show it’s
reinvesting my income to the successful Internet solutions to local companies. We never too early to get started.
business we have today. also invested in a landscape contrac-
tor and horticultural service company.
In 1999 my friend Aaron Dowen and Beginning with a single commercial
I were fascinated with computers and lawn mower, The Alps Lawn Company is
for fun learned software and computer one of Michigan’s most prestigious
programming. At the age of 11 we horticultural management companies. We
developed our first website. When we now service over 60 residential and com-
received positive response due to the mercial properties, experienced a 239%
professionalism of the site, we decided growth spurt last year, and grossed over 1
to enter the website development market. million dollars.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


15
“A lot of kids would like to start their
own business of one kind or
another, but they don’t know how. Most
schools don’t teach it.” So says Clarence
Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist
for the Chicago Tribune and essayist of
THESE KIDS MEAN BUSINES$.
Centered on budding entrepreneurs
across the country and the programs
created to foster their interest and under-
standing of the free market, this documen-
tary tells the tale of underserved youth
creating and living their own versions of
the American success story.
These Kids
In the course of the documentary, viewers
meet young entrepreneurs such as Eric
and Derrick, 16-year-old twins in urban
Mean Busines$
Premiering on PBS Thursday, August 30, 2007
Milwaukee, as they promote their thriv-
ing lawn-care business; Laima, age 16, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings)
who makes sure her Web site develop-
ment company in New York City doesn’t
sacrifice good design and aesthetics for
the latest special effects; and, west of
the Blue Ridge Mountains, David Lawson
of Wise County, Virginia, who began
converting six acres of his family
property to a vineyard after completing a
high school entrepreneurship class several
years ago.
“There might be opportunities outside
of just getting to college and working
for somebody. I’ve always wanted to
be able to work for myself and be my
own boss, but I wasn’t sure exactly how
I could do that.” say’s David Lawson.
David’s elective entrepreneurship class
was through an organization called Rural
Entrepreneurship through Action Learning,
otherwise known as REAL. “This class was
a good introduction for me to realize that
it’s not so complicated in some respects
to start your own business.”
The stories in the documentary come from
many parts of the country: Milwaukee,
Wisconsin; South Los Angeles, California;
Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee;
Chicago, Illinois; Wise County, Virginia;
and New York City, New York. Among Eric and Derrick working for their future.
the organizations featured in the program
are the National Foundation for Teaching
Entrepreneurship, REAL Enterprises, Center
for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Entrenuity,
and the C. E. O. Academy. For Entrepreneurial
Academic experts interviewed in the ideas, check out
documentary comment on their extensive
www.thesekidsmeanbusiness.org

Future CEO Stars August 2007


16
research, which indicates that entrepre-
neurship education has a positive effect
on the academic performance of at-risk
students — as well as affecting attitude
and behavior. Featured scholars are
Andrew B. Hahn, Ph.D., Professor, Hel-
ler School for Social Policy and Manage-
ment at Brandeis University; and Howard
S. Rasheed, Ph.D., Associate Professor,
Cameron School of Business, University
of North Carolina at Wilmington.
“Entrepreneurship projects are, first and
foremost, experiential education; they
fill a vacuum that many young people
feel that they need,” says Professor
Hahn. “And they’re voting with their feet.
They’re leaving school in droves, if you
look at the dropout rate. And the principal
reason for the dropout rate, according
to research we and others have done, is
that kids just don’t like the regimentation
for school. And they’re crying out for
experiential learning opportunities.”
REAL’s David Lawson in his vineyard.
“What we are trying to do with Youth
Entrepreneurship is bridge the gap.
Teach life long skills, understanding
the business concepts and economic
processes, so that they can create, as
opposed to be part of, a work force,”
comments Dr. Rasheed. “So we’re
not really training students to become
consumers, or employees. We’re
training them to be employers, and
economic creators.”
In addition, life-long educator Rudy Crew,
superintendent of Miami-Dade County
Public Schools, talks about his plans
to include entrepreneurship education
as part of his secondary school reform
policy. “We’re realizing that Miami Public
Schools is the centerpiece of the economy
for this entire region,” says Dr. Crew. “And
to that extent, entrepreneurship has to be
a part of the curriculum. We really do
believe that how students make sense out
Narrator Clarence Page with NFTE students. of their world, how they actualize and
realize their own dreams and goals by be-
ing participants in that world at an early
age, all have a lot to do with their ability
to be very successful later in life.”
Clarence Page concludes THESE KIDS
MEAN BUSINES$: “Even if these ambi-
tious young entrepreneurs don’t launch
THESE KIDS MEAN BUSINES$ is a production of the Corporation for Educa- their own company right away, they walk
tional Radio and Television (CERT). Essayist: Clarence Page. Award-winning away with skills, values and experiences
Producer and director: Zach Richter. Director of Photography: Naftali Larish. that can help them in other ways for
the rest of their lives.”

Future CEO Stars August 2007


17
Future CEO Stars August 2007
18
Making a House a Home
Earn $200 While You Learn
BY C. DEANNA LEWIS, HOME BUILDERS INSTITUTE

A pron, blankets, cap, collar and


ribbon – are these construction
terms? Definitely! My next question?
How often have you watched a single
home or an entire housing development
spring up in a neighborhood and not
give a lot of thought to what it takes to
construct a home? Take a few minutes
to think about how it happens and who
makes it happen. There are over 100
occupations that contribute to building ©iStockphoto.com, Alex Slobodkin
the house that you call home. Houses Glossary
– come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Apron - A trim board that is installed beneath Collar - Preformed flange placed over a vent
Who does the work? a window sill. pipe to seal the roofing above the vent pipe
Take a look behind the scenes. Have you opening. Also called a vent sleeve.
Blankets - Fiber-glass or rock-wool insulation
ever thought about becoming a builder? that comes in long rolls 15 or 23 inches Ribbon (girt) - Normally a 1x4 board let into
Do you want to become someone who wide. the studs horizontally to support the ceiling or
initiates or finances a new commercial second-floor joists.
Cap - The upper member of a column,
enterprise? Do you want to assume the pilaster, door cornice, molding, or fireplace. Source: www.HomeBuildingManual.com
responsibility and the risk for a business
operation with the expectation of making
a profit? If you answer yes, you have
captured the entrepreneurial spirit…more
Education class.
specifically, the entrepreneurial spirit Win $200 for your Entrepreneur
It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s challenging!
necessary to enter the construction indus-
try. Perhaps you are not ready to build a
ideal (play)house. Enter the Business
house, but something on a smaller scale, Design, build, market and sell your e
ction Industry’s Show of Homes. Hom
such as a playhouse, is definitely an Ventures in the Residential Constru Plan now , buil d in the
awards in 2007.
option. Can you meet that challenge? Builders Institute (HBI) will make 25 dlin e is Dec emb er 1,
today – your dea
Think about it! You can go into business fall. Submit your intent to participate win g info rma tion via
to send the follo
by yourself or form a partnership with 2007. Here’s how. Ask your teacher
rg) or fax (20 2-266-8999) to C. Deanna Lewis:
your classmates. email (buildacareer@hbi.o
With the right tools, you can construct 1) Name and address of school
your career path to join an exciting ne and/or email
2) Teacher’s name, department, pho
industry that is also financially reward-
ners if applicable)
ing. With the right tools you can build 3) Student’s name (names of all part
a career path that will open the door to ciation, builder, contractor, etc.
4) Participation of a Home Builder Asso
owning your own business. Construction to
teacher will receive a detailed easy
offers more opportunities than most other When your entr y is submitted your Resi den -
the Business Ventures in the
industries for individuals who want to follow step-by-step format for entering will be
Homes. Pictures of the winners
own and run their own business. It is an tial Construction Industry’s Show of
website at www.buildingcareers.org.
ideal business for entrepreneurship! posted on the HBI Career Services

Future CEO Stars August 2007


19
Planning … To Get Ahead
Do you remember “grown ups” asking you, when you were in that company is the one who hired someone to do the dirty
young, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” So, work so they could keep their own hands clean.
do you have a real answer for that question yet? Let’s face
Older people love to declare about how fast time flies.
it, there aren’t a lot of positions available in the want ads for
Unfortunately, even though it may not seem like it during
astronauts, runway models, cowboys, millionaires or
some classes, study hall, or detention, they are right. Those
presidents. It really is very important to plan where your life
who don’t plan for their future tend to be directed by their
takes you, especially if being satisfied with what you do, or in
circumstances. Yes, someone has to clean out the portable
other words “being happy”, means anything.
outhouses of the world, but do you really want it to be you?
Think about it. Do you think the person who delivers porta-
Okay, so if planning is important, the next question is, what
ble outhouses aspired to one day hold that position? It’s pos-
can you do about it? Well, a good place to start is to take a
sible that they did, if they previously held the job of the
real good look at what you like and don’t like right now. Of
person who had to clean them out, but odds
course, careers in sleeping, playing video games, eating and
are pretty good that neither of those “lofty
generally doing nothing don’t pay all that well so you need to
positions” re- quired much planning.
look beyond the obvious. Which classes interest you most?
The person who planned
What hobbies do you enjoy? What are your interests?
What do you look forward to doing (besides sleeping,
playing video games…etc, etc)? JK Rowling loved to
journal when she was young, Bill Gates was a total
computer geek before computers could do anything,
and it is a safe bet that Oprah has always loved
to talk.
Focusing on what you really like seems like a “no
brainer” but there are a lot of steps to be taken
between enjoying something and making it pay
off. To keep them straight and know your next
move it is best to have a formal (that means
written) plan. This plan needs to be flexible
enough to adapt to changes beyond your
control yet firm enough that it clearly lines
out the path to success. There are tons of
books on how to create a great plan,
but that is beyond what we are talk-
ing about here. The important part to
remember is that you can’t build a
solid plan on a weak foundation,
so really knowing what you really
like is critical. This requires look-
ing at all aspects that would
go into making your interest a
profession.
Time is short so plan now.
Focus on what you like in
life and be sure to examine
it closely. As the old say-
ing goes, “those that fail
to plan, plan to fail”.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


20
“What’s NE W?”
How many times a day do you hear So do you have NEW Ideas?
this question? Many NEW Ideas start small, some merely with a
So how do you usually respond to it? dream, a thought, or a problem that needs solving.

If you’re like most people you probably say Michael Dell didn’t know that putting together
something along the lines of “Not much, what’s computer components in his garage would make
new with you?” him a billionaire one day.

Well, there is now a better answer. Bill Bowerman was just trying to make a better
running shoe for his University of Oregon track
“New” is National Entrepreneurship Week, team when he used his waffle iron at home and
celebrated Feb. 23 thru March 1, 2008 created the first NIKE running shoe.
This annual week long celebration features Henry Ford tried to come up with a more ef-
successful entrepreneurs as well as education ficient way to build a car. Although his company
programs providing experiences designed to failed three times, he finally got the model T right.
encourage entrepreneurial thinking nationwide.
Do you have a NEW idea? Maybe it’s time to
NOW is the time to get ready for NEW, and make it a reality.
in the process, start creating your future.
Get involved with National Entrepreneurship
Week in your area TODAY! For more
information go to:

www.nationalEweek.com

Feb 23 to Mar 1, 2008


Most often, a successful business name has at
least one of the following characteristics:
™ It’s memorable
™ It communicates its purpose or focus
™ It’s meaningful
™ It attracts attention or is catchy
™ It’s unique
™ It’s 4-8 letters or short enough to
fit on one line of a business card
™ It identifies the owners

CHALLENGE:
All of the boxes below contain the names of real ventures.
Think of at least 3 possible businesses that could have each name.
(The real business purposes are listed at the bottom of the page.)

1. 2. 3. 4.
ASSETS Lids Old Snip Its
5. 4
Mule 8.
6.
The Good 7. The
Cat’s Wheels ReStore Chop
Pajamas
10.
Chasing Shop
9.
e.e. cats the Dream
EXTRA CHALLENGES:
1. Grade each business A-F on the effectiveness of its name.
Justify your grade.
2. Come up with a better name for each type of business.

Teaching Strategy Consultants 10. Youth Entrepreneurship Camp


6. Used Car Sales 7. Car Detailing 8. Barber 9. Entrepreneurship Education, Creativity Applications,
Answers: 1. Builders 2. Baseball Caps 3. Towing Service 4. Children’s Haircuts 5. Catsitting Service

From Chase the Dream! ©Delaware Financial Literacy Institute info@dfli.org

Future CEO Stars August 2007


22
Mooo-ving Foward
BY LACY FRIESTAD

B eing born just five miles from each


other in rural North Dakota, Tyler
Lang and Kari Heaton aren’t strangers to
the farm and ranch life. Tyler’s family has
been ranching since 1906, mainly fo-
cusing on Simmental Cattle, while Kari’s
family raises the Black Angus breed.
When the two ended up in the same
Agribusiness class at Bismarck State
College, they decided to pair up to
create a business plan, never think-
ing it would win a state competition.
Were they ever wrong! Tyler and Kari’s
business plan, H & L Feedlot, took the
grand prize of $3,000 in the Business
Opportunity and Self-Employment
Search (B.O.S.S.) Business Plan
Competition, held at Marketplace for
Entrepreneurs in January, 2007.
“B.O.S.S. encourages all students to
consider self employment, to start an
enterprise or to commercialize an idea
or innovation,” said U.S. Senator Kent
Conrad and North Dakota Agricul- Kari and Tyler at their feedlot.
ture Commissioner Roger Johnson, the
Organizing Sponsors of Marketplace
for Entrepreneurs. “Learning to write busi-
ness plans helps young people exercise
their creativity and develop critical think- of an oral round and an elevator round, do it for yourself,” Kari says. “Even if it
ing and organizational skills, the very and Tyler and Kari had their business seems like a far-fetched idea, go for it,”
skills they will need most, no matter what plan well prepared. “We may have won says Tyler.
their future occupation.” because our plan would help the whole
state, and the feedlot would employ
Over twenty teams from colleges about 15 people,” Tyler said.
and universities in North Dakota and
Minnesota competed in the B.O.S.S. H & L Feedlot is still a work in progress,
Competition. Tyler and Kari were with the cost of land and materials a set-
surprised at their win, because they are back, but Tyler and Kari are determined
students at a two-year college, and were to succeed. Tyler even used his winnings
competing against teams from four-year to add to his growing herd of cattle.
universities. The competition consisted “The key is to not do something because
someone else wants you to do it, but to

Future CEO Stars August 2007


23
Emily’s Advice
W e are pleased to introduce Emily the Entrepreneur’s
Advice Column. Emily, actually, is a group of several
business educators and entrepreneurs that have agreed to
Q&A
So what do you want to know? No question is too simple or
too challenging! This is your opportunity to ask those questions
that you have been wondering about or could make or break
field your questions. They represent over 125 years collective your business..
experience. Therefore if you can think of it, they have
Submit your questions to AskEmily@entre-ed.org
probably been through it.

Q Dear Emily:
What exactly does the word “entrepreneur” mean and where
did it come from?
Sincerely,
“Bemused and Confused”

A Dear Bemused:
An entrepreneur (a loanword from French introduced and first defined by
the Irish economist Richard Cantillon) is a person who undertakes and
operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for
the inherent risks.
According to David Gladstone in his book: Venture Capital Investing,
“The term entrepreneur has undergone a change in meaning since the
late 1800s, when it was used to refer to the “director or manager of a
public musical institution” (see The Oxford Universal Dictionary). Entrepre-
neur derives the French verb entreprendre (to undertake), which, however,
had already entered English many years earlier in the form of enterprise,
from enterpris, the past participle of entreprendre. Enterprise first appeared
around 1430 and was commonly used to refer to an undertaking of bold
and arduous nature. The person carrying out the enterprise was known as the
enterpriser but eventually lost ground to entrepreneur, the primary meaning
of which became “one who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a
business or enterprises.”

Future CEO Stars August 2007


24
Entrepreneurship events available
through DECA include:
• Entrepreneurship Promotion Project

Have a Dream? • Learn and Earn Project


• Internet Marketing Business Plan
Event
DECA Can Take You There • Entrepreneurship Written Event
BY MICHELLE WALKER, PH.D. AND JOE WITTNEBEN • International Business Plan Event
• Entrepreneurship Participating Event

H ow does it feel to be recognized as one of the top high school


students in the world in entrepreneurship? Ask finalists of DECA’s
Business Management and Entrepreneurship Events how it feels.
direction there is
for you, DECA
can be a guide.
Exhilarating, rewarding, and worthwhile might be some of the This year, DECA members will attend leadership conferences
words that come up, but a more common response is, “You just in great cities like Atlanta, Boston, San Antonio, and Seattle,
can’t understand unless you’re there.” with many more held at the state and district level. At these
conferences, members have the opportunity to unveil their hard
There actually means everywhere. In classrooms from Puerto Rico to
work, share ideas with other members, and get sound advice
Germany, in all fifty states, and in its division on college campuses,
from business professionals with years of experience in entre-
DECA’s 180,000 members have more opportunities to diversify
preneurship. These trips are not the only avenue for realizing
their entrepreneurship education than any other student
your goals. Success starts in the classroom and DECA’s
organization. Why? Participation in DECA sponsored events
co-curricular model allows young entrepreneurs ample oppor-
incorporates multiple business strategies into each project.
tunities to learn as students inside the classroom while they
It’s all there. Marketing, public relations, finance, and technol- excel as DECA members everywhere else.
ogy are essential to every budding entrepreneur and, there-
To find out more about becoming a young entrepreneur as a
fore, to each business plan that members create. Specific
member of DECA and participating in events that develop
events allow members to focus on special interest areas like
young entrepreneurs, visit www.DECA.org.
designing a new business in an international setting, creating
a new internet-based business, promoting entrepreneurship to
the general public, or tracking and analyzing store products
and promotions.
There can mean different things to each person – graduation,
early retirement, opening day of your first business. Whichever
Future CEO Stars August 2007
25
Inventorpreneurship

W ho do you think of when asked “who is the Fa-


ther of Modern Electricity?” Thomas Edison,
right? Well, Nikoli Tesla, the actual inventor of alter-
nating current, might have had a little problem with
that. What is the difference between these two great
men? They both were geniuses when it came to inven-
tion but Edison was also an excellent Entrepreneur. His
marketing skills, drive, amazing ability to acquire pub-
licity, showmanship, knowledge of patent laws, and
business savvy insured his place in history.
There is no doubt that being a good inventor can be a
very important part of becoming successful. Ingenuity
and creativity are wonderful assets in their own right
and certainly should not be discounted. Unfortunately
a “Great Idea” is merely that if it never gets out of the
inventor’s workshop. In reality some of the best inven-
tions ever created have probably died with their
inventor while, in the meantime, everyone knows
what a Pocket Fisherman is.
Of course you don’t have to invent any-
thing to be a successful Entrepreneur,
PT Barnum proved that, but if you’re an
inventor it is probably wise to sharpen
your Entrepreneurial Tools. Good inven-
tions need to be protected, marketed, pub-
licized, refined, manufactured, and promoted
to become Great ones.
Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile but he knew
how to get them to market. Bill Gates didn’t invent the
computer but he sure did make them user friendly. PT
Barnum didn’t invent anything but he certainly became
famous selling “hum bug”. Have you ever heard of
Vladimir Zworykin or Philo Farnsworth? Many credit
them as the combination of inventors who invented
Television, great Inventors with poor Entrepreneurial
skills destined to fall off the pages of history.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


26
Taking Charge
BY DAN KARR

I nnovative passion is the driving force


behind this student-run organization.
Society’s general consensus regarding
the success of a high school student
assumes that we will not find success
in the business field until after college
graduation. However, Prominent
Youth, Inc. (PY) has created a fighting
opposition to this status quo.
My name is Daniel Karr and I am a
recent graduate of Park Hill South High
School, soon to be a freshman at Park
University, majoring in International
Business. By serving as the President of
PY, I have learned how to change my
interests into business profits.
Prominent Youth, Inc. is a non-profit
organization that pays students to create
their own businesses with the help of guid-
ing mentors trained in correlating fields. PY
began in May 2005 with a small group of
Kansas City, MO teens and mentors. The
goal was to have students develop their
own income stream by creating, develop-
ing and selling their own business ideas.
PY partners believe that young adults Dan and Allison present a gift to Scott Beeson (Founder of PY).
do not have to wait until we finish our Also pictured are Alisha Russell and Heidi Pratt.
education to finally begin developing our
passions. We have the capabilities and
knowledge to find achievement now. All With our combined efforts, we encour- Perseverance, organization and
business professionals understand that aged more than a dozen of PY’s student communication, according to Allison,
it is an immensely competitive world – owned businesses to set up their own in- are the hidden ideals that will guide any
so PY is giving a headstart to America’s formational booths. Over 900 guests from entrepreneur to accomplish his or her
future leaders. around the community were invited. PY biggest aspirations.
also recognized its 24 sponsors through
In May 2007, PY held its second annual For more information, visit
advertisements and special booths. Jay
Trade Show and Job Fair in Kansas City, www.prominentyouth.com or
Wolfe Toyota – Scion and Midway Ford
MO, planned by myself and the Vice call PY at (816) 550-5303.
also featured two of their newest car mod-
President, Amanda Allison. Allison is a els. Jim Ferrell of Ferrellgas highlighted the
senior of Platte County R-III High School, evening’s events by serving as our guest
and we worked together to organize this speaker. Mr. Ferrell spoke of his personal
monumental event. business experiences in hopes of inspiring
all guests that success in entrepreneurship
Together, we initiated meetings as early
takes ingenuity, diligence and passion.
as five months prior to the Trade Show
to ensure that tasks were completed Allison and I helped the Prominent Youth
on time. We worked with a team of organization to apply Ferrell’s qualities in
Administration and other PY students to their efforts in their businesses. I believe
delegate tasks for the entire organization that determination, passion and hard work
of more than fifty students. are the secrets to business achievement.

Future CEO Stars August 2007


27
More Than
Marshmallows!
BY MOLLY MCINDOE

W hat did you do over the summer?


I went to a week long camp and
came home an actual entrepreneur. I have
But it wasn’t all
about being stuffed
in a room all day
always been curious about what it listening to non-stop
would take to run my own business. speakers—I actu-
In looking for something to do over ally got to experience
my summer vacation I came across Maine and open a
EntrePrep Summer Institute held at the business at the same
Hebron Academy in Maine. It sounded time. I went canoe-
like fun to me, so I thought I would give ing, swam in a lake
it a try. In the end I came away with and also got to sneak
a lot more than I ever thought I would; in a trip to a movie.
the camp was all about entrepreneurship There was plenty of
education—learning it, seeing it, using it free time to chill out,
and applying it! roll down the grassy Molly, on the right, discovered that even in
hills, play basketball, the rain, sales were brisk.
During the week, I attended seminars that
work out in the gym or go to the library.
taught me entrepreneurial skills, economic
On top of all of that, I came home with B as to sales location! Although we were
concepts, business planning, marketing,
great new friends and experiences that I basically rained out, our product was a
sales, advertising and opportunity
will remember for a lifetime. hit with the other girls at the camp and
cost and recognition. I participated
we were able to sell all of our inventory.
in hands-on activities that helped In this program I started a successful
me understand how the business jewelry business with my best friend, craft- In the end, not only did we walk away
world works. The last two days of the ing handmade necklaces using marbles, with a profit, but we learned it is very
program involved launching and beads and fabric. We were coached important to never assume anything.
operating a business for one day and on the legal aspects of our business and Don’t start a business with unrealistic
giving a presentation detailing the provided financial advice and funding expectations because, in the real world,
experience. while being guided by mentors. it may not turn out perfectly or even close
to your expectations. This is the spirit
Initially we were confident with our idea
of entrepreneurship—you have to be
and thought that it would be a piece of
ready for anything. I now have a better
cake, but we were very, very wrong.
Secrets of success come understanding of how the business
Sourcing materials took longer than
from hands on experience: world works, and the skills to become a
we expected. Mass production of our
successful entrepreneur. My partner and
• Start your business with an product forced us to solicit help from
I will be continuing the business back at
others since we couldn’t afford a sew-
open mind and be sure you home in North Carolina, since we now
ing machine and ended up manually
are passionate about it actually have some wholesale orders.
making each necklace. Let’s just say we
• Talk to people about your idea, were up very late hand sewing neck-
get feedback, find mentors laces and bracelets. Perhaps we could
have spent more time scouting locations
• Always listen to what your for the Grand Premier of our product line
customers say because on the morning of our ‘business-
for-a-day’ it was pouring rain and we
were out in the middle of it! Time for Plan

Future CEO Stars August 2007


28
It’s Out of the Park!
BY KIP DOYLE

Kristi Jo Webb (in pink jacket) and the other NYReal Goal Achievers outside of Stadium.

W hen it comes to achieving success, personally or in


business, there is no trait more important than being
goal-oriented. This was the lesson passed down from Michael
At one time unsure of what she wanted to do after graduation,
Miss Webb is now looking forward to college and a career in
business thanks to her experiences with Mr. Lastoria and with
Lastoria, a Fillmore, NY native, CEO and cofounder of Innova- NYREAL. “Mike inspired me in a lot of ways. Setting goals is
tive Ads, a multimillion dollar advertising company, to a group part of what it takes to make a career,” she said.
of seven goal-achieving Allegany County, NY high school
Seated behind home plate, the students witnessed top Yankees
students.
players like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter take on the
Last spring, after competing in a NYREAL marketing plan com- California Angels in the last game of a weekend series.
petition, successful students went on a Cattaraugus Allegany Although a lifelong Cleveland Indians fan, Mr. Lastoria
BOCES-sponsored field trip to New York City, where they explained that the Yankees represent success, not just as a
met Mr. Lastoria, 26, at his offices. During the meeting, Mr. team, but as a company.
Lastoria made a challenge to the students: set concrete goals,
As a star athlete in high
write them down on paper, and achieve those goals by next
school and college, Mr.
year. If the students met them, they would be rewarded with a
Lastoria understands the
round trip to New York City to attend a Yankees game.
similarities between achiev-
Out of the 20-plus students, seven were able to reach their ing in sports and achieving
goals and attend the game on May 27th. Each made good as an entrepreneur, where
on their goals, which included raising their grade point both success and failure
averages and being on the honor roll. are often determined by
work ethic.
The morning flight to JFK was the first-ever plane ride for Kristi-Jo
Webb, who said she had been inspired by her previous meet- For more information, please
ing with Mr. Lastoria. “I was struggling a lot in almost all of my go to www.nyreal.org.
classes,” she said. “Now, I am almost at the top of my class.”
Future CEO Stars August 2007
29
Does your class
need money?

Is your teacher looking for


an effective way to raise
funding for a class project?
©iStockphoto.com, Scott Hancock

Are you tired of selling cookies


or candy?

Do you want to avoid the hassle


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laws, and requirements pertaining to maintaining this status.
Our Sponsors
W e would like to thank the sponsors of Future CEO Stars whose forward thinking, support, and
generous contributions made this publication possible. It is organizations like these that keep your
education focused, moving forward, challenging, and potentially profitable. To learn more about what they
have to offer please feel free to visit their websites listed below.

When an organization really cares,


it shows!!!
Appalachian Regional Commission www.arc.gov
Buchholz High School www.bhs.sbac.edu
The Coleman Foundation www.colemanfoundation.org
DECA, Inc www.deca.org
Home Builders Institute www.hbi.org
Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship Education www.iiee.org
JA Worldwide www.ja.org
Marketplace for Kids www.marketplaceforkids.org
MediaSpark www.mediaspark.com
National Council on Economic Education www.ncee.net
National Museum of Education www.nmoe.org
NFIB Young Entrepreneurs Foundation www.nfib.com/yef
NFTE www.nfte.com
NY REAL www.nyreal.org
Prominent Youth, Inc. www.prominentyouth.com
The University of Florida www.cei.ufl.edu
Utah State Office of Education www.schools.utah.gov
Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas www.yeks.org
Yourhomework.com www.yourhomework.com

Future CEO Stars August 2007


31
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information they need to know to start their own companies.

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