2011, Issue 3

FUTURE CEO STARS

Smiling Behind the Camera

See Page 4

CELEBRATE NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

February 19th - 26th!

www.NationalEweek.com
 Are You An Entrepreneurial GENIUS?
1 How can a person’s career skills and experiences lead to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
2. What personality traits are more likely to lead to success as an entrepreneur?
3. Are there differences between a market economy, entrepreneurship, free enterprise, and capitalism?
4. What taxes do entrepreneurs pay?
5. What items are part of a firm’s operating costs?
6. How can an entrepreneur learn about what the customers want?
7. How can computer skills help with business operations?
8. How do entrepreneurs deal with risks?
9. How is personal financial literacy related to business financial literacy?
10. What factors determine where to locate a business?
11. Why is branding important?
12. How does competition affect entrepreneurship?
13. What percent of American firms have no employees working for them? Why is this important?
14. What are some sources of funding to start a business?
15. What can an entrepreneur do if business sales drop off ?
16. What should an entrepreneur consider when hiring employees for the business?
17. How does an entrepreneur work in a country that doesn’t support capitalism?
18. What is “tolerance of ambiguity” and why is it important to an entrepreneur?
19. How might an entrepreneur use company profits?
20. Why do entrepreneurs say they are in charge of their own fate?

GET YOUR FREE “GENIUS” CERTIFICATE

and Check out our ALL New Website at
Go to www.Entre-week.org
FUTURE
U CEO STA
TARS
TARS 2011 Issue 3

4 Smiling Behind the Camera

NFTE, Inc.

6 Cooking Up Success
TREP$

10 Capstone
Ignite

12 Fresh Squeezed Success

Holthouse Foundation for Kids

15 Raking It In!!
Four Band’s CREATE

16 Webinars
Chip Lowe Why am I Smiling?
18 FORE!!
See page 20
20 Not Just a Game
Marketplace for Kids

22 Cal Services Published by The Consortium

The Lyles Center for Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199
Columbus, OH 43212
24 Other People’s Pets www.entre-ed.org
mashmore@entre-ed.org
Buchholz Academy
Publisher: Dr. Cathy Ashmore
Editor: Mike Ashmore
27 Small Setback... Graphic Design: SPLASH Designs
Réseau des CJE du Québec
Student Advisory Board
Chip Lowe, Claire He, Micah Toll,
28 “E” is for Entrepreneur Kelly Rapp, Marcus Craft

Web Page Design and Management

CWD
31 Our Sponsors
 Smiling Behind
the Camera
By Nina Maniphak

P lumporcupine Photography is a different kind of photography business. I focus

more on helping to raise the self-esteem of girls from a various age range. This
actually started 4 years ago; a friend of mine needed a reference picture of herself for
her art class and she knew I was into photography, so she asked me to take photos of
her.
She came over to my house and I did her makeup and dressed her up. At first she was
really shy when the camera was focused on her but then she eased up and started to
get really into the modeling and posing. I was stunned and speechless since she was a
very shy and quiet girl, but what had surprised me the most was when she was going
through the photos she had told me “Wow! I have never felt so beautiful in my life
before.” When she told me that, I kept telling myself “She should feel beautiful every
day!”
Because of this experience I felt I wanted to help raise other girls’ self esteem through
photography. Even today, former customers who have had a photo session tell me
they look at the photos and feel more confident about themselves. I really enjoy
photographing people since it enables me to work with people and capture a wide
variety of emotions. It can be very stressful at times with scheduling photo shoots,
setting up, and retouching, but it’s also very rewarding knowing at the end of the day
I’ve helped raised someone’s confidence.
When starting off I had used a really low grade camera, so a lot of people didn’t take
my photography seriously until I showed them my portfolio. Then they were just
amazed. The NFTE program really helped me push myself towards photography;
with the money I won from the competition I had bought my very first professional
camera. Currently I’m offering my photography services around the Woodbridge,
Virginia area. I’m kind of torn between attending college and working on my business
part time, or taking a year off to work on my business full time. Eventually I hope to
move to New York and build up my portfolio with professional models, and gain more
knowledge on the fashion industry since I hope to become a fashion photographer.

Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2

4
 Secrets of Success
1. Do what you truly want to do.
2. Don’t wait for the once in a lifetime opportunity; just go out there and do it.
3. Risks are a bit like “frienemies” in the business world.

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2

5
 Cooking Up
Success
By Melissa Kozell

M y name is Melissa Kozell and I am in the Fourth Grade at Cedar Hill School in Montville,
NJ. I was really excited when I first heard about the TREP$ program. Since I want to
be a chef when I grow up, I knew that I wanted to do something that had to do with food.

At first I was going to do a cook book. A few other people had that idea too. Then my
mom said that I could make a cookie cookbook and have samples for people to try. She
said she had recipes from her grandmothers that have been in our family for a long time
and maybe I should make some of them. I kept thinking about what I really wanted to do.

Then I remembered that my mom made these cupcakes for my sister’s party that looked
like hamburgers. She also made “french fries” from sugar cookie dough. Everyone thought
that they were so cute. Last year my mom found a cook book with lots of fun cupcakes
in it. She made “chicken legs” and “peas and carrots” for my sister’s birthday because
it is around April Fool’s day. I thought maybe I could make little meals, so I searched
for one more kind of meal. I saw these sushi rolls in a magazine made with cupcakes and
fruit roll ups and coconut. I thought they looked really cool. I came up with the name
Melissa’s Mini Meals. I decided to sell each meal for $2 and I made 20 of each meal.

We got the groceries and I was happy that a lot of the supplies that I needed were on sale. We got
different plates from the dollar store and the lady at the Chinese food restaurant let me buy 30
pairs of chopsticks for $1.50 for the sushi plates. I colored the icings and the cookie dough and
made the white chocolate “chicken bones” a few days before the marketplace. The day before,
my mom baked the cupcakes and as soon as I got home from school, I started decorating. I was
a little scared that I wouldn’t get it all done in time, but once I started working, it was really fun
and it went fast. My mom helped with icing the “chicken legs” and the “cherry pies” because
they were really hard to do. The sushis were hard to wrap and both my mom and dad helped
me. Then my dad practiced counting change with me so I could do it at the market place.
(continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
6
I was excited and nervous when the market place started, but then I felt more comfortable
after a little while.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Almost everyone that came to my table said that my meals were cute. I liked it when
they would tell the person behind them that they had to come and see my cupcakes.
I was really happy when the lady from TREPS came over and gave me a compliment
on how cute the cupcakes looked and what a great idea she thought they were. I sold
most of the meals during the first hour and I sold out before the market place was over.

One of the toughest things was having to explain over and over what the meals were made of.
It was very noisy and I had to talk really loud so people could hear me. Some people thought
my food was made of clay! The other thing was that if you want to sell a food product, you
can’t make it until right before the market place or it won’t be fresh. I worked really hard the
day before and by the time I was done my hands were hurting from icing over 60 cupcakes.
I don’t plan on making mini meals all the time to sell, but I will do them for a party or another
special occasion.-I had a lot of fun and I made $102.00 profit. I can’t wait to do it again next
year!

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2 7

 Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
8
 THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T AFFORD A WEBSITE?

DIDN’T THINK VIDEO PRODUCTION COULD BE AFFORDABLE?

never had the time to setup your company to take

advantage of social networking?
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find us on Email us at go@cwd.me
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Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2 call us at (352) 575-0055 9
 Capstone

T he energy in the room was electric. Students busy gluing wicks, pouring liquid wax,
cleaning, wiping, counting, labeling and organizing soy candles. These students
were on a mission to produce more than 1,600 candles in a little more than a week.

Students at Ovid-Elsie High School are getting a head start on being entrepreneurs
through the Business Department course titled Corporate Services, which is taught by
Michael Shimek and Bonnie Ott. Students take this class as the capstone course in
the department and learn a solid foundation of business practices through hands-on
activities. Each year, the students in the class elect a board of directors from the class to
make decisions about the company they will form. Once elected, the board (along with
the help of the teachers) gets to work researching products, and calculating materials
needed.

This year, as in some past years, the students chose to produce 8 ounce soy candles
and the company is called Marauder Made Candle Company (after the high schools
mascot, the Marauder). Students calculated the amount of soy wax, wicks, glass jars,
and fragrance to purchase and that started the wheels in motion. Once all materials
were ordered and delivered, the students got busy. After production comes the sales.
Students sell the candles to friends and family and keep well organized records. Students
in the class are the stockholders and make a donation to a local charity with a portion of
the profits when the corporation is done.

This class has been offered since 2003 and there is always a high number of students
that want to take it. Several past students have graduated and gone on the start their
own businesses later-something that makes all the extra work very rewarding and
worthwhile.

Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2

10
Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2
11
 Bring Lemonade Day to your city!

Build a Stand... SPARK A DREAM!

Free, Fun, Experiential Learning

This year 100,000 kids across the nation will start their own lemonade stand business
on May 2. By 2013, Lemonade Day will reach 1 million young entrepreneurs in 100
cities. We want to bring this community-wide event for kids to YOUR city!

or business schools, foundations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth sports

Great project for
ol programs!
and after-school

Let’s talk!
Contact Executive Director
Julie Eberly at 713.626.KIDS or
jeberly@prepared4life.org.
 Lemonade Day FAQ
What is Lemonade Day?
Lemonade Day is a FREE, community-wide, educational initiative
designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own
business – a lemonade stand.
How did Lemonade Day get started?
Michael Holthouse, a Houston entrepreneur and philanthropist,
co-founded Prepared 4 Life (P4L), a nonprofit that provides fun,
proactive programs infused with life skills, character education
and entrepreneurship. Inspired by the lessons he was able
to teach his young daughter and her friend when they set up a
lemonade stand, Holthouse launched Lemonade Day in Houston,
Texas in 2007. It has now become P4L’s number one outreach and
educational priority.
When is Lemonade Day?
Lemonade Day takes place the first Sunday in May. It will be on
May 2 in 2010.
Who can participate?
Youth of all ages, from pre-K through high school, can register for
an official Lemonade Day stand. Adults are needed to participate
as mentors and volunteers. In addition, community support
from schools, churches, businesses, and youth organizations is
essential to the success of Lemonade Day.
How does it work?
Each child that registers for Lemonade Day receives a bright,
yellow backpack with an informational workbook for the child
and another for a responsible adult. The workbooks outline the
steps needed to start a business, from setting a goal, creating
a business plan, forming a budget and finding an investor to
saving money and donating a portion back to their community.
(Materials are available in Spanish.)
Lemonade Day is the perfect opportunity for the entire community
to come together and train the next generation of entrepreneurs.
How does a child register?
Beginning in the spring, a child can register by completing a
printed application available through participating partners, such
as schools or youth organizations. Youth can register online at
www.LemonadeDay.org. They can also sign up and receive a
backpack at numerous events in the spring in each city.
What do children learn?
The objective of Lemonade Day is to teach youth how to start
and run their own lemonade business. Children learn the
entrepreneurial skills necessary to be successful in the future and
become contributing members of their communities. The best part
of the program for kids is that after covering their expenses and
paying back their investors, they can keep what they earn. With
this in mind, children are encouraged to open a youth savings
account so their profits can continue to grow as well as give a
portion of their earnings to charity.
Who can get involved and how?
Anyone and everyone can be involved in Lemonade Day.
Young entrepreneurs with lemonade stands need mentors,
investors, employees and customers! Sponsors and volunteers
are also needed to make Lemonade Day a success. All money
raised through local donations and sponsorships is used directly
to support Lemonade Day in your city. To get involved, please visit
your local Lemonade Day website at www.LemonadeDay.org.
How can I bring Lemonade Day to
my community?
To learn how to bring Lemonade Day to
your community, call 713.626.KIDS (5437).
www.LemonadeDay.org
 See you next year in Chicago at IIEE’s Young Entrepreneur
(continuedConference!!!
on next page)
Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
14
 Raking It In!
A t seventeen years old, RJ has 10 years of business experience
under his belt. When he as only 7, he began mowing lawns to
earn money. And in 10 years, his business, Lawrence Lawn Service,
continues going strong. In the first 10 years of operation, the
business had little equipment, but there was a great demand for
his service. “I had one lawnmower and one weed eater,” RJ says.
“Sometimes I had so much work that I had to turn jobs down.”

To promote his business, RJ developed some business cards. But

most of his customers approached him while he was mowing lawns.
Over the years, word spread about the business, and now RJ looks
forward to busy summers.

In 2008, RJ was in need of new equipment and he was considering

a business expansion. He approached the staff at Four Bands for a loan to buy new equipment.

RJ enrolled in the Individual Development Account (IDA) program and is saving money that Four
Bands will match. RJ’s savings will go towards the purchase of 2 new lawnmowers and a weed eater.

To earn money for the IDA savings program, RJ works part time at a local grocery store. RJ is
participating in Four Bands’ Cheyenne River Entrepreneurial Assistance Training and Education
(CREATE) classes to learn about businesses planning and managing as well as personal finance. “I
really like the CREATE classes,” RJ says. “I’m learning how to better operate my business and
plan for an expansion.”

What does the future hold for Lawrence Lawn Service? RJ is hoping to expand into a year-round
service provider. During the winter months, he wants to provide snow removal service. In the summer,
he plans to offer landscaping in addition to lawn mowing and trimming. He also plans to hire people
to help him with his business.

Today most of RJ’s customers are in Eagle Butte, but in the future, he plans to provide his service to
more communities in the area. RJ Lawrence is a “Wavemaker” on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
His love of a challenge and drive to stay busy are leading him to success. RJ enjoys telling others his
story and encouraging youth to consider entrepreneurship.

RJ enjoys performing his lawn service, which is a key to his success. “I enjoy what I do. My work is
my play,” he adds.

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2

15
 Webinars:
The New
Communication
& Collaboration

By Chip Lowe

W e live in a world driven by technology. No longer is distance an inhibitor to

the flow of information. You can live in Gainesville, Florida and work for
a company based in Columbus, Ohio. Working long distance is easier, and more
instant, than ever.

An extension of the ability to communicate across the nation, or across the globe,
is that people can now collaborate and share ideas: We can bring the educational
environment to a group no matter what size and no matter how scattered. What’s more,
rather than just talking about how this can change the way we think of learning and
sharing ideas, the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education (the parent company
of Future CEO Stars) is doing just that! You can visit www.entre-ed.org to view a list
of scheduled webinar topics and hosts and even make your RSVP to remind yourself
to tune in!

It has never been easier to learn something than to just turn on your laptop and call
in on your phone to hear the speakers! The Consortium’s E3 Webinars even allow you
to chat with everyone tuning in via a public text chat feature, and if you’d like, you
can speak directly to the speaker on the conference and ask them questions or give
appropriate feedback during the live webinar.
(continued on next page)
16 Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
To me, this is an exciting frontier! Many authors have written about the future and
hundreds of movies have been made based around what our lives will be like in
the years to come, but rarely do you have the opportunity to be a part of a new
revolution yourself, and with webinars we have the chance to do just that - to pioneer
a communication tool that connects people across the globe in an interactive, learning
“virtual room,” rather than a traditional classroom.

Join us in January for the premiere of E3 Webinars!

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2

17
 FORE!!
By David Van Vlierbergen and
Matthew Ehrhardt

I t began as a mundane chore: cleaning out the garage. Amongst the trash, we noticed the
loaded garbage cans of golf balls. We always knew Mr. Ehrhardt collected golf balls, but not
to this extent. Weekly, he and his wife would walk parks, fields, and golf courses mainly for
exercise, but he also accumulated a lot of golf balls. And by a lot, I mean approximately 20,000
golf balls.

Our names are David Van Vlierbergen and Matthew Ehrhardt, and we are seniors in high
school. Together, we launched our own entrepreneurship: MD Discount Golf Balls.

As you would expect, those 20,000 golf balls did not look appealing. They were covered with
blotches of dirt, grass stains, and pen marks. We began cleaning the balls with wet cloths, soapy
water, and dry towels. This was tedious, yet necessary. With this method, we each cleaned
about one or two balls a minute. We decided that we were spending too much time cleaning,
and we had to find a more efficient system. We have a few friends who worked at the local
golf club, and we had this proposition for them. At any golf course, you can find one of those
manual golf ball cleaning apparatuses that you crank in a circular motion. Since they had extras
in their club house that were of no use to them, we kindly asked to borrow two of them. Now,
we each cleaned between four and eight balls a minute. We were content with this for some
time. But then, we thought, “How does the golf course clean all those driving range balls?” This
led us to a colossal machine that spits out over one hundred balls per minute. Now, we waste
little time cleaning.

After everything is cleaned, we have to sort. Before we determined how to sort, we had to
perform some market research on our main selling interface, eBay. This market research would
provide us with an idea of what sells, and what does not sell. A bunch of random grades and
brands together typically sells low, so we decided to sort balls by different brands, models, and
grades. Once we reach a set of 36, 72, or 100, we take a picture, package, and list the item on
eBay. We sometimes list our products as auctions; and, sometimes we list our products as
buy-it-now. (continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
18
We have since expanded into local markets by spreading the word in our neighborhood.
We have found returning customers who appreciate our business. But we have sold over one
hundred items, so we cannot expect everything to work out perfectly. Most of our customers
are satisfied with our service and products; however, twice, customers have contacted us with
a complaint that their product was not as described. Both accounts argued that their items
were not in mint condition. Although we could not stand next to them and evaluate the balls
with them, we had to avoid further conflict to ensure that our seller feedback rating would
survive unharmed. We listed possible solutions for both customers. One of them requested a
partial refund, and the other chose to receive an additional 20 balls since he or she believed 20
of the 100 did not satisfy mint condition. Both of these accounts left us at an economic loss,
but it prevented any catastrophic problems and left our customers happy.

Last winter, we observed the dip in winter sales so we stuck to cleaning. With that same
strategy in mind, we are cleaning and sorting, but we have proposed that we prepare packages
during the winter months so that we can rapidly list them come spring. So after there is enough
balls for a set, we take a quality picture, label the box, store the picture in a document with
a corresponding, succinct description on my computer, seal the box, and store the box. Not
only will this allow us to start the season promptly, but it also allows us to sell more products
over the same amount of time.

In the future, we want to generate a greater influx of golf balls. In order to do so, we will have to
pursue the possibility of golf ball diving in ponds/lakes at golf courses. With golf ball diving,
people have extracted over a thousand golf balls in about an hour. A thousand golf balls can
sell for as much as over a thousand dollars (Pro V1s, Tour i’s, Nike One, Brigestone), or as low
as two hundred dollars (ones with blemishes). If we can find an experienced golf ball diver
looking to reach a contract with us, we would generate a lot more profit.

Next fall, Matthew Ehrhardt will study Pharmacy in college. David Van Vlierbergen plans on
studying a sector of business. No matter where college takes us, every summer we will return
to our business and continue to clear out the garage, and stuff our pockets with the profit.

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2

19
 Not Just
A Game
By Ian Ridenhour

M y name is Ian Ridenhour. I am ten years old, and I am

homeschooled in Bismarck, North Dakota. In January 2009,
I had an idea. Well, most days I have ideas, but I really liked this one.
I wanted to make an educational trading card game about animals. I
liked this idea because I love trading card games and always have, ever
since a friend introduced me to them. I’ve also always been drawn to
animals and wildlife in general, so I was thinking this game idea was pretty cool. I also suggested
it to Ali LaRock, a friend of the family’s and a very talented Bismarck artist. But both of us
dismissed it as something that was awesome, but far-fetched and probably not going to happen.
So over the summer, I almost forgot about it. But in August 2009, I decided that I would make
the game for Marketplace for Kids.

So I started researching trading card games, like how they work and what they do. I also started
working on researching the facts that I needed for the specific fifteen animals that I was going to
do. Eventually, I started designing cards: plugging in the information that I had, and researching
the information that I didn’t. At first, all I did was take rectangular scraps of poster board and
make very rough sketches on them. I then measured a couple of different trading cards to see
the size I would need to make my cards. From there, I threw together a format for the cards on
Microsoft Publisher. Then came the long process of researching fifteen animals. When I finally got
all the cards finished, I had three months until the Marketplace.

But I still wasn’t done. Did my game work with other people? What about the packaging?
Can this game be really eco-friendly? Where can I get lots of cards printed? And an instruction
booklet! I need to make an instruction booklet! Whoa, can’t forget the board! How do I make the
presentation board? What do I put on it? And hey, Mom, is my vocal presentation good...? The
list seemed to go on forever. I started with the instruction booklet. During the process of making
a booklet like mine, I learned more useful ways to use Publisher, and how to “eschew surplusage.”
Next, I had a family play the game to see if they could understand the rules using the instruction
booklet. It worked! Then I started working on the packaging for Animal Attack. I tried a variety of
different packaging materials and styles, but finally settled on the most eco-friendly version, with
drawstring bags made from scrap fabric that I had at home, sewn by me.
(continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
20
After that was the cards. I found out there was a local print shop in Bismarck called The Printers,
Inc. I looked into getting cards made there, and ended up getting the grand tour of the whole
shop! I ended up printing my cards out there. Then came the display board. With the help of my
mom, I assembled a colorful, information-filled, and useful display board that I could use as a
reference in my presentation. Along with it came five prototype games, displaying the variety of
fabrics that I had used for the bags. I then worked on my presentation - the flow of words and my
body language.

Finally, Marketplace for Kids was starting. The whole day was fun, and I made several great
contacts. That first showcase got me started on presenting. Since then, I have gone to two contests
– Bright Ideas and Marketplace of Ideas – winning first place for the youth category in each one,
and also exhibited at the North Dakota Educator’s Association Convention, where Animal Attack
was very popular. I made a lot of contacts, all of them great people to work with, and I am sure
Animal Attack is going to go far.

I am currently working on making more animals for expansion packs, and I plan to start selling
my game in June 2011. In the future, I hope to keep on inspiring other bright minds with my
work. You can find out more on animalattack.wordpress.com.

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2

21
 Cal
Services
By Lyle Quillin

T here aren’t any magic words or secret recipes to starting a successful venture. The real difference
between success and failure is the person leading the way. Awesome leaders have an attitude
of success and a will to get things done. That’s it. Ideas are a dime a dozen, who doesn’t have an
incredible idea? If you don’t now, you will, but the difference between an idea and a profitable
venture is a person willing to do what it takes. You would be surprised how many people at the
college entrepreneurship level are idea maniacs. All they do is talk, talk, talk about ideas and
possibilities. It’s rare to find somebody who lets their actions do the talking. This isn’t only in
business, it’s everywhere. People like to think of greatness, but fall short when it comes to the
follow through. Why do you think weight loss machines are always selling, only to gather dust?
People think they want to improve or do worthwhile things, but it is uncommon to find somebody
who makes the first move with their feet instead of their mouth.

I grew up in a family with one self-employed parent and one government employed parent. They
both made a decent living and enjoyed what they did. Naturally I wanted to be like my dad, who
happened to be more business oriented. As I grew up I learned that my dad, though self-employed,
was a slave to his business. He would work hard all day and then some at night. Eventually I came
to learn that he owned a job, not a business. My father is the hardest working person I know and he
has an incredibly successful attitude, but he didn’t take the steps necessary to create a business.

I started Cal Services (previously Cal Suds) as an on-site car wash. About a year ago I remember
eating pizza with a friend of mine, writing the numbers on a napkin to see if it could be a profitable
venture, and then going to AutoZone to buy the equipment. Since that day, Cal Services, has
grown into offering Pool Service, Lawn Care, Window Washing, Auto-Detailing, Rain Gutter
Cleaning, and Pressure Washing. One thing that I’ve learned along the way is you can’t ever put
enough focus on sales. Everything comes down to getting new and repeating customers. I can’t
stress this enough.

One very important part of a successful attitude is the desire to learn from everything. I came
to understand that even though we might like to think we know it all, we honestly don’t know
(continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
22
anything. One way to learn quickly is to figure out what you DON’T want. What DON’T you
want your business to operate like, what DON’T you want your business to look like, what
DON’T you want your business to come across like. For instance, every time I saw a small business
with a car door magnet that looked like it was on its last leg I thought to myself, “I will never
look like that.” Or when I saw a lawn mowing crew with a trashy looking vehicle, trashy looking
equipment, and trashy looking clothing I instantly wanted a good looking truck, well- maintained
equipment, and a service uniform for each employee. Think of it like a problem solving game.
Figure out what you don’t want your business to be like, determine what you do want, then figure
out what steps it will take to get it there – and don’t stop till you achieve your goal. No matter
how steep the climb, if you put one foot in front of the other, you will always attain your vision.
It might not happen overnight or over a month. You will sometimes realize what you thought was
a great way to get new customers is actually a terrible way to get new customers, but you’re not
going to figure it out until you put one foot in front of the other with an attitude of success.

Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2 (continued on next page)

23
 Other People’s
Pets
By Sarah Bennett

am Sarah Bennett. I attend Buchholz High School where I am a student in the Academy
I of Entrepreneurship. I live in Gainesville Florida and when I was eight in 2004, I started
a small neighborhood pet sitting service. I created a flyer and I would go door to door in
my neighborhood handing out the flyers. So whenever a neighbor went out of town they
would know to call me and give me the needed instructions.

I love taking care of and being around animals. My family has had a snake, cats, turtles,
and fish. But that wasn’t enough for me. So I came up with the idea of caring for my
neighbors’ animals. It worked out great for me and my parents, I got to be with animals
but my parents did not have to keep them. So with some help from them, I created my
first business.

This business has helped me in many ways. I learned how to treat clients, how to handle
money, and how to be responsible for my client’s houses and pets while they were away. I
love what I am doing – that’s most important when you’re starting your own business or a
new job—you must love whatever you’re doing. If I didn’t love or care for their animals in
a proper way then my clients would notice that in the work that I do.

The secrets of my success are first off you must love your job to be successful. Second,
you must know your target market. If there were no animals in my neighborhood then
there would be no possibility of success. Lastly, be responsible and do more than what is
expected in whatever you do, because employers want to be confident in their employees.
If you follow these three tips then there is no doubt that you will succeed!

Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2

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 Apply for a
2010 NFIB Young
Entrepreneur Award

W h a t ’s
in your
briefcase?

Are you a budding entrep

reneur?
Do you know a young entre
preneur? Do you have dreams
business? If you answered ye of owning your own
s to any of these questions
be , visit www.NFIB.com/YEA
ginning Stars
Future CEO Octob2010
er 31 , 20
- 11 092, to apply for the 2010 NF
Issue
IB Young Entrepreneur Awar 25
d.
 Small Setback,
Extensive
Experience
By Kelsey Powell

T he Howard S. Billings’ tenth-grade Personal Orientation Program (POP) class dusted off their
Gail Cooney Entrepreneurship Trophy on the morning of November 16 and carried it with
them onto a bus headed for Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (CVR), not knowing if
they would be bringing it home at the end of the day. They were scheduled to participate in two
contests: one a friendly test of entrepreneurial skills alongside CVR students; the other the real
battle between the POP classes of two New Frontiers School Board schools with both vying for the
chance to return with the trophy in hand.

The day began with the friendly test of wits and enthusiasm in which teams of four (made up of
two students from each school) were given the name of a random object, a package of papers with
which to create a business plan, and a sheet of poster board. Their mission? To create and promote
an original product, while detailing the steps that they would take in order to set up their business.
Through this activity the students learned how to properly create a business plan, a skill that could
help them garner support and funding should they ever wish to take their entrepreneurial skills out
into the real world. These plans were no easy task. The teams had to consider many small details
such as the target group for their product, possible sources of competition, the balance of expenses
and revenue, and even what their product’s warranty would cover. At the same time they also had
to design and create an eye-catching and informative poster.

When the time allotted for planning was up, the POP students filed into a classroom and were
given a few minutes to affix their posters to the walls and arrange themselves in front of them
before another group of CVR students, each with $50 of Monopoly money in hand, was unleashed
upon them. At this point each entrepreneur group’s goal was to convince “customers” to buy their
product instead of another team’s. The winners were a snowman-shaped candlestick, which made
a revenue of $63, custom rollerblades ($100), and a solar-powered barbeque, which came out well
on top with a revenue of $156.

After the winners were announced, invited guests told the students about their experiences as
entrepreneurs. The first was Ian Gill, a CVR alum who owned the Huntingdon eco-tourism
enterprise “Kayak Safari” for many years before selling it to two university students. Second came
Gail Cooney herself, the owner of Imprimerie Ressources Illimitees, a print shop in Chateauguay.
Cooney did not sugar-coat the hardships of starting a business. (continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars 2010 -11 Issue 2
26
“What separates an entrepreneur from the rest of the pack,” she said, “is being willing to work hard
and give things up.”

To close her short speech Cooney emphasized the importance of passing on the good fortune of
owning a stable business. “An act of kindness, even if it costs you money, gives back ten times what
you put in, so you’ve got to give back [to your community] every chance you get.”

Finally, after Cooney had finished, it was time for the POP classes to present their ideas to a panel
of judges, “Dragon’s Den” style. First was the Billings team, which presented the idea of a beauty
pageant/talent show. The proceeds would go towards fees for sports jerseys and equipment, as well
as to the Canadian Cancer Society. They spoke about what such a contest would entail and how
much it would cost to participate, among other things. Upon questioning from the judges, they
also offered further details regarding projected attendance and revenue.

Next was the CVR team, who presented the idea of an New Frontiers School Board inter-school
dance and came armed with a detailed comparison between costs and revenue, multiple fundraising
possibilities (including a football player auction), the promise of two bands who were already
willing to play at the event, and even attendance statistics gathered via a poll of CVR students.
Much like the HSB group, they planned to donate some of their profit to a charity, The Make-A-
Wish Foundation.

Once both teams had presented their projects, the judges, among whom were HSB principal Mike
Helm and NFSB Director General Wayne Goldthorp, commended both schools for their hard
work. They praised Billings for their idea of using social networking websites, such as Facebook,
to advertise their event, and CVR for their high level of work, research, and professionalism. Gail
Cooney and the 2009 winning team stood to present the trophy and the winner was announced:
CVR! Eden Neill, Laura Gregoire, and Tricya Veronneau accepted the award on behalf of their
school.

Despite their loss the Billings POP class went home in good spirits. Like true entrepreneurs they
recognized that they had lost a trophy, but gained a huge amount of useful experience and that
this competition was a small setback; one that future POP students could overcome. They knew
that with plenty of hard work and determination, HSB could someday bring the Gail Cooney
Entrepreneurship trophy back to their school.

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 “E” is for
Entrepreneur
By Evan Gross
A typical 20-year-old Boston University junior spends
his time in class, in the library, and counting down
the minutes until Friday. However, I also spend my time
working in real estate, directing a baseball umpiring
program, and serving on a governmental council. My
name is Evan Gross, I’m from Scarsdale, New York,
and I’m majoring in Business Administration with a
dual concentration in Accounting and Finance, and I
am by no means a typical college student.

Ever since I was young I have looked at things through a business lens, and when I was 17 my
entrepreneurial side came out in full force. I was bored senior year of high school, applying to
colleges and saying goodbye to friends, so I launched my own eBay consignment business. I
opened my own eBay store called “Cards, Games, Gadgets, and More”, ran marketing campaigns
around my high school and town and posted ads on Craigslist. Within two weeks I had clients
that were fellow high school students, elderly people looking to clean out their house, and even
business leaders who had compiled items they no longer needed.

I prided myself on my devotion to customer service and attention to detail and in no time I
was flooded with items I needed to sell. I hired two people to work under me and my business
prospered. I sold over 400 items and often spent more time posting items on eBay and at
the post office than I did at school. I created expense sheets to track my shipping materials
purchases and even kept detailed demographic research on which states I was shipping to most
often to better inform my decisions. For example, I used it to find out what time I should end
my auctions because, for example, if California was spending the most money it made sense
to end my auctions not at primetime, 8pm, on the East Coast but rather 8pm primetime on
the West Coast. Since my research showed California was in fact my most frequent shipping
destination I created, “West Coast Savings” promotions which allowed me to not only sell more
items but combine shipping and save costs. My research and attention to detail allowed me
to be extremely successful and by the time I closed my business in September 2008 I had over
fifty clients, became an eBay PowerSeller, had a perfect 100% feedback rating and generated a
revenue of over $17,000.
(continued on next page)
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Although I could no longer operate my eBay business while at college I still had the entrepreneurial
spirit within me. When I returned from a semester abroad in London, England in the winter
of 2010, I wanted to get involved in a new way. Since I had formally declared my major as
Business Administration I wanted to do something business-related and something that would
have an effect on my life after college. I decided that with the real estate market accounting for
the worst recession in memory the only way to become a well-rounded future business leader
was to understand the real estate world. Therefore, in addition to my responsibilities as a full-
time college student taking 18 credits of class, I studied and soon became a licensed real estate
agent in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I devote myself to finding the best possible rental
apartments for students in and around Boston at the lowest possible cost. With the real estate
market being a buyer’s market, I never shy away from negotiating on behalf of my clients. As a
result of this commitment, I have become known as an agent who cares about his clients and I
am constantly flooded with referrals. Working in a commission-based environment allows me
to create my own hours with my own rules, which in turn has allowed me to achieve success in
an industry mostly occupied by seasoned professionals.

In addition to my work in real estate and responsibilities as a student, I still have the time to
do what all successful businessmen must do: give back to the community. I have always had a
strong sense of community service. Here in Boston I am involved with Big Brother Big Sister.
However, although I go to school in Boston I do not forget the community I came from. Ever
since I was 13 I have umpired Little League baseball and when the director of the program
resigned in February 2008, my best friend and I decided to submit our names for consideration
to the Board of Directors to replace him. After submitting a formal outline of how we would
effectively run an umpiring program from a combined 350 miles away from Scarsdale, we were
offered the position in March 2008 and still hold the position today. We have successfully
increased the retention rate by 120% and oversee a staff of 50 umpires. Under our direction
not one Little League game has gone uncovered and last spring an article in Scarsdale Patch was
written about our work.

However, with all this on my plate I was still not completely satisfied. I wanted to get involved
in the politics of Scarsdale and last April I was appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Advisory
Council of Youth Affairs. I return home one Monday a month for council meetings and am the
youngest individual to ever sit on a Scarsdale Governmental Council. I have always enjoyed new
challenges and one day would like to hold an elected office. My love of business combined with a
desire to make a difference has instilled the spirit of success within me and I am looking forward
to the next ten years. I have been awarded numerous awards, most recently the College of General
Studies Most Outstanding Capstone Paper Award, and I am also the featured undergraduate
student in the upcoming edition of Builders and Leaders Magazine, the official alumni magazine
of Boston University’s School of Management. Being successful is not only about facts and
figures but being reliable and trust worthy. As one of my professors says, “the world is run by
people that show up.”
Future CEO Stars 2010 - 11 Issue 2
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 Our Mission...
™
The National Museum of Education seeks to celebrate the
learning, insight, creativity, and workmanship of America's
students, teachers, administrators, and all those who have
made a positive contribution to the educational process by
recognizing and preserving their accomplishments for the
inspiration of future generations.

Visit us on the Web at: www.nmoe.org

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