September 2009

FUTURE CEO STARS

BRIGHT IDEAS - TOP AWARDS

This Issue is Proudly

Sponsored By
Marketplace For Kids
 FUTURE CEO STARS
Introduces

NETWORKING without the WORK!!!

STAY CURRENT AND Connect with
OTHER YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS

Join Us On . . .

FUN EASY FREE

 FUTURE CEO STARS September 2009
In This Issue…
4 Technically Speaking
Chip Lowe

7 Squeezing Out Profit

Illinois Institute for Entre. Ed.

8 Bright Ideas - Top Awards

Marketplace for Kids

10 Garden To Go
Ignite

13 Bongo Bing
NFTE. Inc.

15 Reviewing Options
Buchholz Academy

16 Pass Go
Réseau des CJE du Québec

18 American Dance Company

NFIByef

21 Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

TREPS Why is Ja’Shon pointing?
22 Dreams Are Contagious Find out on page 22
National Museum of Education

24 Hanging Out Published by The Consortium

Keirsten and Ebony for Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199
Columbus, OH 43212
26 Sweet Goodness www.entre-ed.org
The Lyles Center mashmore@entre-ed.org

28 Never Too Young... Publisher: Dr. Cathy Ashmore

Editor: Mike Ashmore
Georgia REAL Enterprises Graphic Design: SPLASH Designs

30 Tickle My Pickle Student Advisory Board

Empower Youth Entrepreneurs Chip Lowe, Claire He, Micah Toll,
Kelly Rapp, Marcus Craft

33 Our Sponsors Web Page Design and Management

CWD
 Technically
Speaking
with
Chip Lowe
SayNow
E ver wanted to manage a group and couldn’t
seem to find a solution for reminders and
announcements that could alleviate some of the
stress from you? Look no further than the subject
of today’s article. SayNow is a relatively new web
service that allows anyone to create a free account.
New to the service is the ability for anyone who
signs up to receive their own number so that people
can call in and leave a public message. This service
is generally used by celebrities and music artists
so that they can keep in touch with their fans
through voice recordings and text messages that
are broadcast to those who have subscribed to that
person’s account.

However, with the new ability of anyone to get a

call-in number, the possibilities are endless regarding
SayNow’s use! For example, a teacher or professor
could setup a SayNow account, have students call
or text in and subscribe to his account, and they
would receive class reminders and announcements
that the teacher could conveniently record through
his phone, or text in. Also, since SayNow is public,
if a particular student called
(continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars September 2009
4
in with a question for the educator, the teacher could record a reply that any student would
be able to listen to through the SayNow website. This is particularly helpful if there was a
misunderstanding in a lecture or with an assignment, in that the professor wouldn’t have to
answer the question twenty times – rather only once using SayNow.

SayNow is also ever-expanding and testing new features to bundle in with their already great
service. One of these new features is the ability to “Go Live,” or allows calls to your SayNow
number to ring your account-associated cell phone number. Essentially, this enables you to
receive live calls from people calling in your SayNow.

The best part of SayNow, though, is its simplicity and ease of use. Users can login online and
record broadcasts for their subscribers in a friendly, easy-to-use environment. But not only can
you access SayNow online! You can call in from your account-associated cell phone to record
broadcasts, you can text in message broadcasts, and if you happen to have an Apple iPhone,
you can download SayNow’s free app that will most likely become your preferred method for
keeping up with your account. Now matter what you use it for, the possibilities with SayNow
are endless.

You can find out more about the service and sign
up for free online at www.saynow.com.

Future CEO Stars September 2009

5
 A Lesson in Entrepreneurship
Finding Solutions to Problems
Preparation: The graphic organizer for this lesson is available free for download at
www.usatoday.com/educate/ceostars

Introduction: This lesson will help you consider one career option that many people find risky, but
appealing - becoming an entrepreneur. In this lesson you will:

t Read about a problem that affects a lot of people.

t Imagine a product or service that could help fix the problem.
t Decide who might buy your new product or service and how you should market it.

1. As a class, define “entrepreneur.”

2. In groups of three, read aloud an article in USA TODAY that focuses on a problem many people are
experiencing.
s While you read, highlight the specifics of the problem.
s Once you’re done reading about the problem, you’ll be finding a solution that you can sell.
s The more people who experience the problem, the more likely it will be that you can make a
profit on your solution.

3. On the graphic organizer, write the headline and a one-sentence summary of your article and fill in the
problem column.

4. Imagine that the three of you are young entrepreneurs who are interested in solving the problem the
article addresses.
s Brainstorm a product or service that would fix the problem.
s Make sure it is something that can be created and sold.
s In the second column, write one sentence that describes the new product/service and gives a
few details.

5. At the bottom of columns one and two, fill in the box that asks how your product or service will fix the
problem.

6. In the target audience column, identify whom you would sell your product/service to and why.

7. Brainstorm how you would market your new product/service. How could you advertise while staying
within your limited budget?

8. As a class, share the problems you read about and the solutions you devised.

9. On your own, think about and answer the final two questions on the graphic organizer.

10. As a class, identify all the different reading strategies you used in this lesson. How can you use them
when reading for other classes or when taking test?

Learn more about USA TODAY Education!

Call: (800) 872-3415 ext.5917
Visit: www.education.usatoday.com
 Squeezing out PROFIT
By Ryan Lewis

I am an entrepreneur student at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy excitedly

approaching my junior year. I was selected to attend the Illinois Institute young Entrepreneur
conference by my teacher Scott Steward. I felt this was an opportunity to take my business to
the next level. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew it would change the way I was doing
business.

Shock and awe were the feelings I felt during the IIEE conference back in April. From the first
time I stepped into the hotel I was promoting and selling my product, Jeff Dranks (all natural
homemade lemonade) throughout the entire building. I would have never thought that doing this
would take me as far as not only selling out twice, but winning and becoming the first “Networker
of the Year” and walking out with almost $1,000 dollars.

While I was at my table at the front of the exhibition room, I noticed that when I talked to the
people as they entered the room they weren’t so interested in purchasing from the first exhibitor
that they saw. Then I had an idea. I thought that if the people wouldn’t come to me then I would
go to the people. This idea was an absolute success. I was able to not only reach the judges and
spectators, but also the other exhibitors who were hearing about my product and were curious.

While I hit a big milestone in my plans for the future, I still have obstacles
that need to be overcome. I would like to major in a career in structural
engineering and minor in business ownership and management. The
schools that provide me this are UIC Champaign/Urbana, Penn State,
Virginia Tech, and NYU. Whichever one I choose, hopefully it will put
me on the right path to living a successful life. For now though, I can’t wait
until next year so I can participate in the conference again and be known
as Ryan Lewis, CEO of Jeff Dranks industries, two-time “Networker of
the Year” and “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
For more information on this GREAT CONFERENCE go to www.IIEE.org
Future CEO Stars September 2009 7
 Bright Ideas
Top Awards
B right Ideas – we all have them. It’s what you do with them that counts; and in North Dakota,
those Bright Ideas were on display and in competition with each other at the North Dakota
State Fair this summer. For a handful of adventurous students, their efforts earned them top
awards.

Kaitlyn Kipp of Mandan, ND, turned her love of dance into an online business idea. “I’ve been
dancing since age two and a half,” stated Kaitlyn. “I love it! And with each performance I had, a
new costume needed to be purchased. I’ve gotten a lot of specialized dance outfits since then and
most of them I outgrew before they wore out. So, I came up with the idea of Dance Diva Wear!

Dance Diva Wear is an online used dance costume store concept. “I needed some help,” says
Kaitlyn. “I don’t fit into those outfits any more so my little cousin modeled the costumes while I
took her picture. Then I designed a website to post them to.”

For her efforts, Kaitlyn was recognized as the first place winner in the Business Category for the
6th grade level of the Marketplace for Kids Bright Ideas Showcase and Contest at the ND State
Fair. In addition, she received a special award for Innovation in Technology.

Joby Walters, a student in Minot, ND, was recognized as the first place winner in the Invention
Category for the 6th grade level. He was thinking of safety when he invented the “Window
Wizard” Window. “I came up with the invention from listening to people who complained about
their dirty windows and from watching an episode of Most Extreme Videos. A man was on a
scaffold and the wind was so strong that he was falling off,” says Joby. “My invention would
eliminate the possibility of that ever happening.”
Images from Istockphoto.com

“The “Window Wizard” started as a project in the 5th grade. It is a window with an automatic
cleaning system built into the sill. The cleaner functions by pressing a button, which activates a
solution dispenser. Then a squeegee in the sill comes out and repeatedly washes the window. All
the dirty solution and the squeegee go back into the sill when complete,” Joby explained. “My
parents helped me in the construction of my model after I came up with the blueprints.”

What is Joby’s advice to young inventors? “I would say to young inventors to always keep your
eyes open for problems, then try to think of ways to fix them,” says Joby. “I really enjoyed speaking
(continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars September 2009
8
 Joby Walters Nicholas Curren
1st place in Innovation Innovation in Agriculture

Kaitlyn Kipp
1st place in Business
and presenting my idea to other people. It helped me to develop my confidence speaking in front
of others and presenting ideas clearly - that is what I liked the most.”

From clothing to windows to horses—that’s how diverse the Bright Ideas were! Our next inventor
is an avid lover of anything cowboy. And what’s a cowboy without a horse? Nicolas Curren from
Dagmar, MT, found an easier way to mount his horse without the assistance of an adult or by
climbing on a fence. It’s called the Curren Saddle Ladder.

“To reach the stirrups on my saddle, I would always need a little help. By using my Saddle Ladder,
I don’t need help any more,” says Nicolas. “It’s a rope ladder that can be used on any saddle. You
put it around the horn of the saddle and drop it down. It stays with the saddle, so you can get on
Images from Istockphoto.com

and off without help or without jumping. Nicolas, a fifth grade student,

received the Innovation in Agriculture Award for his Bright Idea!

Each of these students has a bright future ahead of them as they move
into adulthood and become an integral part of our economy. And it all
happened because they took their ideas and acted on them. In the next
issue of Future CEO Stars, you’ll meet more talented fifth graders and
hear about their invention and business ideas.
Future CEO Stars September 2009
9
 Garden
to
Go
By Alexandra Reau

M y name is Alexandra Reau and I am in middle school from Monroe County, MI. I have been
very busy since May of this year with my new business called Garden to Go. It is part of
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), which is a simple idea that is sweeping the country.
CSA is where a community supports a farm and in return the farm supports the community. It
is a creative way for people to get to know the person who is growing their food. People become
members of the CSA and pay for their share of the season’s produce early in the season so the
money can be used for planting expenses. Each week they come and pick up a supply of fresh
produce.

Garden to Go is the only CSA in Monroe County. I had to explain how it worked to people so
they would agree to sign up. I made brochures and gave them to all of my teachers at school. I
acquired three members from the brochure and five more members by having my information
posted on www.LocalHarvest.org.

I grew 21 different kinds of vegetables, including some heirloom varieties, and eight herbs. I had
74 tomato plants in 8 different varieties. I use sustainable growing methods, which appeals to
many customers because it protects the environment. These include natural pesticides and rabbit
manure on my growing areas from the rabbits I raise.

I assigned my customers to come on five different days to pick up their produce, which helped
me spread my harvest out. People signed up to get six weeks of produce that they picked up each
week in a reusable plastic basket. Each week they also received several recipes that included the
produce they were getting in their basket.

I learned a lot about running a business with Garden to Go. There were a lot of days that were
hard work with weeding and picking the produce. It was fun to get to know my members; some
came from quite a distance to be able to get fresh picked, local produce. Three of my members
were engineers, which was interesting to me because I want to be a biosystems or environmental
engineer. (continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars September 2009
10
In March, the IGNITE Youth Entrepreneurship Team, an action team in the Prima Civitas
Foundation’s Moving Ideas to Market Entrepreneurship initiative, held a business plan competition
for youth in the Mid-Michigan area. I won first place in the 6th – 8th grade division and the prize
money I received from the competition went towards starting up my business. I used it for hoses,
seeds, plants, baskets and promotional materials. I also used some of it for my business filing fee.
My goal was to earn enough money to buy a laptop computer, which I was able to do.

I had enough extra produce that I was able to donate it to help others. I gave produce to a teacher
who gave it to families she knew that needed food. I also donated produce to the 4-H Green
Growers Market.

Next year I plan to expand my number of members to twelve and plant more produce. I am also
planning on doing a survey with this year’s members to see what improvements I should make
next year.

I have had a lot of help in making my business successful. Henry Lievens, my county commissioner,
is an attorney and he donated his services to help me get my business organized and registered.
My dad helped with the plowing and planting of the garden areas. My mom helped me with
promoting my business and developing recipes for all of the produce I grew.

Future CEO Stars August 2009

11
 Future CEO Stars September 2009
12
 Bongo
.......Bing!!
by Raul Pellerano

I t all started in New York City, with the idea that I could do anything that I set my mind to.
My training ground was my Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) class at the High
School of Economics & Finance, where I started about seven different small businesses. One failed
and six were profitable and later liquidated. Starting all of those businesses in high school showed
me that it is possible to do anything regardless of what anyone may say to try and scare you.

I am the co-founder and the CEO & President of BongoBing, an online shopping portal for
the world’s products. My partners and I started the company because we were so frustrated with
having to go to ten different places when gathering information about one specific product.
BongoBing’s mission is to provide organized access to the world’s products and all the relevant
information about them. We place a big emphasis on the relevant information part because most
of our frustration is not in just finding the product or the lowest price, but in figuring out the
details about the seller, terms of shipping, what others think about it, videos of it in use, etc.

BongoBing has been around for about a year now, and it has been extremely exciting. I am now
hooked on entrepreneurship. We hit bumps in the road all the time, but we get through them
because just like high school, I truly believe that I can do anything that I set my mind to and
believe in the cause. One of the biggest barriers that many prospective entrepreneurs face is that
they are nervous of taking the leap for reasons such as not having enough money, not having the
right skills, and many other small limitations that you will overcome once you just do it. We did
not have the funds to do what we are doing today, but figured it out and you’ll be surprised how
much you can do with very little resources. In terms of not having the right skills or the right
team, people will be inspired by your courage and passion and will gravitate towards you. To be
Images from Istockphoto.com

an entrepreneur is one of the best jobs in the world. If I could give just one single piece of advice,
it would be to just do it, dive in to the deep end and you will have no choice but to learn how to
swim.

Future CEO Stars September 2009

13
Reviewing
Options
By Michael Rizzo

M y name is Michael Rizzo and I am 16 years old. I attend Buchholz High School in Gainesville,
FL and am currently enrolled in the Buchholz Academy of Entrepreneurship. My interests are
in technology and singing, and I have started my own technology reviewing business. The name of my
business is TechSpark. I buy technology related products and also contact companies via email to send
me products to review for them. I set up an office area in my room at home where all my video reviews
take place. I have done product reviews for iPhone cases, external hard drives and cameras. Walt Disney is
one of my big motivators in life because he started out with a small idea and it is now one of the biggest
companies in the world.

I started my business back in mid July and already have 350 subscribers on my Youtube channel http://
www.youtube.com/Rizzo893. One of my videos has become very popular and is already up to 60,000
views. I consider this a major achievement because some other big “You Tubers” don’t even have that many
video views.

I came to the idea of my business when I realized how much I enjoy technology and that I could help
other people with their purchases of technology products. My business is mostly focused on anybody who
enjoys technology and has questions about certain products. The reason I chose this field was the fact that
I could start a business doing something that I really enjoy. I am currently earning my money through
advertisements on my popular videos. People seeking to get the word out about their website or business
contact me to advertise on my videos. Companies do not pay me but they send me free products, which
I review for my viewers.

One obstacle I had to overcome was lack of new subscribers. To reward my viewers, I now plan giveaways
which can range from iTunes gift cards to technology products. These giveaways act as promotions and are
a way of saying thank you to my viewers. The thing that has kept me going is my passion for my business
and my desire to keep my current subscribers informed with reviews. The thing I like most about my
business is that I get to meet other people on the Internet that have the same interests as me. I plan on
soon creating a website for my business to further expand it.

Secrets of Success
I put out videos for my viewers on a daily basis.
I stay connected with my viewers.
I never let anything get me down and I never give up.

Future CEO Stars September 2009

15
 Pass
GO,
As you play,By Jay Shechtman
your
project develops

By Katherine Korakakis

P ass GO is a game that was developed in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region that allows youth
the opportunity to create entrepreneurial projects in their communities. The challenge of the
game, and what makes it new, is that it provides an opportunity for youth 12 to 17 years in the
region to actually do the ideas and projects they come up with! Provided they follow a series of steps
to better think out and develop their projects, youth can do whatever they come up with. However,
projects must include a civic dimension.

The procedure is very simple. A young person or a group of young people, if they perform the steps
of the game to pass GO, can access a $500 scholarship for their project. A jury will analyze the
process (not the relevance of the project, hence the novelty), will give advice to young people and
will support the project if the approach allows for a positive experience. When young people can see
that their actions or ideas can have a real impact on their communities, then they are more likely
to want to continue their development and path towards that direction. This is what the Saguenay-
Lac-Saint-Jean region considers as the development of a real entrepreneurial culture.

For more information, visit www.passeago.com

See you next year in Chicago at IIEE’s Young Entrepreneur Conference!!!

Future CEO Stars September 2009
16
Future CEO Stars September 2009 17
 All-American
Dance
Company
By Jennifer Goebel

A ll-American Dance Company (AADC) was created as a result of my desire to obtain a job
and my need for flexible hours. I decided to start a dance company so I could combine my
passion for dance and working with younger children. This would allow me to teach confidence,
coordination, and creativity, which later became my motto. AADC would provide combination
ballet and tap classes, to be held onsite at private learning centers. To get my business running,
there were several steps I had to take, including getting my DBA certificate and opening a bank
account in AADC’s name. Once all of that was in place I began to put together a proposal,
brochures, and pricing. After walking into over 10 learning centers, one finally said yes! All they
needed was my background check, DBA, and proof of insurance…wait, one million dollars of
liability insurance?! For the next week I made at least 100 calls trying to land an insurance company
that would insure me. Finally, I found a company who agreed to cover me, despite my age of
sixteen. I was in business!

AADC has now been in business for over two years; grown more than eight times its original
size, expanded into two cities, and was 100% profitable at the beginning of its second fiscal
year. Our service is unique because it provides children aged 2-12 dance classes within their
private schools. When their parents come to pick them up at the end of the day they don’t have
to make any extra stops on the way home for dance classes, because they’ve already had them!

The business structure of this company is set up in a way that provides the instructors incentive to
help grow the business. The more students they have in their class, the more they are paid. This
motivates them to use the marketing materials I provide them and to ensure their current students
like the class so that word is spread by mouth.

During the second semester of my junior year I was appointed by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
to serve as a Senate Page in Washington, D.C. I decided that I would continue to try to run
(continued on next page)
18 Future CEO Stars September 2009
my business by managing it from D.C. and appointing an instructor to take over my classes. It
was a very grueling few months, because I would wake up at 5 A.M., go to school until 8:30
A.M., work on the U.S. Senate floor until late at night, then go back to the dorm to finish my
homework and check in on my business. But it was worth it because it showed me that I could
delegate to others while I was in another state. Now I’m confident I can continue the business
while in college!

None of this has been an easy process, but all the hard work has paid off and has been more
than rewarding! I’ve gotten to see the love of dance spread by AADC. Although I’ve had several
setbacks, looking back, they’re what made me so determined to make this such a successful
business. I encourage you to look inside yourself and find what strengths you have so that you
can use them to be the next entrepreneur success story. I’m here to tell you it’s not impossible, so
start brainstorming!

Jennifer and her little dance troupe

Future CEO Stars September 2009

19
 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
beginning October 31, 2009 , visit www.NFIB.com/YEA
, to apply for the 2010 NFIB
Young Entrepreneur Award.
 Buttons Buttons Buttons!
By Hannacy Gurbisz
M y name is Hannacy and I’m 10 years old. I just participated
in a program called TREP$ at my middle school where kids
learn what it takes to start their own businesses. The workshops were
fun and really helped us know what we needed to do, but the best part
was at the end of the program, we got to set up our businesses at a big
marketplace that was open to everybody in our town!

They said we should choose a business idea that fits our personalities, so that it stays interesting to us.
For my business, I wanted to make more than one product to sell, and do things that were creative.
My mom is a huge button collector and I had a huge choice to select from. So a lot of my items
included using buttons. I wanted to make things that were unique and would make a private space
fun, so I named my business, “Creative Spaces”.

It was important to me that my products were really different, that you wouldn’t see them anywhere
else. I made bookmarks with buttons, button flowers, scrapbooks - of course with buttons, and to
get away from all those buttons I decided to make grass heads, which my cat really loved. Oh I almost
forgot, I made funny pencil erasers too.

Since I love crafting, making my own products to sell was really fun. One of my favorite things was
planting the seeds for my grass heads. I painted flowerpots green and added these big eyes. It only
took 4 days for the grass to sprout and than they really went wild. They are so funny looking people
just love them!

There were a few things I was nervous about. I wanted to make sure I gave back correct change to my
customers. I just tried to take my time, and by the end of the night I was pretty good at it. The other
thing was that I am a little on the shy side. I was surprised how I didn’t feel shy at all when adults
came up and asked me questions about my products. I think I got better at talking to adults and at
making change!

Now that the marketplace is over, I have decided to keep my business. I would like to continue selling
Images from Istockphoto.com

some of my products to friends, family and neighbors and it would be fun just to make my products
for gifts too.

I think being an entrepreneur is a great experience for kids. During the market many people commented
that I was really creative and had unique, different products. They loved my crazy grass heads and I
sold out of them before the market was over. That felt great! I think this helped people see that I can
be very creative and responsible. The marketplace a really good experience and it was lots of fun
counting my money!
Future CEO Stars September 2009
21
 Adrian’s Invention
Dreams Are Contagious
T his summer marked the beginning of a
program called “Dreams Are Contagious”.
This forward-looking project involved several
Northeast Ohio youths who have become
inventors. The project was the creation of
Cherrlyn Lampley.
Cherry worked with these young people to
feature their inventions on the METRO buses
in the cities of Akron and Kent, Ohio. The
posters which showed each of the inventors
along with their inventions were donated by
Digital Color Imaging, Inc. of Akron, Ohio.
With the help of the University of Akron’s
Upward Bound Math & Science Department
headed by John Vesalo, and Geraldine
Hayes Nelson, Ph.D. and Associate Dean of
Undergraduate Studies at Kent State University,
these young inventors were encouraged to
express themselves through invention.
Adrian Lindsey is the inventor of the All Net
Sak, a nylon backpack basketball carrier. The
product is being sold at the Team Shop for the
Cleveland Cavaliers. Adrian is a shy, but very
focused young man who is now a student at
Kent State University where he is studying pre-
med. Adrian was the proud recipient of the
“Young Entrepreneur Award” from the National
Gallery for America’s Young Inventors in
Akron, Ohio in 2008. Adrian is also a
22
Ja’Shon’s Invention
By Gay Evans
very philanthropic young man. In the summer
of 2008, he raised funds for the band of Shaw
High School in Cleveland to attend the summer
Olympics in Beijing. His generosity is one of the
fundamentals of the “Dreams are Contagious”
outreach.
Ja’Shon Harris created his invention as the
result of his participation in the “Inventucation
Academy” during the summer of 2008 UBMS
Summer Program (Upward Bound Math &
Science). Ja’Shon’s invention hopes to solve a
very important problem for young teens. The
dye used in making blue jeans has a tendency
to bleed onto teens’ tennis shoes, making it
impossible to remove, thus ruining their shoes.
Ja’Shon has watched students doing unusual
things to prevent the blue dye from destroying
their shoes. He has seen them tuck their pants
into their socks, put plastic bags over their shoes,
and even tape materials on top of their shoes to
prevent the discoloration. After experimenting
in his basement, he has isolated a solution which
will totally prohibit the dye from bleeding. His
new product is called, “Blue Jeanius”™. The
plan is now to patent and market this product
with the help of the University of Akron’s
Polymer Science Department and Steven Cook
from the Legal Clinic for this breakthrough
invention.
(continued on next page)
 Stephen’s Book
Another young man who has been working hard
to live his dream is Damion Kendrick. He has
created a successful comic book and is hoping to
make a name for himself in the comic world. He
is the founder of Damage Arts Studio. Damion
released his anticipated manga action comedy
series “Chang Fury” in 2005 which became a hit
in his hometown and is still gaining fans around
the world. In 2008 the first installment of his
new 4-part mini-series “Shattered Realm” was
released to positive reviews.
Stephen Beirne’s success as a writer is due in
great part to the “Make-A-Wish Foundation”.
Stephen was diagnosed with Chordoma, a rare
tumor that occurs in the spine and the base of
the skull, in 2005. He thought carefully about
what his wish might be. He decided that having
his writings turned into a book would be the
perfect answer. His book, “November Reign”
is great for pre-teens to adults. It is an exciting
adventure/fantasy novel. The story follows the
adventures of Eamon and his friends as they
begin a search for treasure which turns into
something much greater. Will Eamon be able to
resolve the raging conflicts in his personal life as
well as the one that threatens to destroy an entire
town? The book provides the answer.
The youngest inventors were twin brothers
who learned to make jewelry by watching
and working with their mother. Darshon and
J-Shaun are only eight years old, and oddly they
Future CEO Stars September 2009
Damion’s Art
were born on different days. They are twelve
minutes apart. One was born two minutes after
midnight. Darshon is the older twin and he loves
to read books and play with friends and toy cars.
J-Shaun, the younger brother, likes to build and
create. He also enjoys cooking and baking. As
helpful young boys, they have learned to not only
invent, but to believe that anything is possible if
you never stop dreaming.
All of these young inventors were highlighted in
Akron and Kent this year with large-size posters
using the photographs of Catherine McKinley
Photography on the city buses. This visibility
was donated by the two cities to provide an
opportunity to show that the seeds of invention
can be sown at any age and can result in anything
from sports products, books, jewelry, to comic art.
Whatever a child’s interest, with encouragement
and continued support the dreams can become
a reality.
All of these young people also share the desire
to give back to others or to “pay it forward”.
They have learned, thanks to the generosity and
kindness of others, that a dream is best when
shared.
23
 Ha
ngi
KIE ng o
RST ut w
EN ith
&E
BO
NY

We’re seniors in the Academy of Finance and Business at

Howard High School of Technology in Delaware and interns at the
Delaware Financial Literacy Institute.

“At the heart of the franchise is the perfect

synergy between athlete and technology.”
- Michael Jordan
(In our opinion, the greatest player in the history of basket-
ball. The shoes that he has worn throughout his illustrious
career epitomize his relentless dedication to performance,
innovation and achievement.)

k low
h in k rig h t and thin
and t ings you c
an
“Think left h , t h e th
high. O Dr. Seuss
and think o u try !”
only y
think up if

Fast Fac
t: In 198
2 Reebo
first athl k introd
etic shoe uced the
for wom
en.

Kiersten J. Joseph & Ebony M. Peterson DFLI 2009

 IMAGINE: You are an entrepreneur designer looking to
design this season’s next coolest shoe.

YOUR TASK: Create a cool footwear design!

x How would it look? What materials would you use?
x Who and where would you sell your footwear?

x What would the shoe cost?

x What company would you want to market your design?

H E Pick a celebrity that to endorse

’S T your footwear. Be sure it is
R E !! someone you can actually see
HE WIST wearing your footwear.
T

Use the SCAMPER problem-solving strategy from the August issue.

The best ideas will be posted in our next issue, so do your THING!
Send your best ideas to kiersten@dfli.org or ebony@dfli.org.
If your idea is published, you will receive a special gift from us.

Kiersten J. Joseph & Ebony M. Peterson DFLI 2009

 Sweet Entrepreneurial Goodness
I have been successful in many of the activities I’ve set out to do, including starting and
maintaining my own small business. I am sixteen years old, a senior attending Roosevelt
High School in Fresno California. My name is Cassandra Padilla.

I am an active student in the IRS Academy at Roosevelt High School and have participated
in many volunteer opportunities, including a program called V.I.T.A (Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance). IRS students are required to take certain classes, such as Multimedia or
Small Business Management. In Small Business Management I was challenged to make
and present a small business, which I created and participated in the Network for Teaching
Entrepreneurship (NFTE) business plan competition.

I have a love for sweets and a passion for baking. I decided to create a chocolate truffle
business called Dulce Sweets. I started my business in October of 2008. I first catered an
event for one hundred and fifty people, providing the desserts for the event dinner. The
truffles were presented in attractive clear packaging and tied with the theme colors of the
event.

My truffles aren’t pricey and are made for the world to enjoy. During the NFTE business
plan competition, I presented my business plan to my class and five judges. I was competing
against about sixty-five students. For my presentation, I provided the judges and my
classmates with a free sample of my product. I was surprised to find out that I tied for first
place. With a tie breaker presentation, I was nerve racked. I ended up being victorious and
competed next against the winners from other schools in the Central Valley.
(continued on next page)
Future CEO Stars September 2009
26
I have a considerable fear of public speaking, so every day my classmates and teacher would
have me present in front of the entire class. I am extremely grateful for that because I
needed the help. Every day I would go over my presentation to make sure it was flawless
and tried to improve it.

I had actually begun my small business, took orders, produced and made a profit from my
truffles. These generated catering jobs, including catering the desserts for the competition.
I was lucky to meet, at another of my catering events, a chef who loved my truffles. He then
became my mentor.

When the day of the competition arrived I was exceedingly nervous, excited, more stressed
then ever and was panicking, like usual. After seeing some of the other contestants present
and their nervousness, I was gaining confidence. I ended up doing very well. I placed 2nd
and won $600.00. I made $400.00 for the catering job – for a grand total of $1,000.00 in
one night!!

I still continue my truffle business today and am very successful. I am thankful and proud
of my business and know that I can succeed in the future because the NFTE program has
given me the tools to accomplish my goals.

Future CEO Stars September 2009

27
 Tickle My Pickle
By Rachel Cohen

M y name is Rachel Cohen. I am 17 years old and am a senior in high school. I never
had much interest in business until I became involved with the EYE (Empower Youth
Entrepreneurs, Inc.) program over the summer. Now that I have, I only want to learn more.

Initially looking over the EYE informational flyer, it looked very beneficial so I enrolled. It took
place at Buff State College, in Buffalo NY. The program started in the middle of summer, and
ended the second week of August (150 hours). The program provided many great experiences but
what really motivated me were the two major activities we did as projects.

The first was to sponsor an upcoming concert for Vance Gilbert, a contemporary folk singer
from Boston, MA. We split into separate promotion companies and had to create a promotional
package for him. At the end of that event, my group came in first place in the categories of hard
work, work ethic, and our goal to make sure our products were the best that they could be. Vance
Gilbert loved our plan and products!

Our second and much bigger project was to create our own company. I was excited to start with
this project mainly because there were no boundaries, and with my team, it was easy to brainstorm
and come up with something completely out of the box. So, that’s what we did. My group members
and I decided to make a jewelry store, “Tickle My Pickle,” where you can buy pre-made jewelry
or make your own. We found that this would be a unique idea because of its originality. No one
else even had making jewelry as their idea, let alone the option of providing the material to make
your own. We decided to go with jewelry because within our research, we found that there weren’t
many stores in the area like ours. To add to the originality of our plan we also went totally green,
hence the name “Tickle My Pickle”. We are conscious of being “green” in everything we do, from
product lines to our own clothing!

Our idea sounded great, but we still had a couple of obstacles to overcome. First of all were the
financial aspects. No one in our group had any idea how to manage money with relation to
running a business. Fortunately we had instructors who did! They walked us through what we
needed to learn.
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Future CEO Stars September 2009
28
Another big obstacle was we appeared to have communication problems. We had to have a few
meetings to make sure everyone was on the same page. Not only that, but with so many creative
and driven people, it wasn’t always easy to come to a consensus. We worked through this though
for the good of the company.

Our marketing strategy was simple. We made sure we had a distinct target market, we planned
to keep expanding our offering so our customers would always be able to experience something
different, and we had distinguished ourselves from our competition by explaining to the judges
why we were the most viable shop in the competition.

What I loved most about this program was it taught me a lot of the skills I needed to help me
in the future. I learned to communicate, to work with others, to do public speaking, and a lot
of business essentials. The only thing I would change about it is the fact that it’s already over! I
would’ve loved to stay in the EYE program all year. Before I started this program, I was set on a
different career path that I thought I was certain to follow. After I left this program, I realized that
I’m not half bad at working with business, and actually am considering changing my direction.

My Secrets to Success
Work hard - it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Go above and beyond - details and knowing about your task are important factors.
Just have fun - use your imagination - it will go a long way.

Look at what it has done for “Tickle My Pickle!” My partners and I have now started on our
journey to become a successful business because we didn’t take any shortcuts along the way and
started out slowly. We already have all of our product samples, product…….and even orders to
fill!

Future CEO Stars September 2009

29
 Never Too Young
for a

Dream
By Brittany Fletcher

I had an early childhood ambition to be a teacher, but by my middle school years decided that
I wanted to own my own business. Little did I know then that my parents’ and grandparents’
interest and involvement with baking would lead me to becoming co-owner of the Black Forest
Bakery and Deli.

In the eleventh grade, I took a Home Economics course and found out I had a knack for
baking and it really got me involved. I found out it was something I was actually good at. My
work release class made it possible for me to find a job related to my baking interest at the
Black Forest Bakery, an established local business.

I was given the jobs that were hard, but not involved directly in doing the baking and the work
conditions were difficult because of the heat and there was no air conditioning. I think it was a
test by the owner who asked me if I really wanted to work under these conditions. I started as
a helper, but eventually worked my way up to head baker responsible for everything and held
it down by myself.

I soon found out the owner was going to sell out or close and I started to imagine trying to
keep it up after a potential buyer backed down on buying the bakery. From joking around
about how to keep the bakery going, I went to my dad. I thought he would think I was crazy,
but he showed some interest to begin with, then backed down because he thought the sales
price was too high for the bakery.

I continued to talk with some of the employees and then approached my grandparents, who at
first said no, but then my grandmother said yes and began to get excited and my grandfather was
able to negotiate a much better sales price. Then with money that I saved from my paychecks
and some college funds my great grandmother had put aside for me, I went in with

(continued on next page)

Future CEO Stars September 2009
30
my grandparents, David and Heidi Fletcher, and bought the business. We then moved
the hometown bakery of over 30 years across to my side of town because of property lease
problems.

With my parents’ and grandparents’ previous business experiences, they helped make it possible
for me to move the equipment, develop a business plan and open the Black Forest bakery and
Deli at its new location.

Running a business as a new co-owner is difficult and requires long hours and much energy.
When I’m questioned about our prices, I always mention that we are not a grocery store and I
take care with our bakery products made each day with real taste and always fresh.

At 19, I am younger than most of the people who work for me, a situation that makes an
already tough job a little harder. Yes the days can be long and the work can be hard, but the
“amazing” aroma of baking and being my own boss make it all worth it.

In the next year, I plan to take over the bakery completely. This will relieve my grandparents
from having to assist me financially as well as helping in the deli. I plan on continuing to hone
my bakery skills and improve my artistic baking creations.

Black Forest Bakery and Deli

1040 Gaines School Rd., Suite 218 (at Ansonborough)
Athens, GA
Phone: 706.549.3752
Website: www.BlackForestAthens.com
Email: BlackForestBakeryDeli@yahoo.com

Future CEO Stars September 2009

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 Future CEO Stars September 2009
32
 Friends of
FUTURE CEO STARS
This Publication is made possible through the Generous
Contributions and efforts of these GREAT Organizations

The COLEMAN FOUNDATION www.colemanfoundation.org

Advanz and PA Leadership Team www.advanz.biz
Buchholz Academy of Entrepreneurship www.spiritspotbhs.com
Delaware Financial Literacy Institute www.DFLI.org
IL Institute for Entrepreneurship Education www.IIEE.org
Marketplace for Kids www.marketplaceforkids.org
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation www.NFIByef.org
The National Museum of Education www.NMOE.org
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship www.NFTE.org
USA TODAY www.USATODAY.com
CWD www.CWD.ME
Ignite - MI State University www.primacivitas.org
Georgia REAL Enterprises www.gareal.org
TREPS www.TREPSED.com
Empower Youth Entrepreneurs Inc.
Quebec RCJEQ