April 2009 $2.

50 US

FUTURE CEO STARS

In This Issue
Participants
become STARS at IIEE
 FUTURE CEO STARS APRIL 2009
In This Issue…
4 Ask GoVenture
Media Spark

5 A Moving Experience
NFTE, Inc.

7 Technically Speaking
Chip Lowe

9 Signs of an Entrepreneur
Réseau des CJE du Québec

11 Learning By Doing
University of Florida

12 Sharing My Experience
PA Leadership Team/Advanz

13 National Entrepreneurship Week

15 Participants Become Stars

Illinois Institute of Entre. Ed.
Max Aifer Won $10,000 with
16 Stretched to the MAX!
National Museum of Education
18 Suit Cases For Kids
NFIB YEF
21 For The Record...
23 Winners in North Dakota
Marketplace for Kids
25 Ananth Ram and
Arun Venkatraman
27 Our Sponsors
his “Plant Sitter” page 16
Published by The Consortium
for Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199
Columbus, OH 43212
www.entre-ed.org
mashmore@entre-ed.org
Publisher: Dr. Cathy Ashmore
Editor: Michael Ashmore
Graphic Design: SPLASH Designs
Student Advisory Board: Jasmin Auzenne
Rachel Biro, Marcus Craft, Claire He,
Chip Lowe, Kelly Rapp, Micah Toll
Annual Subscription Available - $25.00
Contact: mashmore@entre-ed.org
 Ask GoVenture
What types of financing
“
There are several sources of financing and
are available to a business?
you’ll want to consider them all to determine
which best fits your needs. There are generally
two types of financing: debt is a loan that you
must repay, usually with interest; equity repre-
sents a purchase of ownership in a business.
Love Money
Money from family and
It could be debt or equity.
Banks and Credit Unions
Normally offer debt, with some form of col-
lateral required.
Mutual Funds
Professional equity investors who seek out
various types of companies, especially stable
ones. They primarily invest in public compa-
nies over private.
Venture Capitalists
Professional investors who seek out early
stage, high growth companies to receive
large capital gains from equity investments.
Angels
”
Wealthy individuals who invest equity or debt
for financial or emotional reasons.
Investment Banks
Act as brokers to connect people looking to
invest with companies seeking financing and
facilitate large-scale deals.
friends.
Merchant Banks
Similar to investment banks, but often invest
their own funds.
Strategic Investors GoVenture Educational
May have a strategic interest in the activities Games and Simulations
of another business (partner, competitor). for entrepreneurship, business, marketing,
Government accounting, personal finance, investing,
Invest for economic development reasons. math, economics, career and life skills,
and more!
General Public
May invest for financial and/or emo- Perfect for home or school. Visit our
tional reasons. Private companies are website for product information, demo
significantly restricted from pursuing videos, free trials, and more!
investment directly from the public.

GoVenture Activity
Crossword Puzzle — Credit Card & Debt Financing
Directions: Find the financial terms that match the crossword clue
to fill in the puzzle.

ACROSS:
1. A ________ fee is charged when you use a cash
advance
3. This rating is based on your history of borrowing
and repayments.
5. Outstanding payment owed
6. The ____________ payment is the absolute least
amount that you are required to pay back on a cred-
it card each month
7. __________ is the total amount owed to a credi-
tor, not including interest.
9. When you borrow money you are taking out a
______. Entrepreneur Board Game
10. A credit _____ is the highest amount you can Learn about business and accounting with
charge to your card. a unique and fun group learning activity.
11. One of the most well known credit card types For home or school. Ages 12 to adult.

DOWN:

2. The length of time over which a loan must be

repaid: _____ period.
4. This charge is calculated yearly or daily on the
current outstanding balance of a debt.
5. People who cannot pay off their debts often go Educational Games
Answers ______.
4. Interest, 5. Bankrupt, 8. Annual and Simulations
7. Principal, 9. Loan, 10. Limit, 11. VISA; Down: 2. Amortization, 8. An ________ fee is charged yearly by some credit
card companies for your use of their credit card.
Across: 1. Transaction, 3. Credit, 5. Balance, 6. Minimum,
toll
1-800-331-2282
free

www.goventure.net
A Moving Experience
BY AREL MOODIE
Arel Moodie and his partner
Bert Gervais.

I n the spring of 2004 my best friend, Bert Gervais, and I

were in college and wanted to move off campus. Together,
with another friend, we had a horrible time finding a place.
to do it. We just didn’t know enough. We thought if we built it,
the customers would just come.
We launched the business in 2005 when we were nowhere
We searched for weeks until we found a decent three-bedroom
near ready. There were huge problems with the website: it didn’t
apartment. Everything was fine until our third roommate let us
work properly, it was not user friendly and there were many
know that he would no longer be attending school the follow-
complaints. So we decided to take the site down and spent the
ing year. Since we now only needed a two bedroom place
next two years fixing it. While other students went out to parties
we had to do the whole process again. After going through
on weekends, we were in our apartment working. It came to a
this twice we figured there must be a better way.
point where I personally felt like I was in the business of trying to
In discussing this with other students we found that we were not develop a business! We began seeking experienced mentors,
the only ones who went through this mess. My mentor once told planning our marketing strategies, and reading as many books
me to never look for an opportunity, but look for a problem and on the subject of business that we could.
work on its solution. Well here it was so Bert and I teamed up
Many times I felt like quitting. Here I was, supposed to be this
with another student, Matt Young, and decided to take action.
big-shot businessman, but my friends were making more money
We came up with the idea for placefinder.com, a website that
working part-time in the dining hall. I felt like a loser until I real-
deals specifically with finding off-campus housing, roommates
ized something that changed my world. It’s just as impossible to
and sublets for college students.
flip a coin 100 times and get heads all 100 times as it is to keep
We uncovered a huge need and a great solution, so then money trying and always fail. There is a huge correlation between how
would just come rolling in, right? Wrong! There was so much much one can fail and how much success one can have. The
we didn’t know about business, and about building a website. more you fail increases your likelihood for future success.
We must have hit every single roadblock imaginable. We knew
I’m happy to report that the sun is starting to rise for placefinder.
what we wanted to do, but we didn’t know how we were going
com. It is finally becoming a great success at Binghamton University
— so much so that we have already expanded to other schools.
Through entrepreneurship education, NFTE, the Others must think so too because we were recently featured in
USA Today. Even though it was challenging, I would not trade
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
the last three years of work for anything. Not only did I achieve
(www.nfte.com), helps young people from low- business success, but I gained confidence and self knowledge
income communities build skills and unlock their that I don’t suspect I could have found anywhere else.
entrepreneurial creativity. Since 1987, NFTE has
reached over 150,000 young people, trained more
than 3,700 Certified Entrepreneurship Teachers,
and continually improved its innovative entrepre-
neurship curriculum.

Future CEO Stars April 2009

5
 Technically Speaking...
with Chip Lowe

Twitter has become the “next big thing” in the online community, but
have you taken the time to understand exactly what its service offers? At
first glance, Twitter seems to be a stripped-down version of Facebook or
MySpace that only allows you to set your status, but in fact it is much
more.

To really benefit from your usage of Twitter, you must first understand
the fundamentals of the service: first you must choose your username,
which creates your Twitter profile at http://www.twitter.com/username.
Once you have your own Twitter, you can tell the world what’s going on
in your life – similar to setting your Facebook status. Only there’s a few
limitations and a few advantages. Your “tweet” can only be 140 characters
including spaces, so you must keep it short and to the point. However,
to make up for that limitation, there are several Twitter-only features:
When setting your status you can publish up to three different kinds
of “tweets.” The first is your normal status tweet – you simply put up a
statement. The second is a “reply” – to reply to someone you simply use
the syntax @someone in your tweet and it will notify the user of your
reply message. Finally, you can “re-tweet” what another Twitter user has
posted. For example, @userone posts: “Wow, I love Twitter!” and user
two wants to re-tweet that post: “RT @userone ‘Wow, I love Twitter!’” It’s
that plain and simple.

Now that you have a better understanding of what Twitter is in its basic
form, you are certainly beginning to think of the possible uses of Twitter
for teachers, parents, and students. Because Twitter displays every post
of the other users that you “follow” updates from on your home page,
it makes a convenient announcement center for teachers. Students and
parents can then reply with any comments or questions to the teacher
who has “tweeted” out the announcement.

However, Twitter’s usefulness doesn’t end in the classroom – it obviously

extends much farther. More and more businesses, especially locally-owned
and new start-ups are jumping on board with Twitter for free advertising
through promoting potential customers to sign-up as followers of their
business account. This allows businesses to send out tweets with special
coupon codes and notifications of in-store discounts and clearance weeks.
You could even use it to launch a new advertising campaign!

The possibilities are endless, but the text is short. Start Twittering today
at www.twitter.com.

Chip is a member Of The Future CEO Stars Advisory

Board, and President of his own Company CWD.
Future CEO Stars May
May2009
2009
7
 Signs of An Entrepreneur
By Katherine Korakakis

I f you had asked Jonathan when he was a kid reading

his financial times whether or not he would be
an entrepreneur later on in life, he would of said no.
But low and behold, after participating in his school
entrepreneurship project called “Student Stock Exchange”
(www.studentstockexchange.com), he was intrigued. “It
was not just seeing my business that did it for me, it was
seeing what others had created,” he says.
While in college Jonathan launched his first venture
after seeing an interview on television. “The man being
interviewed on the news was describing his business, how
it was growing and the benefits. I thought to myself, Wow!
What an amazing idea. Why can’t I do that?”. So he did.
He recruited a friend and worked all night every night for
months. Three months later his business was launched.
“The first three years were tough. We thought we would
be rich right away, but we had to make many sacrifices and
changes and try new things before it worked out.” While
trying out new things, he bought out his first partner, a
huge personal gamble, and broughy in a new partner;
Carlo Pansera.
something to aim for. People think that you have to be
an expert in the business you go into, but that’s not true.
In my first business, I had no clue what I was doing, but I
learned. Now, I’m an expert in my field! “
His advice: Look at what others are doing, look at what
you like doing and look at what you spend your money
on. That will give you a good indication of type of business
to start.” He adds, “It’s a misconception that all businesses
have to be innovative or new. That’s not true. All you have
to do is capture a market share that is novel. You don’t have
to re-invent the wheel”.
Jonathan Valicenti came from humble beginnings. His
parents were not entrepreneurial but they were hard-
working. Jonathan is now 28 yrs old, lives in Montreal
and is on top of his game!

After the success of his first business he launched two others.

His current venture is Mirada Media; a digital signage
company. Digital signage is the evolution of the traditional
media vehicle for advertising, product promotion, and
information display. The medium provides retailers and
other businesses complete and centralized control of on-
premise information presented through digital displays
like plasma/LCD/DLP/LED screens, projectors, and
kiosks. Updated instantly through digital signage software,
these displays will show rich media content, such as images,
flash videos, live television and data feeds.

Jonathan believes that you have to “dream big in order For more information about his company
to get big. If you have high expectations, it will give you
visit: www.miradamedia.com

Future CEO Stars April 2009

9
 Future CEO Stars April 2009
10
 LEARNING BY DOING
By Ted Astleford

S tudents spend an immense amount of time focusing on business theory but often lack the opportunity to apply this
theory in a real-world environment. Introducing GatorNest, the University of Florida’s exciting experiential learning
incubator housed in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). The goals of this program are simply as follows:
to teach students entrepreneurship and innovation by working through the real problems of real companies, to teach team
dynamics, team management, and goal setting in an unscripted environment, and to stimulate the economy of the Gator
Nation by assisting in the growth of new venture opportunities.

As participants in GatorNest, students are able to engage their analytical and creative skills, ultimately enhancing the
learning process while creating solutions to problems facing early-stage ventures. Outstanding students will perform much
of the basic market research and analysis, earning valuable experience in the process and satisfying CEI’s mission to teach,
coach and inspire students to be entrepreneurial.

Projects are completed for campus organizations like our world famous butterfly museum and the UF Office of Technology
Licensing, and also businesses in the local and state community such as the Big Cat Rescue and the Hippodrome State
Theater. Gator Nest provides an outreach component while serving the needs of the students. The program welcomes all
organizations to apply for consideration. All receive a basic evaluation and advice on future steps, and for those with high
potential ideas, additional help is provided during an 8-week period in which teams of students meet at least once per week
to complete project deliverables. Overall, students typically spend 8 hours per week on their projects.

In the end, many clients show extreme satisfaction. “The professionalism found in the report was, in my experience, equal to
or above the type of presentations I review on a regular basis” said one client, going on to say that he was “deeply appreciative
of the students’ commitment to excellence, attention to detail and professionalism.”

And as one student commented, “GatorNest teaches from experience, something a book can’t provide.”
Total immersion…learn by doing.

Future CEO Stars May 2009

11
 Sharing
My
Experience
By Ricci Minella

I ’ve felt the entrepreneurial spark in me since I’ve been about

13 years old. I saw a great opportunity happening on my
street at about that age and knew that I had to jump on board
or I would miss the boat. My neighbor Lee Hlavay had a lawn
mower, a weed whacker, a blower and one customer. I asked
him if I could do the weed whacking and the rest is history.

We were both wide eyed, ambitious and eager to expand our operations. Before long we had a large portion of the
landscaping business on our street and saw that it was time for a real expansion. My Dad bought the family a small
pickup truck just as we were purchasing some new equipment for our freshly named landscaping business, “Foxwood
Landscaping”. At this point we opened up our operations to anybody who would trust us with a lawn mower, traveling
sometimes 30 to 40 minutes to cut a lawn. We were so eager to acquire a new customer that it didn’t even matter to us that
we might have been losing money on the deal. We made our fair share of blunders and got burned pretty severely a couple
times, but, we learned priceless information about people, the business world and most importantly ourselves. By 2008 we
were netting around $13,000 for the year.

I can’t say that owning my own landscaping company brought me to Duquesne University but it most certainly directed
me in choosing my focus of study. The first time I looked at majors during the summer transition from high school to
college the Entrepreneurship program stood out to me. At first I was afraid of choosing it as a major due to the uncertain
nature of the field. After discussing the program with some of the students that were in the major I knew that it fit my
personality pretty well and decided to give it a shot. Here I am, a senior Entrepreneurship major with no regrets about the
decision I made.

As president of the Duquesne Entrepreneurial Alliance I wanted to create an event that would support National
Entrepreneurship Week 2009. We chose to collaborate with the Small Business Development Center, and the Pennsylvania
partners for National Entrepreneurship Week to combine powers to facilitate an event that would bring about awareness
of entrepreneurship as a viable career at the spring career fair at Duquesne. I thought it would be a great place to talk to
students and try to get them to understand that even though college and society channels you to find a job with good
companies (which is not a bad thing), there is another path out there for those who dream a little bigger. We ran the idea
by the University and they gave us the go ahead so we started planning immediately.

When the Career fair finally rolled around, we had all cylinders firing. Our booth was equipped with outstanding signage
provided by Eric Boris, CEO of BCI Sign and Design. We had plenty of informative literature to hand out to the students.
We even had a huge LCD TV set up so that we could show a video that showcased an event in Philadelphia, “Unleash
Philly”. Above all the tangibles that were at the booth we were able to bring something that you cannot put a price on. We
had the opportunity to give first hand advice to students that had open ears.

More than anything, I learned the importance of using my experiences to give back to others. I was able to give real life
helpful advice to students that were unsure of where they were heading. It was great to watch some of these students’
reactions when I told them how simple it is to start a business. I let them know that you don’t have to have a huge blue
chip idea to create a flourishing business. All you need to start a business is customers. I really feel this event was successful
in opening the minds of student to entrepreneurship.
Article Provided By The Pennsylvania Leadership Team and Advanz LLC
Future CEO Stars April 2009
12
In recognition of National Entrepreneurship Week 2009 events occured all over North
America. Here are some memories of just a few of the hundreds of celebrations that took
place. For much more go to

www.NationalEweek.org

Members of NET-Force, the
Nebraska Entrepreneurship Task
Force, planned outstanding
events throughout Nebraska.
“Pin The Head on the
Entrepreneur” was the name of
the game at Branch Area Career
Center in Coldwater, Michigan.
US Small Business Administration
hosts Luncheon with Kwame
Jackson (The Apprentice
Finalist) Leading A Discussion
with High School Students
in Washington DC.

Student entrepreneurs discuss
their businesses with Ohio’s
Lieutenant Governor, Lee Fisher,
during the Youth Event at the
National Entrepreneurship
Week Expo in Columbus.
North Dakota Governor
John Hoeven signed the 2009
Proclamation declaring North
Dakota Entrepreneurship
Week. This effort was prompted
by Marketplace for Kids.
Eighth grade FBLA students
in Charlotte, NC created
entrepreneurship projects and
displayed them in their event
with parents, local business
leaders and students as guests.

Future CEO Stars April 2009

13
 Do You Want to See Your Story in Print?
Well, if it works for our magazine, we will print it.

We want your story!

FUT U R E C E O S T A R S Are you running a successful
business, or hope to, and
want to tell others about it?

Do you want to give

acknowledgement or thanks
to those that have helped
you along the way?

YOU
In This Issue
Could other students gain from
learning about your
successes or warnings
about your mistakes?

Wi h the
With h exception i off cleaning
l i up some grammar, spelling,
lli and
d iinstruction sheet to give you some suggestions on how to put
other technical stuff your English teacher wanted you to pay your story together. Just write us (at the address below) and
attention to, we’ll leave your message the way you send it to us. we’ll be glad to send it to you.
It is, after all, your message and this is your magazine.
What have you got to lose? Here is a free chance (there is
All we really need is one page (typed) with a picture or two absolutely no charge for students to submit their story) to get
(1500kb jpeg files or larger are best) about what you want to no cost advertising for your product, web page or service.
say. Of course, the articles and pictures you send become the Opportunities like this don’t happen often.
property of the magazine and will not be returned. Also, they
may be used for other promotional purposes by the magazine This is your magazine. It’s reaching thousands of classrooms
and its parent company, The Consortium for Entrepreneurship each month. This is your chance to help yourself and help oth-
Education. ers in the process.

If we use your story, we will get your final approval of all edits Change has to begin somewhere and often the best way to
before we print it. To make it easy we even have a writing pay something back is to pay it forward!

Sincerely,
Mike Ashmore
Editor, Future CEO Stars Magazine
mashmore@entre-ed.org

Future CEO Stars April 2009

14
 Participants Become Stars at
IIEE’s Young Entrepreneurs
Conference
W elcome to the 2009 IIEE
Young Entrepreneurs
Conference held in Chicago April
30th – May 2nd. I am Vincent
Williams and I will be one of your
college ambassadors for the entire
weekend. I won the 2007 IIEE Young
Entrepreneur of the Year award for
$1,000.00. Prepare yourself for the
NETWORKING EXPERIENCE
of a LIFETIME! IIEE has teamed
up with us, the Visionary Leaders
Foundation (V.L.F) and the
IIEE Collegiate Entrepreneur
Ambassadors, to coordinate the
evening entertainment at this year’s
Annual IIEE Young Entrepreneurs
Conference!
V.L.F, established in the spring of
2008, was founded and co-founded
in Chicago, IL. by Vincent Williams
and Anndriene Bell, who are also
proud IIEE Collegiate Entrepreneur
Ambassadors. V.L.F is a pending
not-for-profit organization that is
committed to the empowerment,
and evolution of the next generation
of young entrepreneurs. We also
seek to increase the awareness of
teenagers on how entrepreneurship
and financial literacy can change
lives.
To bring our mission to life, V.L.F
has pulled together our fellow
Ambassadors, very successful young
entrepreneurs that work with IIEE,
who are interested in helping to
make your conference experience
unforgettable. Per our efforts, we are
happy to bring you the “Networking
Extravaganza”, which is a series of
creative and innovative activities
to enhance your knowledge of
Future CEO Stars May 2009
By Vincent Williams
networking. This event will take
place on Thursday night of the
conference.
In addition, there is “The Verbal
Escape”, which is an open mic
session that allows you to enjoy
the art of spoken word in a relaxed
environment, while amongst
new acquaintances. This event is Ida Manning, Vincent
taking place on Friday night of the Williams, and Carol Kuc
conference, and you have the choice
of performing or being an audience
member. These are just sneak-peek
descriptions of what is to come,
The Illinois Institute for
but you have to be there for the full Entrepreneurship Education (IIEE)
affect! invites young entrepreneurs and their
instructors to register for the 3rd Annual
IIEE Young Entrepreneurs Conference to
F.Y.I! Here is a heads-up! Not only be held April 30th – May 2nd, 2009 in the
will you have the pleasure of taking Chicagoland area.
Students from around the country
advantage of these evening activities participate in: Business Workshops, Business
and the conference agenda, but Plan Competitions, The Young Entrepreneur
Expo, The “E” College Tour, Networking
all the while, you will get to with adult and young entrepreneurs,
network with the IIEE Collegiate presentations from nationally known
Keynote Speakers and more! For more
Entrepreneur Ambassadors and information go to www.iiee.org or call IIEE
other IIEE volunteers who will at (312)587-9296.
“Have their eyes on you at ALL
times.” They are scoping out the
finalist for the Visionary Leaders
Foundation/ Blake Martin & Co.
Networker of the Year Award!
That’s right! Five finalists will be
chosen based on strong networking
strategies, and articulate professional
skills. They will then undergo
an interviewing process that will
determine the winner, which will be
announced at the 2009 IIEE Young
Entrepreneurs Conference Awards
Ceremony. So ask yourself, “DO
I Stand Out?” and be the first to
accept this honor. We can’t wait to
meet all of you. See you soon!
15
 STRETCHED TO THE MAX!!!
C an you imagine a classroom full of fifth graders turned loose
with rubber bands? There is no doubt that their first thought
would be to shoot them at each other! And that’s exactly what
many of the fifth to eighth grade students did when they entered
the first annual Rubber Band Contest, sponsored by the Akron
Global Polymer Academy of the University of Akron, along with
the American Chemical Society and the Rubber Division.
These groups decided to sponsor this unusual contest for students
nationwide, under the administration of the National Museum
of Education, to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of rubber
in 2009, in Akron, Ohio, the “Rubber Capital of the World”.
The awards of a $10,000, $5,000, and $3,000 savings bond were
given by Alliance Rubber—along with awards to the teachers or
mentors of the top three winners.
From hundreds of entries, a group of fifteen semi-finalists were
selected, and then three finalists were chosen by an elite group
of judges including educators and businessmen and women. As
expected, two of the top fifteen did use the “stretchy, projectile”
aspect of rubber bands to create games. Trevor Springer made
“The Pentagonal Projectile Game”, a game to practice target skills
in a safe and fun way. It uses a rubber band powered catapult to
launch mini Styrofoam pentagons at a target.
Michael Schuller invented a “Rubber B-Ball Game”. This game
for two players, ages 5 or older, was so popular with his classmates
that they didn’t even want him to take it home to enter the contest.
With a few changes to make the game fit each school’s colors and
mascot, Michael’s game could easily be marketed nationally.
In addition to games, the rubber band inventions included artistic
and musical devices. “Stretchy Shapes” was created by Henry
Griffiths. He used rubber bands for children to explore the world
of shapes and designs. His invention is a small pegboard with
screws to support the creation, which was made of rubber bands
attached in different shapes –including a snow man’s head and
some very unique geometric patterns.
Music inspired Abigail Bonett. She made a simple replica of a
band and orchestra by stretching eight rubber bands of different
colors and widths across a board to create an octave scale. As
she pulled each rubber band, the musical notes played the scale.
What an inexpensive and unique way to make a new musical
instrument!
The arts were not the only way in which these students expressed
their creativity. Some of them merely looked at household
problems to find solutions. Nathan Gardner made the “Disher
16
By Gay Evans
Gripper”, an invention to keep the dishes from flipping over in
the dishwasher. His device of rubber bands and PVC pipe would
certainly avoid having to rewash all those dishes which fill with
water the first time around.
Jhena Smith made the “Rubber Band Generator #1”. Her
invention generates a small amount of electricity as a result of a
lever twisting and turning rubber bands to create energy. Jared
Mann applied the same concept for his third place winning
“Power Tree”. Jared was inspired by nature when he watched the
movement of the leaves on the trees. He then made an inexpensive,
easy and safe way to produce electric power. This invention, like
the leaves on the trees, catches the wind to create a wobbling
motion that can then be used to move magnets through coils of
wire to generate electricity. Jared’s invention is more complex, but
he is certainly addressing our world’s energy concerns.
Safety was on Jaymen Neff-Strickland’s mind when he made the
“Safe Flap Candle”. Jaymen’s important invention uses rubber
bands to snap a lid shut when the flames become too hot or when
the fire rises too high.
The last two inventions were the top winners. However, they are
very unusual uses of rubber bands. Grant Neil made “The Rip
Band”. He placed a rubber band underneath a can of food. His
use of the rubber band provides a faster, simpler way to remove
labels. It may be attached to an advertisement card at the end of
the rubber band to help make money for the advertisers. Grant
may have a future as an inventor or in marketing, but his $5,000
savings bond should help whatever he chooses.
The top winner was Max Aifer. His“Plant Sitter” is the answer
for anyone who loves having household plants, but isn’t always as
vigilant as need be when watering them. His invention is hung
over a plant to provide water while you are away. The plant pot
is suspended by rubber bands and rises as the water evaporates
or is absorbed by the plant. His $10,000 win will allow Max to
continue to invent and to apply his unusual creative talents in the
future.
Fifteen extremely varied inventions from students as young as ten
were this year’s winners! Who knows what seeds were planted
by this first-ever Rubber Band Contest. Next year, however, we
expect the numbers of entries to grow and the extent of problems
solved to be even wider. The contest for 2010 will now have two
divisions: one in the Arts and Leisure, and the other in Science
and Technology. This year’s entrants have set the bar very high,
but America’s young minds are sharp and full of creativity!
Future CEO Stars April 2009
Michael Schuller and “Rubber B Ball” Jhena Smith and her Generator

Max Aifer $10,000 first prize winner Grant Neil and his 2nd Place Rip Band

Abigail Bonett and her Orchestra Henry Griffiths and Stretchy Shapes

Future CEO Stars May 2009 17

Suitcases For Kids
A Story of Hope
By Welland Burnside

I n 1995, when I was seven years old, my sister

began working with the foster care program at
the local Department of Social Services in Hickory,
North Carolina. I learned from her that foster children Welland Burnside
traditionally move from home to home carrying their
belongings in black trash bags. I thought that the
children must feel like garbage themselves. So I decided
to take action and get a suitcase for every foster child in
my county. I wanted to provide my county’s 300 foster
children with some self-respect, dignity, and security
through the simple gift of a suitcase.

I named my project Suitcases For Kids and made

posters for grocery stores, museums, libraries, and
community buildings. I spoke to schools, churches and
civic groups and asked my family, friends, neighbors,
Scouts and 4-Hers to help. My idea quickly spread Kelly Rippa gives Welland national exposure
from my county to surrounding counties and then to
other states. I wrote, printed, and distributed thousands
of copies of a free 12-page Starter Kit that contained
helpful information for any individual or group who
wanted to start a chapter of Suitcases For Kids in their
community. I established nonprofit status for my
project, named six youth regional vice-presidents, and
set up a website www.suitcasesforkids.org

Volunteers of all ages joined in to support my project

which spread like a wildfire across the nation and to
other countries. A travel agent in Boston rebated trips
when her clients brought their unused luggage in for
the foster children. A Girl Scout in Richmond collected
suitcases as a memorial to her leader who died of cancer.
A 4-H agent in Smith County, Texas, challenged the
4-Hers to bring in 1,000 suitcases in a month. Together Always “Scouting” for Cases
with four other counties, they brought in 9,000. A

Future
Futur
re CE
CEO
EO Stars April 22009
0009
18
boy in Seattle put notices about Suitcases For Kids
in every restaurant. And luggage manufacturers began
attaching tags about the project on all their suitcases,
backpacks, and duffel bags. Many corporations gave
financial support and in-kind gifts for the program.

Having been President of Suitcases For Kids for

fourteen years, I am dedicated and committed to my
program. I continue to accept new responsibilities
and learn new skills. I realize that from overseeing Volunteers Joined in EVERYWHERE
such a large project, I have gained the knowledge to
maintain an office, make speeches, fundraise, travel
efficiently, coordinate an international network of
suitcase collections and deliveries, and work with
corporate sponsors like national airlines, delivery
service carriers, and discount department stores who
have donated $480,000 of in-kind gifts. I also was
selected to receive an NFIB Young Entrepreneur
Award in 2007.

Suitcases For Kids is currently active in all 50 states

and 83 foreign countries. The project has an army of
volunteers of all ages and has expanded to provide
luggage for medical missionaries traveling to Third
World countries, scholarship campers, group homes,
victims of natural disasters, and adult daycares. As a
leader among my peers, I now realize the power and
value of youth. I hope to keep sharing my ideas with
other young people and to inspire many of them to Welland speaks publically to gather support
become active citizens by being excited, engaged,
productive individuals through volunteerism in their
communities. My motto? Make helping a habit, a
way of life. Live to give!

In “case” you didn’t think he was succesful...

Future
Fu
utu
ure CEO Stars M
May
ay 22009
009
19
 It’s Here!
NFIB YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FOUNDATION presents:

Classtime Just Turned Interesting.

Homework Just Turned Fun!
Johnny Money Online Game (JMOG) is a FREE interactive small business simulation game designed to
enhance high school students’ exploration of entrepreneurship. The flash-based Internet simulation allows
youth to learn about and experience the day-to-day functions of an entrepreneur.

s Infuse existing lesson plans on business

and entrepreneurship

s Use as an in-class or homework assignment

s Provide activities for homeroom, advisory

or after school programs

www.johnnymoney.com
 For The Record
Making Sure Great Concepts aren’t lost in the
Political Spin Cycle

H ave you ever heard of Social Entrepreneurship? Basically it is getting involved in a business that not
only has the potential of being profitable but also is helpful to the community, environment or society
in one form or another. It’s actually a concept that has been around for quite a while but recently its meaning
is going through a transformation.

Initially the focus was primarily “Entrepreneurship”. The “Social” element was a secondary bonus. The profit
motive was the purpose for getting into the business. It’s not that entrepreneurs shouldn’t be concerned with
social responsibility, for long term success it’s usually a critical element but in today’s changing political and
social environment the “Social” element is sometimes the motive.

So what does this have to do with starting a business? Plenty!! Staying current with changing trends can
present opportunities that many may over look. Let’s face it, there are definite advantages to being the first
in a new field. Of course there is the down side of a huge learning curve but being the first often also leads
to being the leader.

Many look at our economic and environmental challenges, in the middle of a dynamically changing political
environment as a problem, but for the astute entrepreneur it can lead to many opportunities. Those that
see it as a problem are resistant to change but a real entrepreneur embraces change instead of fears it. The
true entrepreneur knows that change, either positive or negative, creates opportunity. It may require some
creative thinking, risk taking, and quick response but isn’t that part of what makes being an entrepreneur the
exciting career choice that it is?

One word of caution should be mentioned here. Social Entrepreneurship should not be confused with Social
Engineering. Entrepreneurship is a capitalist concept. There is nothing wrong with individual competition
in a free-market. It has received a lot of negative press recently but it is what our country is founded on.
In reality, capitalism is what makes being an entrepreneur possible in the first place. As long as being an
Entrepreneur first is the motive, Social Entrepreneurship that focuses on business to solve a social problem
can lead to economic success.

Although the term is sometimes misused as such, Social Entrepreneurship should not be confused with
socializing an existing business. The difference between these two concepts are as different as night and
day. Anything that is socialized (implied that it is publicly run) has no room for an entrepreneur and
eliminates all the positive elements that private sector free market operations provide. Remember that being
an Entrepreneur is still the point of Social Entrepreneurship.

Future CEO Stars May 2009

21
 WINNERS IN
NORTH DAKOTA
I nnovation and entrepreneurship are alive and thriving in the youth of North Dakota thanks to Marketplace for Kids and the
Marketplace/Northern Plains Invention Contest. Marketplace for Kids Education Days offer encouragement for developing young
entrepreneurs and provide young people with a forum to present and explain projects which demonstrate their entrepreneurship,
innovation, and creativity. The next logical step for many of these students is to see how far they can take their invention and the
Marketplace/Northern Plains Invention Contest gives them the platform on which to build.

The Marketplace/Northern Plains Invention Contest was held January 13-14, 2009 in Bismarck, ND in conjunction with Marketplace,
North Dakota’s premier economic development conference. Special award categories for youth – age 14-18 and youth age 13 and under
are presented. The top youth inventions this year were diverse and creative in their use and design. Some were fun-oriented while others
were useful for work-related activities.

MacKenzie F. A. Melby Adam Schreiner

Many of these products begin as science fair projects. The “Smart
Trailer’s” inventor, MacKenzie F. A. Melby saw jack-knifing of
trailers as a problem and decided to design an apparatus to fix
it. He said, “The Marketplace/Northern Plains Invention Contest
in Bismarck gave me a chance to receive a lot of advice and ideas
of where to take my project next.” He also plans to develop and
hopefully sell a full-scale version within the next year.
Adam Philip Schreiner invented “Taco Tape.” He said, “I had
to come up with a science fair project and we were discussing
ideas over supper one night when I realized what a mess my little
sister was making with her taco.” He also had a lot of fun at his
region’s Marketplace for Kids Education Day in 2008. He said,
“I brought some friends and this year they want to participate
too.” His future plans for “Taco Tape” are to get a patent for it
and then try to sell the idea, but not the patent.

Benjamin Longlet Jonah Eslinger

Benjamin John Longlet, thinking about winter-related conundrums,
created the “Heated Pet Waterer,” a 5-gallon insulated container that
doesn’t allow freezing, even in sub-zero temperatures. North Dakota
definitely is the right place to market this ingenuous Pet’s Best Friend.
Jonah B. Eslinger for instance, realizing the difficulty that many
people have every year during the holiday season, dreamt “Deck
the Roof ” into reality. This innovative method to decorate the
house and trees, or to make brightly-lit shapes to enhance the
season, enables the process without the tangles, twists, and hassles
commonly associated with this activity.

It is examples like these and many others that have been presented at the Marketplace/Northern Plains Invention Contests that exemplify
the youth of North Dakota and their importance to the growth of the state. Marketplace for Entrepreneurs and the Marketplace
Northern Plains Invention Contest provide opportunities to people of all ages who want to show their quality innovative ideas.

Future CEO Stars April 2009

23
 Future CEO Stars April 2009
24 Future CEO Stars August 2008
September
4
 SELL 3
GET 1 FREE!!!

Help promote Future

CEO Stars magazine and
earn cash in the process.
Every fourth subscription
you sell puts $25 in
your pocket.
Limited time offer
so check it out now.

For more info go to

www.FutureCEOStars.com ©iStockphoto.com, Milorad Zaric

or write to mashmore@entre-ed.org
with subject line “3 + 1 offer”
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
E*TRADE Financial www.etrade.com
Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship Education www.iiee.org
Marketplace for Kids www.marketplaceforkids.org
MediaSpark Inc www.mediaspark.com
National Council on Economic Education www.ncee.net
National Museum of Education www.nmoe.org
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation www.nfib.com/yef
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship www.nfte.com
NY REAL www.nyreal.org
Réseau des CJE du Quebec www.cjereseau.org
University of Florida www.cei.ufl.edu
Yourhomework.com www.yourhomework.com
USA Today www.usatoday.com/educate
Small Business Development Center www.ohiosbdc.com
AdVanz, LLC
Ohio Department of Education education.ohio.gov

Future
FutureCEO
CEOStars October
20082008
May2009
Stars May 27
27