July 31, 2011
Chairman's Message - David Mueller
|
|
CHAMBER BRINGS “YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ACADEMY” TO MEDINA CITY SCHOOLS. The Chamber is proud to announce that our Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) has partnered with the Medina City Schools. This is a groundbreaking program that takes students in grades 9-12 through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Students do not need to have a business idea, or any business experience, but have to be motivated, excited, and have the desire to “shake things up.” Over the course of the year, students take all the real and necessary steps to launching an enterprise. Brainstorming ideas, preparing a business plan for their enterprises, pitching their business ideas to real investors at the YEA! Investor Panel presentation, developing marketing materials and preparing to sell their products and/or services to customers at the trade show and elsewhere. As with all entrepreneurs, they learn that new business or non-profit creation requires determination, courage, and motivation. These lessons take on various forms, and are not limited to classroom lecture. Students work with attorneys, insurers, tax professionals, designers, printers and suppliers. They listen to guest speakers, shadow mentors in the community, and take exciting field trips to reinforce principles and witness applications of the skills taught in class. Former YEA! students have gone on to form additional ventures and community service projects using the skills they took away from the YEA! program. Others have gone on to attend top universities and business schools, as well as received entrepreneurial-based scholarships. Many graduates say starting a business as a teenager gave them an edge above their peers, both academic as well as professional. Regardless if students continue on in business, they are learning important skills: public speaking, networking, how to articulately express their ideas, and how to overcome obstacles. Students in YEA! become self-confident, poised leaders.
This first year program will be a pilot and better prepare the Chamber to role this out on a larger scale which is anticipated to include other county school districts. If you are interested in becoming involved with YEA! as a mentor, guest speaker, fieldtrip host, or volunteer, contact Debra Lynn-Schmitz at 330-723-8773 or email exec@medinaohchamber.com.
Be a Mentor! Business mentors work with an assigned student business group for six classes, approximately 90 minutes each class. Mentors work hand-in-hand with the students as they create their business plans. They also provide positive but realistic feedback as students prepare for the Investor Panel event. By asking the ‘tough’ questions (and helping them research the answers), mentors proudly watch the business transform from a mere idea to a viable entity. Be a Guest Speaker! Guest speakers share their expertise with YEA! students. Accountants, attorneys, marketers, social entrepreneurs, technology experts and others share their knowledge and answer student questions. Guest speakers commit to one class visit. They impact the next generation of CEOs!
|
|
Posted by Tina Gienger
on July 31, 2011 at 12:10 PM
in Board of Directors |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
July 29, 2011
New Members July 29, 2011
|
|
Medina City Schools Foundation P. O. Box 1035 Medina, OH 44258 330-636-3122 Kim Wilson Medina City Schools Foundation supports & enhances the learning opportunities available to the students of the Medina community. BizziBiz 7184 Neff Road Valley City, OH 44280 330-416-5321 Chuck Kastor, Brett Kastor
www.bizzibiz.com/ckastor We are a digital marketing company that brings
more customers to our clients. We have no contracts
and we offer once a month ROI meetings.
|
|
Posted by Karen Whitaker
on July 29, 2011 at 2:58 PM
in Member News |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
July 28, 2011
Announcing - Young Entrepreneurs Academy
|
Local Community Cheers YEA! For Entrepreneurship Medina City Schools and The Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Young Entrepreneurs Academy into Classrooms Medina, Ohio, July 27, 2011–The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is an innovative program that guides students through the process of starting their own real business, is excited to announce plans for the program to be introduced in the Medina High School, in the Fall of 2011. YEA! is a groundbreaking program that takes students between the ages of 14 and 18 through the process of launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year . By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program. YEA! aims at teaching students at an early age how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! is the only pre-college program developed by an entrepreneur, at a university, with support from a major entrepreneurial foundation, the Kauffman Foundation and the United States Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited about the expansion and specifically chose theMedina City Schools because of its reputation for academic excellence,” said Gayle Jagel, the CEO and founder of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Jagel developed the YEA! program in 2004, while serving as the Director of the Office of Special Programs at the University of Rochester. In 2008, YEA! “spun-off” from the University to create its own not-for-profit corporation, YEA! Inc., which is currently launching sites in colleges, universities and high schools across the country. “We are pleased to be one of the first school districts in the nation to advance our students business education through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Our goal is to eventually provide a unique and challenging experience for all students interested in participating,” said Randy, Stepp, Medina City Schools Superintendent. Students at MHS are extremely involved in student-body activities and pride themselves on hard work, which bodes well for the program that requires a nine-month commitment from its young executives. In that time they brainstorm and form their enterprises, make pitches to potential investors, obtain funding, register their companies with governmental agencies, and actually launch their own company or social movement! Business mentors, graphic designers, and local entrepreneurs support the students throughout the program and all of the learning is real and experiential. “One of the most interesting components of the program is the actual behind the scenes knowledge the students are given from local business leaders, who were at one time, standing in their shoes!” Debra Lynn-Schmitz, President of the Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce. “The experience is something they will be able to apply to whatever field they choose to enter, thereby giving them the necessary skills to become future leaders of industry.” “Within minutes of learning about the YEA program, I knew this was something we needed to get involved with. This is exactly the program I wish I could have participated in Medina High School” said Chad Wilson, Medina Chamber of Commerce Board Member and entrepreneur. The success of YEA! will be largely based on the support from local businesses through sponsorships to fund the cost of the program and serving as volunteers. "As the largest employer in Medina County, Westfield Insurance has a genuine interest in developing our next generation of workers," says Jani Davis, executive director of Westfield Insurance Foundation. "Westfield has been supporting innovative learning opportunities for many years, and we saw YEA! as a chance for private businesses to partner with schools in a time when some other classes and programs are being eliminated." “The entire community is really on board with school’s plans to pilot the program in the fall,” adds Jagel, “We are urging all local business leaders to become involved with the program and act as mentors to the budding entrepreneurs.” The school does not have any expenses associated with the program. By partnering with YEA!, both large and small companies/businesses volunteer their time and services acting as business mentors, field trip hosts, guest lecturers, graphic designers, web developers, attorneys, etc. Community support strengthens the program, and the academy strengthens the community About the Young Entrepreneurs Academy The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!?, is a groundbreaking educational program that takes students in grades six through twelve through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Students work in close cooperation with local leaders of industry, community members, and educators to develop ideas and objectives, write business plans, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, develop their brand identity and much more! By the end of the class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses that can be carried on after graduation. Students learn to make a jobnot just take a job! YEA!’s? direct mission is to help students embrace their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and freedom. In 2008, YEA!? “spun-off” from the University of Rochester, where it was formed in 2004 with support from the Kauffman Foundation, to create its own not-for-profit corporation, YEA! Inc., which is currently launching sites in colleges, universities and high schools across the country to provide comprehensive, exciting entrepreneurship education, leadership development and innovation training to youth between the ages of 11 and 18 years old in the United States thereby making the program available to students at a variety of geographical regions, and providing them with skills they need to succeed in the 21st Century. For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, please call 585.272.3535 or visit www.yeausa.org Begin as a student and finish as a CEO!© ### Contact: Debra Lynn-Schmitz 330-723-1790 office 330-416-4049 - cell exec@medinaohchamber.com
|
|
Posted by Susan Murawski
on July 28, 2011 at 4:00 PM
in Business News |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
July 22, 2011
New Members July 22, 2011
|
|
Sattler Companies 1455 Wolf Creek Trail P. O. Box 306 Sharon Center, OH 44274 330-239-2552 Rob Reho & Dave Sattler,
Sattler Companies is the parent company of 2 subsidiaries: Sattler Machine Products & Sattler Pump Solutions.
|
|
Posted by Karen Whitaker
on July 22, 2011 at 1:35 PM
in Member News |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
July 8, 2011
New Members July 8, 2011
|
|
Hansen Restoration Inc. 6050 Stone Road Medina, OH 44256 330-952-1520 Jim Hansen, Eric Hansen, Grant Hansen & Sean Juszczyk
Hansen Restoration Inc. provides a full range of services including: Insurance damage repairs from fire, water & storms. Complete Custom remodels & designs. Rapid Marketplace 780 E. Smith Road Medina, OH 44256 330-721-1792 Chad Wilson, Greg Wolny & Eric Gogolek
Complete ecommerce solution including internet marketing tools such as broadcast email & social media integration
|
|
Posted by Karen Whitaker
on July 8, 2011 at 1:22 PM
in Member News |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
July 1, 2011
New Members July 1, 2011
|
|
NEOpolitan Designs 620 E. Smith Road #W20 Medina, OH 44256 440-823-0399 Mike Rezac Screen Printing, Embroidery & Promotional products Kim’s College of Martial Arts 400 S. Court St. Medina, OH 44256 330-723-7949 Professional Martial Arts Fast-teks On-Site Computer Services 1128 W. Pleasant Valley Road #229 Parma, OH 44134 330-239—8989 Eric Hendrickson Premier on-site computer solution specialists who service both residential & small business clients in Cuyahoga, Medina & Summit counties.
|
|
Posted by Karen Whitaker
on July 1, 2011 at 10:34 AM
in Member News |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
|