Photo Gallery

YEA Business Mentors

Gary Spadaro, Liberty Dental Charles Steiner, Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce Larry Jasenski, Draper Development Gene Altman, SCORE Harry Stein, SCORE

Guest Speakers & Graphic Designers

John Fenaroli, President, Schenectady Insuring Agency (Insurance) Beth Kayser, CPA (Accounting) Kristine Lanchantin, Girvin & Ferlazzo (Legal Business Structures) Gary Spadaro, Liberty Dental (Niche Marketing) Liz Lisuzzo, Golub Corporation (E-Commerce) Elizabeth Tomaselli, Golub Corporation (E-Commerce) Bonnie Minick, Capital Region BOCES (Graphic Designer) Gigi Greagan, Capital Region BOCES (Graphic Designer) Elizabeth Delos, Brayton Graphics LLC (Graphic Designer) Gloria Kishton (Graphic Designer) Sandy Rowbo, MHS Art Teacher (Graphic Designer) Theresa Whittemore, MHS Student (Graphic Designer)

Investors

Girvin & Ferlazzo, Patrick J. Fitzgerald III, Partner CSArch, Gregory Klokiew, Managing Principal/Project Manager Mohonasen Foundation For Excellence, Chip Cornish & Brett Armstrong, Board Members First New York, Michael Krywinski, VP of Lending Stapes Wal-Mart

Students pitch business plans to community investors

March 17, 2011

On Wednesday, March 17, students in Mohonasen's Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) presented to a panel of community investors in hopes of turning their business plans into an actual business.

YEA! was originally developed by the University of Rochester with support from the Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the first year of the program at Mohonasen High School, the students have been working with business mentors, graphic designers and guest speakers from the local business community to not only learn about the many aspects of business -- but to develop and create a fully-functional business.

Wednesday's presentations included: 
See pictures from the presentations in the photo gallery below.

• 3 G's Tees by Joe Avery, Josh McGrath and Pat McDonald

• Pro Wash by Justin Rea and Zach Zeh

• Lady Jade by Allison Kartner and Dionne Puorto

• Phil the Computer Guy by Phil Rowe

• Zenith Pastries by Arti Bhoge and Dimitrios Koutsopoulos

• Speak Skateboards by Zack Smith

A group of area investors -- First New York, Girvin & Ferlazzo, the Mohonasen Foundation, CSArch, Wal-Mart and Stapes -- have agreed to provide different levels
of financing to help the students get their businesses off the ground.

Thank you to the investors, business mentors, guest speakers and graphic designers for their support of this valuable new programs!