10/08/2025
A couple of years ago, while rebranding the Teen Center at Naval Sub Base Kings Bay, I suggested something simple but powerful — let’s ask the teens what they want. After all, it’s their center.
During our focus groups, I saw an opportunity to go beyond branding and teach them something bigger — the spirit of entrepreneurship. With resources from my good friend Kennan Burch, He gave me permission adapt one of his (Stan Richards Group) branding programs and I added a “Shark Tank” twist. I split them into teams of five and challenged them to create a product or service that solved an unmet need in the marketplace.
They blew me away.
That experience stuck with me. I kept thinking — why don’t we do more to inspire, educate, and empower young entrepreneurs? Not just motivate them, but equip them. Small business is the backbone of every strong economy, and countries like Brazil are already investing in entrepreneurial education at the school level.
So I refined the concept into a focused Young Entrepreneurs Seminar — a half-day (8 a.m.–2 p.m.) interactive workshop that helps teens think like creators and problem solvers. There’s even a multi-day version for schools.
After presenting the program to the City Manager and Vice Mayor of Groveland, we shared it with the Youth Council last night — and the response was incredible. We’ve already started sign-ups for the first seminar on October 18, limited to 35 participants.
My goal is simple: to spark a mindset shift. To help teens see that failure isn’t failure — it’s a lesson.
I’m beyond excited to see how this grows. Because the future of entrepreneurship starts when we take time to invest in the next generation.
Let’s pour our experiences into them. Mentor. Encourage. Empower.
They’re not just the future — they’re the foundation of our economy.
#ᴛᴇᴇɴᴇɴᴛʀᴇᴘʀᴇɴᴇᴜʀ ‼
