Teen Entrepreneur Academy 2015 Year in Review

“85% of Citi Business Plan Competition America’s Winning Team teenagers wish they had more business education in high school; 75% indicated they wanted to learn to Stephen D. Christensen with 1st place team (left to right), Katherine Wong, Beckman High School, Natasha Takahashi, start their Woodbridge High School, Tony Hsu, Woodbridge High School and Lisa Deloney, Southern CA Division President, Citibank. own business.“ Irvine Teens Win 4th International Citi Business Plan Competition Gallup 2011 More than 100 teenagers from six states and was mentored and coached during the week by four countries (China, France, Singapore, and local business owners and entrepreneurs. Over Canada) reported for “work” in July during the 30 business mentors assisted the teens on their fourth annual Teen Entrepreneur Academy (TEA), plans. hosted by Concordia University Irvine’s School of Business. (Continued on page 2)

The week-long international business start-up program helps high school students who are TEA 4 - year Growth interested in starting their own businesses or learning the principles of entrepreneurship. The students lived on campus for the week (arriving on Sunday, 7/12 and leaving Saturday, 7/18) while learning basic business principles and how to start their own businesses. The capstone of the week-long training was the business plan competition (generously sponsored by Citi) where all students were put into teams of four each. Twenty-five teams were given just eight minutes and presented a 12-slide investor PowerPoint presentation to a panel CEOs and entrepreneur Distinguished Judges with Winning Team judges hoping to win the $1,000 first place cash (Left to right: Arthur Carter, Joseph Hensley, prize. Lisa Deloney, Rosario Marin, Hugh Hughes, Lorna Wise, Sunil “Sunny” Tolani, The TEA week culminated with the Citi Business Bill Osland, Charles Zhang, Peter Meyers, Plan Competition on Friday, July 17. Each team Kim Kovacs, Stephen Christensen) Business Plan Competition They discussed: (continued from page 1) • Business models • Customer profiles The top three teams (ENESi, • Unique selling propositions Ride Pool and Treasure Chest) • Product features and benefits presented their business plans on • Marketing strategies Friday evening. The distinguished CEO judges (including the 41st • Financial projections Treasurer of the , • Cost of goods and services Rosario Marin) then selected the • Consumer needs winner, ENESi. The team was James “Jim” Mazzo, Chairman & CEO, • How to identify business opportunities AcuFocus, a guest speaker for the mentored by Laura Green, Vice • The characteristics of successful entrepreneurs TEA program, advises student Natasha Takahashi about her business plan, which took first place. The students incorporated these principles into their business plan presentation for the Citi Business Plan Competition. “we President of Community Bank. That are developing the entrepreneurial mindset in teens, a mindset team was awarded $1,000 for first of seeing problems as opportunities, looking for innovation, place, Treasure Chest $500 for sec- Second Place Team creativity, critical thinking, ond and Ride Pool $300 for third. The Treasure Chest teamwork and problem solving skills. This is key “The Teen Entrepreneur Academy is about helping teenagers for future job creators and succeed in business, education and life,” explained TEA founder employers. “ and Concordia’s business school dean Stephen Christensen. Throughout the week, students received hands-on training and Third Place Team real-world experiences. The teens were coached and mentored Ride Pool by entrepreneurs and business leaders.

2015 Participant Wins US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Championship This past summer (July), Karina Gonzalez, now a senior at Century High School in Santa Ana was one of 100 high school students who attended the week-long Teen Entrepreneur Academy (TEA). She learned about starting a business and writing a business plan. Following her summer academy experience, she was nominated by her teacher at Century High, Alan Gersten for the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) BizFest Youth Entrepreneurship Program. She was selected to participate in the program in Houston, held in September. During the course of the BiFest program, students developed a business plan and competed for the best plan. Karina’s business plan presentation won 1st place and a $5,000 scholarship in the National Bizfest Competition. She is now a National Business Plan Champion. BizFest is a signature program of the USHCC Foundation. The BizFest curriculum focuses on two critical components – leadership development and entrepreneurship training. It is a three-day workshop that empowers youth with knowledge and insight into the world of business. Karina said, “Sweat slithered down my forehead, my teeth chattered as the airplane captain called for take-off. Who would have thought that I Karina Gonzalez from the small city of Santa Ana would be flown on an all-expense paid trip to Houston, Texas to compete in a national business plan competition?” Her business plan idea for “Solar-Tek”, a virtual enterprise company from Century High School, seemed all but a dream until then. “I presented Solar-Tek to very important people. It was such an honor receiving 1st place and a $5,000 scholarship in the National Bizfest Competition. I am thankful to my teacher Alan Gersten as well as the Teen Entrepreneur Academy, hosted by Concordia’s business school dean Mr. Christensen. The TEA summer entrepreneur academy at Concordia University really gave me the head start and Stephen Christensen, Karina Gonzales & Alan Gersten guidance on selecting the business I presented. TEA set the foundation

2 of what Solar-Tek has now become.” Corporate Sponsors & Donors July 12-18 2015

It is truly an honor and privilege to recognize and express our heartfelt thanks to these generous donors whose gifts positively impacted the lives of high school students who aspire to become entrepreneurs. Gold Sponsor Bank & Trust UPS Citi: Citi Business Plan Competition ClearingHouse (CDFI) Wahoo’s Fish Tacos Bronze Sponsors Community Bank Charlie Zhang Experian Crevier Classic Cars, LLC Friends Kay Family Foundation Farmers & Merchants Bank Robert & Ruth Bein US Bank Terry & Sharon Hartshorn Barrington Investments, Rick Roethke Wells Fargo David and Jan Holder Mike Danzi Business Investors HighTower/ The Bahnsen Group Dr. Martin Eaton Broadview Mortgage, David Leichtfuss Keithly Seed Company Fredericks Benefits, Bob Fredericks Comerica Kit Kat Clock/Woody Young Risk Management Association (RMA) Business Partners Orange County Employees Association Bob and Susan Odle Stephanie Allyn Orange County Navy League Mark Polito Asian Woman Entrepreneurs (AWE) Kris & Jim Vitale’92 Broughton Hotels, Larry Broughton David and Mable Wheeler

Kid Entrepreneur Academy (KEA) The School of Business at Concordia University Irvine presented It’s never too early to teach kids business and positive values. Positive a brand new program this year, the Kid Entrepreneur Academy and productive kids become positive and productive adults. (KEA) Summer Business Day Camp. Open to grades 5, 6, 7 and 8. Concordia’s KEA inspires students to create real businesses and realize a profit. Kid Entrepreneur The KEA has five educational goals: Academy 1. Teach students the relevancy of entrepreneurship (KEA) is 2. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset while connecting their world to ccomitted to the world around them developing 3. Provide students with the psychological benefits of ownership and the leaders of empowerment so that vital business and life skills emerge tomorrow. 4. Enable students to start exploring possible career options; and 5. To show kids how their core academic learning applies to the world KEA Class of 2015 around them. www.cui.edu/kea

TEA Class of 2015

3 Teen Wins National Grant, Launches Non-Profit Isabella Martinez attended the 2015 TEA program on a full scholarship and presented a business plan for a new non-profit that offered an innovative training program for teaching social media to senior citizens. She took what she learned at TEA and applied for and was awarded a national "Summer of Creativity" grant from Youth Services of America (Washington D.C.). She used the funding to take her TEA non-profit business plan and followed through to create a non-profit. Isabella said, "I went to the Teen Entrepreneur Academy at Concordia University Irvine and I had to work with a group. I had an idea, kind of a relative idea of what to do and I had an idea of helping seniors learn how to use the Internet and how to use social media. My plan was crystallized at the TEA program and now it's a reality." Isabella Martinez - www.Net4seniors.org

The 2015 TEA program was sold out with 104 teens. Those interested in attending the 2016 TEA, (July 24-30, 2016) or would like more information, visit www.cui.edu/tea or email [email protected] or call 949-214-3198. TEEN Entrepreneur Academy (TEA) July 24 - 30, 2016 Register Now www.cui.edu/tea KID Entrepreneur Academy (KEA) July 25 - 29, 2016 www.cui.edu/kea

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