February 2018 Volume 2, Issue 2 PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM SANDERS ESTES UNIT VENUS,TEXAS CHRONICLE Business Plan Workshop Event is an Opportunity to Refine Business Plans Stephen Fucile Executives and Volunteers ly been putting together their BP’s Rhetoric Listen to, Review Business with the outside help of the volun- teer advisors. This event is the first Plans—Offer advice to chance they are given to see the Sovereign Kings completed (albeit in draft form) BP. More importantly, it gives the Sover- On Saturday January 6th, the Winter eign Kings another chance to run ’18 class, The Sovereign Kings, their evolving plans and ideas past completed another step along the the panel of executives and volun- path to graduation, the Business Plan teers who attended to give advice, Workshop Event. The Driving Value critique and encourage the class. theme was Innovation which was very appropriate given the purpose The executives and class members James Laster Conflict Resolution of the event. were divided into six groups and utilized the PEP room along with PEP participants all know that the various rooms in the education sec- core of the second half of the pro- tion. The PEP brother’s met with gram, the ultimate goal, as it were, is executives in 15 minute increments, Inside this issue: the Business Plan (BP) they develop. one-on-one, getting feedback and The final event preceding graduation advice. The first session lasted a BP Workshop 2 is the Business Plan Competition. little over an hour then everyone Thus, doing well in the BCP is the Pitch Panel 2 took a cookie and coffee break. The ultimate goal of all. To that end, groups then got together for another Integrity Selling 3 virtually every lesson and assign- session of one-on-one time before ment in Phase II is geared to learning ending. Everyone then transferred how to produce a quality business Dr Burriss 4 back to the PEP room for more ac- plan. tivities. Personal and 5-6 Up to this point, the class has steadi- Prof. Development Continued Page 2 Fitness 7 SOVEREIGN KINGS PITCH PANEL EVENT Bitcoin 8 The February 2nd Pitch Panel Event several wonderful pieces of artwork, The executives, volunteers and stu- Soapbox 10 may have been the best yet of Win- depicting Linda, on behalf of us all. dents listened diligently to the pitch- ter ’18. 80 Executive Volunteers es and offered comments, advice, were expected and close to that criticisms and accolades verbally showed up. It was a packed house. and on the response sheet but genu- inely cared and were totally en- CORRECTIONS Linda Thomas, long-time PEP sup- gaged. We all realize what a gift this Stephen Fucile porter and tireless volunteer, was the program is and truly appreciate those subject of a moving tribute. The PEP who give their time to us. Without Medias Team presented a wonderful them, PEP could not, would not short film, leaving not a dry eye in exist! Chris Winfield - the house. Carl, Linda’s husband of Editor in Chief many years, then shared the story of In order to get everyone primed up The seven "room winning” pitches James Laster - how he and Linda began their in- and ready to go, Michael Smoltich, were delivered by Stephon J., Nick Editor volvement with PEP. PEP partici- Pristine ‘17, delivered his BPC Final M., Julio A., Alan F., Stephen F., pants, both current and graduates –Four pitch to the assembled group. Juan O.— Jason M. and Jacob R. shared their memories of Linda. In As during his BPC, he delivered it tied. closing, Carl was presented with flawlessly. Cont . Page 2 PEP Chronicle Feb 2018 Page 2 Sales Seminar Brings Fresh Perspective and Outlook to Class BUSINESS PLAN WORKSHOP cont. Bert Smith made the announcement PEP as a member of the Board of The next event in the buildup to the that, after seven years he is stepping Directors, as well as teaching. BPC is the PITCH PANEL. PEP down as CEO, Chief Empowerment brothers will get their first chance to 12 newcomers were present at the Officer. Mr. Smith then announced present their formal 7-12 minute event. As always, they showed off that Bryan Kelly will be taking over pitch publicly. This will provide their dancing moves for the crowd, as CEO. Bryan’s rise through the much needed practice and input that spoke briefly and were shown a lot PEP ranks is both inspiring and a will allow them to refine their of love. We are so very grateful for lesson in perseverance. Congrats and presentation in preparation for the their presence and support. Good Luck! Bert went on to say that BPC. The event will be on Friday, he will continue his involvement in February 2. By C. Winfield PITCH PANEL cont. That the Sovereign Kings did a represented yourselves’ well. a thing to be proud of. fantastic job with their presenta- tions is a credit to their hard work The event coordinator, Andrew The Business Plan Competition - Ramos, his team of Reuben and graduation are only a month Props as well as the PEP Gradu- Vasquez, Vince Herrera and Brian away! Time flies. Good luck gen- ates that worked tirelessly with Trombly, the media team, the tlemen. them. A few rough patches, but utility squad and everyone in- that’s to be expected. A 7 to 12 volved worked, as always, effec- By Chris Winfield minute pitch, memorized, is quite tively, efficiently and seamlessly; a feat. Everyone take a bow - you they continue to make our events PEP Chronicle Feb 2018 INTEGRITY SELLING Page 3 Sales Seminar Brings Fresh Perspective and Outlook to Class David Raines and Steve Houseman teach strategies most important communication in sales is when your for successful selling to Sovereign Kings customer talks and you listen. Do you believe salesmen are born or do you believe This intellectual selling event day was both informative they are made? According to David Raines, sales traits and exciting. The experience the class received by be- are not learned intellectually but by experience. The ing put in mock business sales scenarios gave them the Sovereign Kings class experienced an intellectual sell- understanding of how important it is to listen and com- ing day with executive volunteers David Raines and municate with your customer. This event was addition- Steve Houseman -who again came to share their exten- ally useful in that the information given will be incor- sive sales experience at the Estes Unit for the Integrity porated into the pitches for the business plan competi- Selling Day seminar. tion. The information gave the class the understanding how to put the finishing polish on their business pitch- es. David Raines and Steve Houseman applaud the Sovereign Kings. The Sovereign Kings welcomed both gentleman and were anxious for the knowledge and wisdom they would dispense throughout the day. David Raines Possibly the best advice given was when Houseman spoke first and broke the ice as he relayed the story of gave the class the four keys to successful selling. They how he was once a TDCJ inmate. All could relate to were his struggles as they sounded familiar to many. Most importantly though, he spoke of how he overcame his 1) Goal clarity past -he has been out for 17 years- and how he started 2) High achievement drive his own business. Through hard work and perseverance Mr. Raines has turned it into a multi-million dollar 3) Emotional intelligence business. 4) Social skills. The day was packed with excellent information. The class was put in real life sales situations and acted out He broke each point down to explain its importance. mock sales presentations. Raines and Houseman cri- tiqued the efforts of the class individually and offered All in all this was another thoughtful and learning suggestions, positive affirmation and other advice. event. The Sovereign Kings gained not only valuable Throughout the day they doled out great information knowledge but got hands-on sales experience as well. such as sales communication is 55% body language Both David and Steve are professional salesmen and which they had the class put to use. By the end of the used their years of experience to enhance the partici- afternoon everyone was performing with confidence pants understanding of sales communication. The event from all tips and suggestions given. was another stepping stone in PEP’s continual effort to educate and equip participants with valuable skills to Both David and Steve were very particular in what they be used upon release. We are blessed to be a part of it. wanted the Sovereign Kings to learn and understand. They really drilled it into the classes’ heads that one By Jared Spruce has to approach selling with an attitude of listening and Sovereign Kings understanding the customer’s needs. They said the PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PEP Chronicle Feb 2018 Page 4 Dr. George Burris Speaks on Overcoming Distorted Thinking “It is okay to hit; fun is bad; joining a of these “ruined vessels” – those who wander expected. One raised in such an environment gang is the right thing to do – wise through life without the least trace of humanity may well – due in large part to the traumatic even; women are our property; nothing or civility – those who have taken the afore- nature of those experiences – grow into adoles- mentioned beliefs as gospel. cence and adulthood believing that hitting an- is wrong with drugs and alcohol; the other human being is not only okay, but the The good doctor came to shine a light upon our things that I don’t have are the things right thing to do in tense situations.