Expo of Entrepreneurs

The Business Administration Department held the first two sessions of the Expo of Entrepreneurs on Tuesday, March 27, 2007. The first session was held at 10 a.m. and the second, at 6 p.m. in the Anne Springs Close Library, Room L100. These sessions have been designed to inform and encourage students and others who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs by providing opportunities to learn about the personal experiences of people who have their own businesses. At these first two sessions, Lonnie Harvey, Jr., of JESCLON Group, Inc., explained the characteristics of entrepreneurs. Interestingly, he stated that entrepreneurs tend to have started exhibiting their tendencies at an early age through such activities as having lemonade stands or newspaper routes. Other characteristics include being risk takers, careful with money, loners, organized, good communicators, and time-conscience. His talk was followed by a panel discussion. The early session panelists included Kathy Wilson, owner of Rock Hill Fitness and Mark Bonsky, owner of Thomas Gymnastics. The evening panelists included Madeline Pressler, owner of the Plant Peddler; Karen Quinn, owner of Pat-a-Cakes and The Frame Shop & Gallery; Kirk Lesslie of Kirk Lesslie Painting; and Diana Weimer of Diana's Blinds and Designs.

The sessions were well-attended, and the question-and-answer sessions became quite lively as the entrepreneurs shared their stories. While explaining that owning a business required a lot of work and commitment, the panelists agreed that they would not give up their businesses. Madeline Pressler told the audience that you should "do what you love doing every day" and that is what she does in her flower shop.

The Business Administration Department will hold four additional sessions - a morning and evening session in July and a morning and evening session in October. In addition, a business plan competition will be held beginning in Fall 2007. York Technical College business students will be eligible to compete for a prize of $1,500 seed money to start their own business. These sessions and the competition are being funded by a grant from the Hughes/Coleman Foundations. For further information, contact a business instructor.