NETWORK FOR TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, NFTE CHICAGO, CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO WATCH THE 2012 CITYWIDE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION FINALS.
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Please join our community of supporters, educators and young entrepreneurs in celebrating our 9th Annual Citywide Business Plan Competition. Six NFTE students will compete for the chance to continue on to the NFTE National Business Plan Competition in October 2012 in New York. Venture funding will be awarded to students to pursue their business and educational goals.
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Business Plan Judges: BEN KOVLER, Blum-Kovler Foundation; LARRY LEVY, Levy Restaurants; JOE MANSUETO, Morningstar; MICHAEL O’GRADY, Northern Trust Corporation; JIM PERRY, Madison Dearborn Partners: STEPHEN SCHULER, Getco; SAMUEL SCOTT III, Best Foods (retired); LIZ THOMPSON; and DAVID WEINBERG; David Weinberg Gallery. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Christine Poorman
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NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) 2012 Citywide Business Plan Competition Finalists

Aja Beckham, 16 & T’erra Williams, 17
Juniors, Perspectives Leadership Academy
Co-Founders; Lip Splash
Lip Splash, co-founded by Aja Beckham, 16, and T’erra Williams, 17, is a traveling custom-made lip gloss party for young ladies, where customers get the opportunity to create their own lip gloss with the ingredients and labels that Lip Splash provides. With step-by-step guidance from a consultant, the customer will be able to create a cosmetic product of their personal preference. Going to school in the Auburn Gresham community area of Chicago, both girls have faced many obstacles, including challenges at school and violence in their surrounding community. However, Aja & T’erra have overcome these obstacles with great success, and have learned to have faith in their business. They feel that their entrepreneurship class has provided them with skills and tools that can guarantee success in their future, along with opportunities that they never would have experienced otherwise. In the future, both girls plan on attending school, while continuing to run and expand their business into a full cosmetics line.

Bobbie Briggs, 17 & Mariama D. Carter, 17
Seniors, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences
Co-Founders; La Chevrette
La Chevrette, co-founded by Bobbie Briggs, 17, and Mariama Carter, 17, is a manufacturing and retail business that provides their customers with natural, goat milk based soap. Instead of using a variety of unpronounceable chemicals, La Chevrette instead produces their soap with all-natural ingredients. Attending the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in the Mount Greenwood community area of Chicago, Bobbie & Mariama had the chance to practice and perfect the process of making the soap. Bobbie & Mariama feel that learning about entrepreneurship has allowed them to utilize their critical thinking skills and express their creativity through the development of their product. The two plan to major in business in college, and are looking for ways to expand the locations where they sell their soap.

Regine Harris, 16
Sophomore, Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep
Founder; Lifting Leagues
Lifting Leagues, founded by Regine Harris, 16, is an off-season volleyball club that trains young female teens between the ages of 13-18. Attending school in the Roseland community area of the far south side of Chicago, Regine gained inspiration for her idea when she noticed that many young volleyball players have difficulty finding a club to play in on the south side of the city. Regine hopes to reduce the amount of travel time for these young athletes, and encourage more young women to become involved with playing sports. Through entrepreneurship, Regine feels that she has learned how to be more professional and responsible with all areas of her life, which she knows will make her a more successful business person. After graduation, Regine hopes to bring her idea along with her to college, as well as expanding into offering different sports.

Kristina Kiersch, 17 & Deena Kishawi, 16
Juniors, Whitney Young Magnet High School
Co-Founders; Typical Tutor 911
Typical Tutor 911 co-founded by Kristina Kiersch, 17, and Deena Kishawi, 16, is a software “app” that allows students to find and meet high-quality tutors whenever tutoring services are needed. Kristina & Deena attend school in the Near West Side community area of Chicago, where their own experiences working with tutors inspired this idea. Both girls believe that learning about entrepreneurship has given them a better business sense, and they truly understand what it takes to run a business. Kristina & Deena are planning on further their education by obtaining a college degree, while expanding their business into other new “app” inventions.

Christopher Loehrke, 18
Senior, George Washington High School
Founder; Signature Skating
Signature Skating, founded by Christopher Loehrke, 18, is a manufacturing and retail business that makes and sells customized skateboards. Through providing high-quality, personalized skateboards, Signature Skating’s mission is to satisfy their consumer’s needs for individuality. Attending school in the East Side community area of Chicago, Chris had difficulty in finding motivation to do well before his entrepreneurship class. Learning about entrepreneurship has inspired him to positively take ownership over his learning, as he feels empowered to do well on his own terms. After high school, Chris hopes to attend college as a business major, while growing his business and diversifying the services it offers.

Morgan Mason, 17
Junior, Whitney Young Magnet High School
Founder; Morgan’s Memories
Morgan’s Memories, founded by Morgan Mason, 17, is a manufacturing and retail business that makes and sells customized jewelry. All jewelry made by Morgan’s Memories is only made once, and is designed to be a representation of that customer’s style. Going to school in the West Side community area of Chicago, Morgan feels like she has always had to work hard in school to prove herself to teachers, and she feels her success in her entrepreneurship class has made her confident in herself. Entrepreneurship has impacted Morgan greatly, as she feels she now realizes the benefits of working for herself, and the importance of knowing the financials to run a business effectively. Morgan hopes to continue to expand her business by hiring more designers, while taking classes in fashion and design in the future.

Alternate:
Erik Ramirez, 18
Senior, George Washington High School
Founder; Chi-Town Collectables
Chi-Town Collectables, founded by Erik Ramirez, 18, is a retail business that satisfies an unmet need for sports memorabilia collectors on the south east side of Chicago. Attending school in the East Side community area of Chicago, Erik has gained a completely different perspective from his entrepreneurship classes where he now constantly sees different opportunities to start up a business. Overcoming loss within his family, Erik has been inspired to take control of his own learning, and build his own success in life. In the future, Erik plans to expand his business through diversifying the product line, while pursuing a college degree.

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