By Kayla Sosa A community survey in Grand Rapids showed that residents feel there is a need for a free, non-judgmental space for the LGBTQ community. After learning this, Audrey Hutchinson created Liberate GR – a community center for those…
Category: Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur Zoe Bruyn stirs things up
It’s no secret that there are limited employment opportunities for individuals with special needs. In a 2015 survey conducted by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), 57 percent of respondents with Down syndrome reported working paid…
TESA Detroit Wrap Up
For ten years the Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TESA) has given high school students the tools and knowledge to start their own business through a weeklong crash course in entrepreneurship. During the five-day program, students work with college faculty and…
Million Dollar Dreams
Noël Cuellar - Primera Plastics Inc. The story of a $20 million business–started by a man who had labored as a migrant worker and been placed in a special education program because of language difficulties–is testimony to the tenacity, vision,…
Breaking Barriers
Amy Engelsman - Proos Manufacturing As Amy Engelsman transitioned into the her role as CEO of Proos Manufacturing, she faced significant challenges: securing company financials; obtaining funding for purchase of the business; proving her leadership capacity to the lender; earning…
Jason Mascari: Moasis Global
"I didn't really take a traditional educational route in regards to starting a business." Like so many successful entrepreneurs before him, Jason Mascari came up with his big idea while brainstorming with a friend. “We were constantly throwing ideas around…
Teens: Flooding the Pipeline
The future of downtown Grand Rapids is bright, just ask the forty-two Michigan high school students who took to the streets this afternoon, looking for ways to contribute to the city's urban development. Having spent seven hours with this year's…
Ryan Vaughn:Varsity News Network
"College is the perfect time to start a business. You have access to tons of resources, and it never gets easier to try something new.” Ryan Vaughn (@RyanHVaughn) is the Co-Founder of Varsity News Network (VNN), an online high school sports media network, empowering high school journalists…
