Category Archives: Entrepreneurship-Posts

Renewable Energy Company Founder – Mentor, David Jankowsky

Renewable Energy Company Founder Mentor – David Jankowsky    David started Francis Renewable Energy, LLC (FRE) in 2015 to provide solar, geothermal and other energy efficient systems for the residential, commercial and public sectors. Demand for renewables is growing because advances in the technology have reduced the cost of solar electricity and geothermal heating and cooling to the point where they are now more economic than systems using fossil fuels. Renewables are expected to gain an even greater cost advantage as the technology continues to improve. Renewables also offer the additional benefit of reducing pollution and carbon emissions in a meaningful way, while providing energy security by eliminating the use of the utilities’ transmission infrastructure, which we have seen is susceptible to hacking and other terrorist activities. Because of these advantages over fossil fuels, jobs in renewable energy are growing rapidly worldwide while jobs in the fossil fuel industry...

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Landscape Architect / Entrepreneur – Mentor, Derek McCall

Landscape Architect / Entrepreneur Mentor, Derek McCall   Derek is the founder of the DRM Design Group, a Tulsa based Landscape Architecture firm doing business throughout the United States and overseas. Before he started his own firm, Derek gained a broad range of experience working for several prestigious Landscape Architecture firms and worked on projects in Asia, the Middle East and in the Caribbean as well as commercial, residential and resort developments throughout the US. Even though he is a young entrepreneur building his own company, Derek still makes time to give back to his community. The most recent example is the design work his firm is doing pro-bono on the Tulsa Police Athletic Outreach Center being designed on the grounds of the Gilcrease police station. The Center will provide children opportunities to become comfortable with their neighborhood police while strengthening their athletic abilities and providing them a safe...

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Engineer / Corporate Manager / Entrepreneur – Mentor, Tom Naugle

Engineer / Corporate Manager / Entrepreneur Mentor, Tom Naugle  Tom’s business career is a good example of what you can achieve with hard work, persistence and the ability to motivate and manage people. Tom paid for his education himself and started working to save for college while he was in high school and then continued to work during the summers while he was getting his BS in Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State. After graduating, Tom began his business career as an engineer working for two chemical companies before a mentor encouraged him to apply to Harvard Business School and get an MBA. That degree opened the door to a position with Cooper Industries where he first worked in the corporate planning department and then went on to manage several of their divisions. He successfully turned around one failing business and improved the profitability of others before he was recruited...

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Architect / Civic Leader – Mentor, Andrew A. Kinslow

Architect / Civic Leader Mentor, Andrew A. Kinslow Andy started what is now called KKT Architects in 1989 with just two other people first doing interior design and space planning. His firm has since grown to become a full-service architecture, interior and engineering firm with fifty-six employees averaging over three million square feet of design space a year. The firm has designed a wide range of well-known local buildings including the new Unit Corporation headquarters, the Woody Guthrie Center, the Tulsa Historical Society and the Zarrow Center for the Arts as well as downtown revitalization projects including the Mayo 420 Apartments. KKT also developed the concept for the Oklahoma Weather Museum and Research Center, a tornado shaped building that has received international recognition for its innovative design. Andy gives back to his community and is a civic leader who has served on the boards of many organization including the...

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Educational Planner – Mentor, Terrie Shipley

Educational Planner Mentor,  Terrie Shipley   Terrie is an experienced Independent Educational Consultant who works one-on-one with high school students to help them choose the educational path that will best reach their academic and personal goals. Terrie’s degrees include a B.S. in Journalism and a B.A. in Political Science from Syracuse University and a M.A. in Education from Michigan State University. She is now working on completing her doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Terrie is also active in the Tulsa community and is the Associate Director of the Youth Philanthropy Initiative, a program designed by international philanthropist Lynn Shusterman to teach high school students the fundamentals of philanthropy and leadership and to give them the opportunity to create their own social franchise. Terrie is also currently acting as the Board President of Mental Health Association Oklahoma. Terrie started her consulting business after working in the...

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Nutritionist / Businesswoman, Mentor- Cece Davis Gifford

Nutritionist / Businesswoman  Cece Davis Gifford Cece is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian, the owner and founder of Nutrition Consultants of Tulsa and is one of only three Certified Specialists in Sports Dietetics in Oklahoma. She is a recognized leader in her profession and has served in executive positions in both state and national dietetic associations. Cece has written many articles on diet and nutrition for magazines and newspapers and is the author of the book “ Nutrition for People Who Sit All Day” where she discusses the health consequences of prolonged sitting and offers nutritional guidance to help minimize those health problems. Cece points out in her article that being a registered dietitian involves much more than just helping people manage their weight. A registered dietitian, (RD), is the only qualified healthcare professional to teach nutrition and is part of a team of medical professionals including doctors, nurses, therapists...

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Bank Chairman and CEO – Mentor, Sean Kouplen

Bank Chairman and CEO Mentor, Sean Kouplen YPNG Mentor Sean Kouplen is the Chairman and CEO of Regent Bank and was recently honored as one of Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO’s, one of OSU’s Top 50 MBA Graduates of the century and named to Oklahoma Magazine and Tulsa Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 lists. Sean has also been active in the community and served as the president of the Oklahoma State University National Alumni Association, Bixby Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Bixby. He has also served on the board of directors of Junior Achievement, the Tulsa Chamber Small Business Council, the Tulsa Metro Chamber Small Business Council, Tulsa Zoo Board and Tulsa Young President’s Organization.  Sean actively mentors young people and is the author of the book “ 12 Life Lessons Every Graduate Should Know”. Sean did not go to college with the idea of becoming a...

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Food & Beverage Management Company President / Entrepreneur – Mentor – Siegmund “Sig” Brown

Food & Beverage  Management Company President / Entrepreneur Mentor,  Siegmund “Sig” Brown Sigmund is the founder and sole shareholder of EXPOSERVE Management Corporation, a food and beverage management services company that has contracts with major entertainment venues in Oklahoma that host sporting events, concerts, trade shows, exhibitions and the arts. These include the Tulsa Expo Square, a 240-acre multipurpose complex with a variety of events throughout the year. Other venues are The Tulsa Performing Arts Center, The Oklahoma Aquarium, The Philbrook Museum of Art, The SpiritBank Event Center, Harwelden Mansion and The Hardesty Arts Center.  Since launching his business ten years ago, he has experienced compounded annual growth, doubling his share of the local market.   Sigmund grew up in Western Canada. His parents were hotel and restaurant managers who were trained in Europe. Initially he was not interested in following in his parent’s footsteps in the hotel industry. Instead...

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Building Company CEO – Mentor, John Rupe, Jr.

Building Company CEO Mentor – John Rupe, Jr.\ John Rupe, Jr. didn’t go to college with the idea of becoming an entrepreneur. In fact, he majored in political science and then landed jobs working for a Congressman, a building company, and a tech company – all before starting his own business. In a short 14-year time frame, John has built a large, diversified commercial real estate company. He started out constructing commercial buildings for clientele, and later went on to develop his own projects by building on land he acquired and renovating existing buildings. As his core business grew, John expanded his operation to include property management, leasing, and brokering the sale of commercial real estate. Rooted in core values of building trust, confidence and integrity, the company continues to grow and now has over 60 employees. Due to his success at an early age, John was invited to...

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Roofing Company President/ Entrepreneur – Mentor, Chris Meyer

Roofing Company President/ Entrepreneur  Mentor, Chris Meyer   Chris is a successful businessman and the owner of Turner Roofing, a company he purchased in 2008. Since he has owned this business, sales and profitability have more than doubled. But Chris never started out with the goal of owning a roofing company or being an entrepreneur. He tried college for six months and then worked at a number of construction jobs before he decided to go to a two-year college in Florida to train to become a commercial airline pilot like his father. He struggled for two years after graduation trying to build enough hours to be able to be hired by a commercial airline. At that time there were just too many people trying to become commercial pilots at the same time there was weak demand for pilots because of consolidation in the industry. So he moved on and...

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Sausage Maker / Entrepreneur – Mentor, Siegmund Sumaruk

Sausage Maker / Entrepreneur – Mentor, Siegmund Sumaruk Summary This Mentor is a fifth generation sausage maker who emigrated from Linz, Austria in 1965 when he was twenty- one. Through persistence and hard work, he has built a successful business that includes a sausage factory, a German deli, a meat market, a restaurant and wild game processing. He has also developed a regional market for his sausage with only minimal advertising based on his reputation for making quality products. When Siegi came to the US, his first job was processing meat in Waco Texas. He then worked for a sausage manufacturer and deli owner in Dallas and was later asked to start a similar operation in partnership with someone from Tulsa. The partnership did not work well and he decided to start his own operation at another location. Siegi raised money from a number of investors that allowed him...

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Entrepreneur – Mentor, Roger Chasteen

Entrepreneur – Mentor, Roger Chasteen This mentor describes himself as a serial entrepreneur. He has been involved in a variety of businesses including an office products company, a telecommunications company with 54 locations and 300 employees, FM and worldwide streaming radio stations, an auto dealership, commercial real estate, book publishing and recently oil and gas. His success has come from hard work and by living a conservative life style that allowed him to accumulate the capital he needed to start and grow his business ventures. While he is continuing to evaluate new business opportunities, he is also giving back by helping mentor young people interested in starting a new business. Roger is doing this through personal mentoring as well as was a part of a Shark Tank program similar in concept to the television show where students at a local university can present their ideas to a group of...

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Consulting Engineer – Mentor, Glen Hall

Consulting Engineer – Mentor, Glen Hall Glen received his engineering degree from the University of Illinois and later obtained an MBA from the University of Michigan while he worked for Ford Motor Company in Detroit. His career path later included jobs with a number of automotive suppliers. In his last position with a supplier, he was the Director of Operations over four plants and a distribution warehouse that employed 1400 people. Glen recently made another career change and became a consultant helping companies identify and hire engineering and manufacturing talent. Helping companies solve these staffing problems has allowed him to develop his own successful consulting practice. Glen’s article will be of interest to anyone considering engineering as a career and especially those who want to know more about mechanical and process engineering.   Overview I grew up on a farm in rural Illinois near Kentucky border. I was not...

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Jewelry Designer – Mentor, Ann Garrett

Jewelry Designer – Mentor, Ann Garrett Ann is a well-known jewelry designer who works closely with her clients to create custom pieces of jewelry. Her unique designs have brought her customers from all over the world. Ann has been successful in large part because she never stops trying to get better. Each of her designs is unique, never repetitive and consequently cannot be easily copied by other jewelers. Ann’s article describes how she approaches the design process when she creates a custom piece of jewelry for a client and how she went about building her successful business including developing innovative approaches to marketing. This article should of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about jewelry design and fine arts careers where you have the opportunity to create something new every day.   Overview Like many young people, I did not know what I wanted to do when...

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Automobile Dealer and Entrepreneur – Mentor, Don Thornton

Automobile Dealer and Entrepreneur – Mentor, Don Thornton   Summary Don is an accomplished businessman who was twice recognized by Time Magazine as one of the top ten automobile dealers in the nation. Like many successful YPNG Mentors, Don came from a working class family and put himself through college in part by joining his college’s Air Force ROTC program. After graduation, he served his four-year commitment as an instructor, navigator and pilot. When he returned to civilian life, Don took a job as a stockbroker at a regional firm. But after three years, he switched career paths and began a new job as an automobile salesman. He quickly moved into management positions and in a few years became the general sales manager at a large Ford dealerships in Dallas. Because he had demonstrated success as a manger, he was chosen over a large number of other applicants to...

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Career Transformation Specialist and Success Trainer – Mentor, Isabell Estes

Career Transformation Specialist and Success Trainer – Mentor, Isabell Estes  Isabell Estes is the founder of Encore WorkLife. Prior to establishing Encore WorkLife, she was a franchisee and business coach for The Entrepreneur’s Source for 10 years and co-founded a volunteer organization called The Career Transitions Group of Oklahoma, a support group for professionals caught in the crossroads of sudden unemployment. She also had her own public relations and marketing consultancy called Estes Communications. Her corporate life was in marketing and public relations for Tele-Communications Inc., Tulsa Public Schools and TV Guide. She and her husband presently own the EnviroMaster franchise for Tulsa and Oklahoma City.  She has received many awards including the 2009 Women in Business Champion from the Oklahoma SBA, the 2013 Women Empowered by Business Crystal Award and the 2013 Marketing Trend Setter Award. Isabell entered career coaching after she had successfully made several major changes...

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Pharmacist and Pharmacy Owner – Mentor, Todd Pendergraft

Pharmacist and Pharmacy Owner – Mentor, Todd Pendergraft Todd Pendergraft owns two independent pharmacies that successfully compete with the national chains. He opened his first pharmacy after working as a pharmacy manager for a national retailer for 10 years. Todd’s motivation for going into business for himself was his family. Todd wanted to be able to control his work schedule so that he could spend more time helping raise his three children. Making the transition from pharmacist to pharmacy owner required him to learn more about managing the business than he was exposed to just working as an employee. Todd struggled initially as he learned how to manage his business. But he persisted, developed innovative business strategies and is successfully competing in his local market. This article should be of interest to anyone considering becoming a pharmacist or anyone wanting to know more about how to establish an independent...

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Business Owner/ Entrepreneur – Mentor, Tom Robinett

Business Owner/ Entrepreneur – Mentor, Tom Robinett This Mentor has spent over forty years as the owner of an office supply business where he has successfully been able to compete against the big box stores. He did this by developing a strategy where he concentrated on commercial accounts, a part of the business where personal relationships are important. He also found ways to drive down his costs of doing business by building an efficient logistics system that eliminated his need to carry expensive inventory. In addition, he created a number of innovative products for niche markets that diversified his income base. This Mentor’s ideas about how to compete with the national chains and how to go about economically testing your business concepts should be of interest to anyone interesting in starting a new business or a current business owner facing competition from large, national companies that have entered their...

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Insurance Agency Owner – Mentor, Phil Maloney

Insurance Agency Owner – Mentor, Phil Maloney This mentor has operated his own insurance agency for over forty years. During that time he has steadily expanded his agency’s customer base by adding additional lines of insurance products as well as acquiring other insurance agencies. In his article, he discusses how the insurance business has evolved since he first started in 1972 and how he has successfully found ways to deal with the increased competition an insurance agency like his faces from national companies with large advertising budgets many of which are now trying to bypass agencies by selling over the internet. This article should be of interest to anyone considering becoming an insurance agent or starting an independent insurance agency or any other kind of business that require good communication skills.   Overview I developed a strong work ethic early in my life. I began my first job when...

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Master Hair Stylist / Businessman – Mentor, Michael Brothers

Master Hair Stylist / Businessman – Mentor, Michael Brothers This Mentor has built a highly successful business using both his artistic skills as a stylist and the business skills he developed over the past twenty two years operating his own salons. Michael was helped along the way by several people who became his mentors. Another key to his success was that early in his career he recognized the importance of building long lasting relationships with his customers, employees and business partners. In his article, Michael shares the keys to becoming a successful stylist and the basic principals he followed to start and grow his salon business. His article should be read by anyone interested in becoming a hair stylist or learning more about the salon industry. Because Michael’s business model is based on many of the same principals used by many successful personal service businesses, his article should also...

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Military Pilot / VP of Administration / Entrepreneur – Mentor, Phillip Kirk

Military Pilot / VP of Administration / Entrepreneur – Mentor, Phillip Kirk This mentor discovered that he had symptoms of the medical condition ADD when he was fifty-five a condition that most people assume would limit someone’s ability to build a successful career. That would have been a wrong assumption for this Mentor. By that time he had served as a Navy fighter pilot, graduated from college and had risen to the position of Executive VP for a NYSE company. He later went on to start his own business in the road construction industry using equipment he and his partner had improved upon to rehabilitate concrete highways. The business grew and these machines were used on road construction projects all over the world. Since retiring, he has been active in helping people in substance abuse programs as well as working as a Unit Leader of the Commemorative Air Force,...

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Founder of a Major Law Firm – Mentor, Don Pray

Founder of a Major Law Firm – Mentor, Don Pray Introduction This mentor built a highly respected, thirty-person law firm. After three decades as managing partner of his firm, he decided to leave to run a billion dollar charitable foundation that he formed for one of his clients. At this foundation, Don worked with colleges to develop innovative programs to help teach the principals of entrepreneurship to students and helped create other programs to teach young people how to build their own business. But he did not start his career expecting to become a lawyer. His undergraduate degree was in petroleum engineering. Don decided to pursue law after working as an engineer because he wanted the opportunity to run his own business rather than work as an employee and felt law offered him the best opportunity to achieve his goal. In this article, Don discusses what is required of...

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Restaurant Owners and Concept Developers – Bill and Zahidah Hyman

Restaurant Owners and Concept Developers – Bill and Zahidah Hyman

Restaurant Owners and Concept Developers – Bill and Zahidah Hyman Bill and Zahidah have developed a successful, upscale Asian restaurant concept. They now have two locations and are looking to expand into another city. They achieved success in this highly competitive industry through hard work and attention to detail. In this article, they share with you the things you should consider if you want to develop your own restaurant concept as well as the basics of operating the business. This article should be read by those of you interested in owning or working in a restaurant and especially anyone wanting to test their own restaurant concept. It is also a good case study for entrepreneurs who want to start a business as many of the principals they used to develop their restaurant concept also apply to other kinds of businesses start-ups.   Summary My family moved to Tulsa when...

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Agricultural Chemical Marketer and Entrepreneur – Mentor, Marvin Boote

Agricultural Chemical Marketer and Entrepreneur – Mentor, Marvin Boote   Summary This Mentor has over sixty years of business experience, fourteen as an agricultural chemical salesman and fifty as the founder of his own chemical marketing company. His entire business career was built on the unique ways he solved business problems and on his reputation for personal integrity that inspired everyone who ever worked with him. Mr. Boote has always given back by being a mentor to many people wanting to start their own businesses and is doing it again by writing this article. It should be read by anyone interested in seeing how he was able start and build a successful business in the volatile agriculture commodity markets starting with limited capital. It is also a good article to learn some of the basic principals you need to know to start and build a successful business.   Overview...

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Home Designer/ Self Employed Business Owner – Mentor, Dennis Walden

Home Designer/ Self Employed Business Owner – Mentor, Dennis Walden Summary This Mentor is both a successful home designer and self-employed businessman. He offers many insights not just on home design as a career, but also the business side of the profession based on his twenty-two year career of being self-employed.  He also points out that you can become a designer by taking work/study programs during high school and then attending a local technical college where your tuition is often free. This article should be of interest to anyone who has talent for drawing, good math skills and wants a career that allows someone to express their creativity.  Overview I had an interest in home design while I was going to  high school in San Jose, California. There I took art and drafting and was able to spend time during my junior and senior year working in an apprenticeship...

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Heating and Air Technician and Business Owner – Mentor, Mike McBee

This mentor has forty years experience in this industry first as a technician and then as a business owner after he purchased the company he work for when he was only 23. He successfully grew the business from one with 3 employees and a few hundred thousand dollars in sales to a business with 13 employees and over two million in sales. In his Mentor Article he tells you how to become a licensed journeyman, what the trade involves and things you can do to prepare yourself while you are in high school. He also explains what is required to successfully run a heating and air conditioning business. As you will see in his article, this is a skilled trade with compensation levels equal to or greater than many careers requiring college degrees. It also has the advantage found in many skilled trades for those of you with entrepreneurial...

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Dancer, Singer, Actor – Mentor, Ronald Young

Dancer, Singer, Actor – Mentor, Ronald Young This mentor pursued his passion for dancing, singing and acting and was able to build a highly successful career in this competitive field. His mentor article explains that to succeed in a show business career you must constantly work on improving your talents. Throughout his own career, he never stopped taking classes for voice, dance, acting and doing whatever else it took to reach his career goals. He also explains the business side of show business so that you understand how professionals in these career categories can advance financially not just artistically. His story is a true American success story that demonstrates what can be accomplished by combining a person’s natural talents with a strong work ethic, a constant focus on your personal goals and a willingness to take risks that allow you to explore the opportunities that life offers. Overview of...

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30 Years as a Barber, Hairstylist, Woman Business Owner

Barber/Hairstylist  This mentor has over thirty years experience in her profession. She is now in her seventies and still has a loyal customer base and works three days a week. She has also run her own six-chair shop for most of that time and has a number of good thoughts about what it takes to be a successful businessperson in this trade. My Personal Experience as a Barber I always had an interest in cutting hair. But I did not go to Barber College until my daughter was older and in school. Barber College lasted nine months and then I took the test to obtain a license. When I got my license, I found a three-chair shop with one chair open. The two chairs already had their businesses built up so I got most of the walk-ins, which helped me build my own list of customers who would make...

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The Life of an Entrepreneur – Mentor, Bill Langdon

 Mr. Langdon is the founder of YPNG. Beginning in 1983, he started  four other successful businesses. One was a financial services firm and three were oil and gas related businesses including an exploration and development company and two oil and gas property acquisition companies. Mr. Langdon holds a BA, MA in Economics and is a decorated Viet Nam combat veteran. In the course of his career, he has also worked for a major New York investment bank, held various jobs in the treasury department of a large agribusiness company and was Vice President of Finance for an international chemical company. Becoming an entrepreneur and starting a new business has many rewards. But it is challenging. Here are my thoughts on the top ten things it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur after building four successful businesses myself and observing other successful entrepreneurs over the years: 1. You must have...

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