 METAMORPHOSIS
Small Businesses
Meet Big Success
by Rachel Ballweg, with reporting by Billie Shelton
The entrepreneurial
spirit is alive and kicking at Drake. From the classes and workshops offered by
the College of Business and Public Administration, to the seminars and support
provided by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the John Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC), students, alumni and Des Moines community members
are taking advantage of the education and training they received through Drake
programs to start their own successful small businesses. And they aren't alone;
99 percent of all businesses in the United States are small businesses.
"Universities are the perfect engines for starting new businesses,"
said Sherry Shafer, BN'63, director of the SBDC and the JPEC. "Entrepreneurs
can come from everywhere -- business, pharmacy, music, biology, journalism
-- different disciplines bring unique things to businesses. That's
why universities are perfect, it's really good to have that interdisciplinary
focus."
Seeds of Growth
The SBDC frequently works in conjunction with the CBPA and other Drake colleges
and schools to create and run programs sponsored by JPEC and the Kauffman Foundation.
The Drake JPEC offers students two opportunities to obtain seed money for new
business ventures. Since 1996, the Drake JPEC has awarded five $10,000 new venture
grants to Drake students. Three of the five companies are still going concerns;
the two reminaing recipients sold their businesses to large chains. In addition,
venture capitalist John Pappajohn offers three $5,000 seed grants annually on
a competitive basis to students in Iowa. Last year, Drake students Jennie Dorris,
JO'02, and Jim Casey, BN'02, were awarded both a $10,000 grant from the Drake
JPEC and one of the competitive $5,000 grants for their Web ‘zine, knotmag.com.
John Brant, GR'01, founder and chief technology officer of Sciengistics, LLC,
won a new venture grant to start his business, which markets and develops software
to help companies plan their resources efficiently. One product, StationApps,
has been used by the airline industry to forecast the staff size required to meet
operation needs. Brant credits his success to the JPEC grant, his Drake MBA, and
the help he received from the SBDC.
"I took advantage of every opportunity available to me," said Brant.
Derek C. Holmes, Sr., GR'99, president and owner of Tec-Link, LC, used his seed
grant to launch an information technology professional services company.
"The MBA program gave me the fundamental knowledge to understand real world
situations," said Holmes.
"The business classes I took at Drake were very helpful in setting up my
new business and doing the bookwork," says Marilyn Graham, BN'57, ED'57,
president of Marilyn Graham Designer Originals. "It gives me a much better
understanding of where we are going and what changes need to be made to achieve
the growth desired."
Graham produces and markets a line of mother of the bride dresses for dress shops
all over the country, including a showroom in Atlanta and, until recently, in
the garment district in New York.
Finding a Niche
Keeping in mind the mantra of growth and change when developing business plans
with entrepreneurs in any niche of the small business market, the JPEC has created
a special program tending to the needs of Iowa farmers.
Grow Your Market Farm, a program sponsored by the JPEC with help from the CBPA
and the Drake Law School, assists individuals with marketing their small farm
produce to Iowa distributors.
Jason Heki, a high school junior, started Green Acres Family Farm in Jefferson
Township, IA, three years ago by selling fresh eggs and organic produce to a few
customers. Now a booming business, he can barely keep up with demand for his product
and the whole Heki family is involved. Jason's parents, Rich, JO'80, and Barb
Heki, JO'78, GR'90, credit Drake with helping them get their small family farm
off the ground.
"Drake instructors provided a wealth of valuable information and walked everyone
in the class through difficult portions of their business plans, said Barb Heki.
"In addition, our Drake degrees and business experience in the areas of communications,
research, marketing and public relations were extremely helpful in guiding Jason
as he formulated his business plan and launched the business."
We Give You Wings
Kassidy Briles started Dream Wings in 1999 through a program at the JPEC called
Mother and Daughter Entrepreneurs in Teams. Briles and her mother, Shari, raise
butterflies for release at special occasions, primarily weddings. Dream Wings
was featured in CosmoGirl and The Des Moines Register. Kassidy, a junior in high
school, was voted one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country by Y&E magazine.
"The help I received from Drake and the JPEC is the reason I own my own business
today," said Briles.
In addition to helping community members gain the competitive edge with their
small businesses, the SBDC, JPEC and CBPA provide opportunities for students to
get involved.
Last year, Kristen Mahowald, BN'02, interned at the SBDC with Iowa's International
Trade Program. She traveled to Mexico to help set up its first small business
center, spoke to business organizations, counseled small business owners on starting
an export/import business, and wrote a book documenting how small businesses can
grow internationally. Mahowald is currently an international sales coordinator
for Power Electric in Minnesota.
"Drake prepares graduates to be independent thinkers and encourages their
entrepreneurial spirit through creative class projects," said Mahowald. "The
CBPA provides students with fantastic internship opportunities. Students who take
advantage of these opportunities are vastly better prepared to choose an appropriate
career path."
Billie Shelton is a freelance writer.
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