Chamber Presents Young Entrepreneurs Academy Plans

Mitch Beinhaker, former chairman of the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and Rebecca Seasholtz, GWACC board secretary, spoke before the Westfield Town Council Tuesday evening to discuss the upcoming Young Entrepreneur's Academy (YEA).

Last fall, Beinhaker was contacted by a woman from Rochester, N.Y., who is affiliated with Rochester University and the Kaufman Foundation. Her organization, the Young Entrepreneur’s Academy, brings entrepreneurial programs to teens in partnership with local chambers of commerce.  

The program is a 30-week, afterschool, extra-curricular class that teaches young adults how to not only write business plans, but execute all the way to launch, as explained by the GWACC. While YEA currently operates in 59 communities throughout the country, the GWACC will be the first in the Garden State. 

The YEA Westfield program is open to high school students who live in the towns serviced by the GWACC: Fanwood; Garwood; Mountainside; Scotch Plains; and Westfield. Informational meetings have already been held at Westfield High School, Roosevelt Middle School, Edison Middle School and at the Garwood Lincoln Elementary School. 

The next informational meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, July 18 at 6 p.m. in Mountainside at the Deerfield School. Those interested should check with the GWACC office at 908-233-3021 or www.westfieldareachamber.com to confirm this date before attending.

The class is limited to 24 students and applications are already being submitted, according to the GWACC. Students will have the option of developing a business individually, or in teams of up to four people. Each group will be assigned a business mentor, and develop logos, brochures and websites. 

Some students might choose to create a non-profit company and pursue a social cause. At the end of the course, a tradeshow will be held, likely at the GWACC-sponsored Spring Fling Street Fair. 

Finally, each business will present to a panel of business investors who, in a similar fashion to the TV show “Shark Tank,” will evaluate each business and provide seed money to help get them started.

Guest speakers including an attorney, tax professional, will visit the class. Students will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to visit a business franchise. The group will also visit a local sports franchise, or entertainment-related company.

For more information, email YEA@WESTFIELDAREACHAMBER.COM, call 908-233-3021, or visit www.westfieldareachamber.com. Nominator packages, allowing teachers or business owners to nominate students for the program, are available.