The CentreWorks LIFTOFF class on May 11 graduates its entrepreneurs who will start local businesses with the knowledge gained from the class.
The LIFTOFF Center teaches entrepreneurship skills to both college students and community members who want to start their own business. Students at the center work in teams with entrepreneurs to help them develop their business ideas.
Led by CenterWorks directors Anthony and Andrea Margida, this is the fourth most recent class they have taught. This was done virtually during the pandemic, and it was the first semester he taught in person.
This semester was also the first time the class was taught in Spanish in addition to English. The students of the center were able to translate each lesson to a number of Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs, and also acted as translators in talks and sympathetic interviews.
Entrepreneurs usually come up with a tentative business idea that they want to develop. Margidas teaches them to conduct sympathetic interviews with people in the community, allowing them to learn about the specific wants and needs of the local people.
Interviews help students define a problem that their business will solve. Once defined, students brainstorm business ideas to solve the problem. Then they test the ideas and gather feedback from the community, then come up with the final prototype.
Each group presented its prototypes upon graduation. The graduating entrepreneurs and student teams are as follows:
Ildefonso Rodriguez – El Tallar
L to R: Ildefonso Rodriguez, who is starting El Tallar, student of his team Sol Cabrera with Andrea and Anthony Marida. Photo by Fiona Morgan
Before moving to Kentucky, IldeFonso Rodriguez worked on cars in Mexico. He continued working on cars in Kentucky and decided to open a car workshop.
His business is called El Tallar, which translates to “The Workshop”. He worked with the center’s student Sol Cabrera, who acted as a translator.
Through empathy interviews, he learned that people crave cleanliness, honesty, accessibility and quality in an auto shop. As a solution, El Taller will have good workshop organization, send real-time photos when work is completed, offer promotions, ensure quality, use Facebook for good communication, among other things.
Chris Clanch – Centro Latino
L to R: Student team Casey Montgomery and Cole Arendson make their final presentation with Chris Clanche, director of Centro Latino. Photo by Fiona Morgan
Instead of starting a new business, Chris Clanch wanted to work on improving Centro Latino, a non-profit that helps the local Latino community gain access to educational, health, and social justice information. She joined Centro Latino in 2010, and became director last year.
She has noticed that Spanish immigrants and nonimmigrants have trouble accessing those resources, and she said she joined the organization because the Spanish community in Danville and surrounding areas contributes to the economy.
Working with students Casey Montgomery and Cole Arendson, she conducted empathy interviews to learn how Centro can better help Latino people find resources for sustainable living. He learned that having a central location, both online and in a physical space, would be most helpful.
While the organization already has a website, they will be adding videos of how to do things in the city, such as getting a driver’s license, applying for the FAFSA, and more. Clinch said they also need to make more use of technology and raise awareness of the organization.
Martha Francisco – Martha’s Home Care Services
L to R: student team Kali Hernandez Freire; Martha Francisco, who is launching Martha’s Home Care Services; With Andrea and Anthony Marida. Photo by Fiona Morgan
Martha Francisco has been living here and working in home services for 18 years, and wants to start her own service. Francisco does all kinds of services; She takes care of the kids, takes care of the dogs, goes grocery shopping, rides, and does the cleaning.
She worked with Kali Hernandez Freire to find out what community members wanted. He learned that people want honesty, comfort and security in home service; They want to know and trust the one who is serving them.
Francisco will conduct empathy interviews with clients before they hire him for the job, to build trust and determine what services they require. His children will be able to translate.
His value statement is: “People choose my services because I listen to, see, and provide personal care, management, and cleaning services.”
Radonna Breeder and Ansley Breeder – Rae Bouquets
L to R: student team Conor Foster and Mril D’Silva; With Ainsley Breder and Radonna Breder, who started Rae’s bouquets; With Andrea and Anthony Marida. Photo by Fiona Morgan
Mother and daughter team, Redonna and Ainsley Breder, started Rae Bouquets in Danville a few years ago. According to Breeders, starting with making bouquets for friends’ weddings, the business grew and took on a life of its own. They wanted to learn how to intentionally grow a business through the classroom.
Working with students Conor Foster and Mr. D’Silva, she learned that people in this community want a personal touch, affordable options for their budget, and they prefer to use local service.
To meet people’s needs, breeders will build relationships with customers, hold expectation meetings with customers, allow customization in bouquets, have good local quality, and use social media regularly. Rae’s Bouquets makes flowers for any event or holiday, and already has a website, Facebook, and Instagram page.
Irma Perez – Irma’s Jarochita
L to R: Student team Jorge Trejo Fernandez and Callie Zeron with Irma Perez, starting Irma’s Jarochita; With Andrea and Anthony Margida. Photo by Fiona Morgan
Irma Perez, who hails from Mexico, loves to make authentic Mexican food and wants to start a restaurant that will enhance her culture. Throughout the class, Perez brought some homemade food for the students. Jarochita is a type of dress worn by the people of her hometown in Mexico.
Working with students Jorge Trejo Fernández and Callie Zeron, he learned from 20–25 interviews that people in this community want culturally true Hispanic food that is economical, tasty and prepared in a timely manner, but not “fast food”. Is.
Perez will work to provide food that is both authentic and affordable, will use electronic payments, possibly in the form of apps, and will post an elaborate menu on his Facebook page.
• Entrepreneur Mandy Emmons worked with student Emily Heasley, whose presentation is forthcoming.
• Entrepreneur Claudia Greiones did not submit the final prototype as her presentation is nearing.
The CentreWorks LIFTOFF class of entrepreneurs and the center’s students graduated. Photo by Fiona Morgan.
