By Nancy Mize and Cat McCrary 

F rom startups to showdowns, Georgia College & State University is helping shape the next generation of entrepreneurs through its involvement in the Youth Entrepreneur Program, or YEP, a community initiative that gives local high school students real-world business experience, mentorship and professional guidance. 

The young entrepreneurs develop business plans from idea to implementation. Judges select finalists, who then present “Shark Tank”-style and the winners receive seed money to get their businesses off the ground. The final presentations were held Feb. 12 at Baldwin High School in Milledgeville. 

Georgia College faculty and staff played a vital role in YEP's development and success. According to Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kara Lassiter, GCSU faculty have been essential to YEP’s success. 

Dr. Nicholas Creel, associate professor of Business Law and director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, facilitated workshops supporting students in developing their business plans. Dr. Veronica Womack, executive director for the Rural Studies Institute, provided invaluable service on the committee, while School of Continuing and Professional Studies Executive Director Angela Criscoe served as a mentor. 

“We helped build out the rules of the program, recruited at local high schools, educated participants on various aspects of business and judged presentations in the final competition,” Creel said. 

The impact of that support is evident in the students’ experiences. The winning team, Brooks Latimer and Adison Fain of Middle Georgia Detailing, said the program taught them persistence and work ethic, explaining that even though they had some struggles, the pair learned to fight through and always work hard. Latimer and Fain added that their mentors helped them understand that building a business takes dedication and time. 

“This experience has influenced my future plans about college,” Latimer said. “I know that when I go to college, I’ll still be able to make money through my business, and having this marketing knowledge really helps.” 

Mentorship is a key element of YEP’s approach, pairing experienced professionals who provide feedback and guidance as students launch and grow their ventures. 

“At first it was difficult learning how to track my money properly … like expenses, totals and everything, but I’ve gotten much better at it,” said Harmony Brynteson of Harmony’s Handcrafts. 

Educators say opportunities like these help students see tangible pathways for their future. Kristin Grebel, marketing management instructor of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education at Baldwin High School, noted the program “really helped them see that starting a business is something they could actually do,” adding that experiences like YEP show students they can pursue meaningful careers while staying connected to their local community. 

The students themselves say they gained valuable business skills. Kylan Silas, second-place winner and owner of Silas Detailing, said, “YEP really helped me make better financial decisions and understand how everything works.” 

Dr. Scott Manley, one of the judges and chair of Georgia College’s Department of Marketing, Management and Logistics, praised both the students and the program’s broader impact. 

“I was so impressed by the quality of the finalists in the Youth Entrepreneur Program business pitch competition,” Manley said. “Education and entrepreneurship are the cornerstones of economic development, and the businesses these young people have developed demonstrate their entrepreneurial spirit. These young entrepreneurs are building a great future for Milledgeville and Baldwin County.” 

Over the next two years, thanks to a generous grant from the Knight Foundation, funding given to YEP participants to start their businesses will increase, allowing more students to explore options for the businesses they can start. A long-term goal is also to extend YEP from a Baldwin County program to a multi-county initiative across Middle Georgia. 

Header Images: Adison Fain and Brooks Latimer of Middle GA Detailing were winners of the inaugural YEP Startup Showdown, earning $1,500 to invest in their automotive detailing business. Kylan Silas of Silas Detailing won second place, and Harmony Brynteson of Harmony’s Handcrafts took home third in the competition. (Photos: Lifescapes Photography)