One of Kyle Vandeveer's 3D puzzles. Photo courtesy Kyle Vandeveer
My high school friends and I enjoy reminiscing about growing up in Connecticut, summers at the Jersey Shore, crazy nights on the streets of New York City. Many of our stories involve our jobs as lifeguards and waiters. We learned early on the importance of balancing our work and social schedules so we had spending money for days at the beach and nights in the city.
You may not think teens today work as much as we did, but many of them are paving their way to adulthood by forming their own businesses. Besides financial independence, these young entrepreneurs are developing confidence and learning the value of communication, dependability and time management. Here are some hotshots from our community to be proud of and support.
Kyle Vandeever, www.centralohioidoctor.com
Kyle Vandeever started his company in 2013 as a junior at Dublin Coffman High School. He had been repairing cameras and laptops since middle school, eventually branching out to iPhones and replacing the screens, which have a tendency to crack. Central Ohio iDoctor offers low prices and a lifetime warranty on parts and labor, plus it makes house calls for an extra $10 and will repair your phone in about 15 minutes.
Kyle manages operations, including marketing, inventory, purchasing, web design, business development, accounting and creating the iDoctor software. Three other techs work for him, including Alex Andrei, another Coffman graduate. Both young men attend The Ohio State University with Kyle majoring in mechanical engineering and Alex in neuroscience.
Because one business apparently isn’t enough, Kyle also started another company called Intrism, where he develops and manufactures intricate 3D puzzles. Each puzzle kit includes 200 laser-cut wooden pieces, six sheets of acrylic and one marble.
“I’ve always enjoyed spatial reasoning and thinking three-dimensionally,” Kyle says. “This puzzle pushes you past that and is extremely challenging.”
Lilly Byrne, www.lovetogotolillys.com
Lilly Byrne and her Love to Go to Lilly's healthful food vending machine. Photo courtesy of Lilly Byrne
Lilly Byrne is the president and lone shareholder of Love to Go to Lilly’s. She is also 12 years old. Lilly owns healthful food vending machines, complete with pink and green designs and a Lilly avatar logo. She began dreaming and talking about healthful options, including drive-through restaurants, when she was 5 years old.
Lilly’s dad, Matt, works at the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center on Franz Road. He is also an entrepreneur and enjoys the connection he and Lilly share while working on her business. He has guided Lilly along in the process of forming her company. Lilly is hands-on and selects the food items, tracks and stocks inventory, calculates monthly input, and even pays her sales tax online.
What does Lilly foresee in the future?
“I’d really like to look into franchising, and also putting the vending machines in schools so kids can have healthy choices too.”
Alex Ward, www.greatcakes.biz
Alex Ward's Kit Kat and M&M cake. Photo courtesy Alex Ward
Alex Ward is a 15-year-old sophomore at Dublin Scioto High School. He spends 20 hours per week in the gym as a level 10 gymnast. Alex gets straight As in school. He started a cake baking business, too.
Alex took an interest in baking with his dad a few years ago and experimented with his aunt’s cake recipes for a family reunion. The cakes were well received, and soon, his family members were all asking him to bake for them. He started Alex’s Great Cakes, built a website and made business cards, and word spread quickly about his delicious confections, the favorite of which is the Kit Kat cake with M&Ms.
How does Alex fit a growing business into his schedule?
“It’s tough some weeks, but I find baking to be relaxing downtime,” Alex says.
Brian Peele
Brian Peele painted 20 mailbox during his first summer of running his business. Photo courtsey of Brian Peele
Brian Peele is a senior lacrosse player at Dublin Jerome High School who has a mailbox painting and repairing business. He started the venture his freshman year when his dad showed him how to fix, sand and paint their white Tartan Fields mailbox.
A neighbor hired Brian to do his mailbox, too, and a business was born. That first summer, Brian walked door to door and was surprised to find that most people were eager to support a teenager. He ended up painting 20 mailboxes and posts.
“I was only breaking even for a while because I bought a power sander and a truck to haul around paint and equipment,” Brian says. “I’d recommend being an entrepreneur because it’s great to be your own boss, and be the one responsible for making your customers happy.”
Mitchell Schlotterer
Mitchell Schlotterer is a 16-year-old sophomore who has two businesses.
One is a lawn cutting/edging business he started four years ago. He bought a zero turn mower and a trailer that holds his leaf blower, edger and trimmer.
Like many boys his age, Mitchell also loves cars and enjoys making them look good. He began a car detailing business two years ago by passing out flyers in his neighborhood. Mitchell cleans the exterior, wheels and carpet and literally cleans the interior with a toothbrush. His specialty in suburban Dublin has turned out to be minivans caked with old Cheerios, which can take him up to seven hours to complete.
“I enjoy making things look good, whether it’s lawns or cars,” Mitchell says.
Baylie Street, www.beautybybaylie.wix.com/portfolio
Baylie Street graduated from Scioto in 2015 with intentions of charting her own course. After doing the hair and makeup of a friend for senior pictures, the photographer called Baylie and asked if she would offer her services to other clients as well.
Baylie finished her 1,500 hours at the Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School and now freelances for Susanna Holley Photography, creating beautiful looks for senior pics and wedding parties. She also manages a Beauty First supply store with a full-service salon, has modeled in six runway shows and worked in more than 40 photo shoots. She recently pitched an idea to FOX-28 and appeared on Good Day Columbus demonstrating her five-minute beauty fix.
As busy as she is, Baylie is not done creating. She is working on her blog and motivational speaking to impact others and enjoys using social media to market her brand and name. See her on Instagram at @hairbybayliestreet.
Colleen D’Angelo is a freelance writer who lives in Dublin with her husband, three children and several small animals. She enjoys playing tennis, walking the Dublin bike paths and traveling.
