Hononegah INCubator students make their pitch

JEAN SEEGERS PHOTO The Herald
Hononegah students, from left – Connor McCullough, Mason Servant and Nick Tarara were among three INCubator program finalists demonstrating their entrepreneurial skills at Pitch Night, May 21. The trio created Complete XP, a business that matches area businesses with student interns. Dominick Welte pitched his business – The Catholic Juice Box, a gift box to stimulate lapsed Catholics to return to the church. Maggie Yoho, Jordan Diehl and Jalen Ponder introduced Eventor, a business that matches food vendors with small and medium events.

By Jean Seegers
REPORTER
Five years ago, a team of Hononegah Community High School teachers and administrators visited Barrington High School to learn about a program for high school students that would help them develop business and entrepreneurial skills.
They came back armed with enthusiasm and lots of ideas to make the INCubator program a part of Hononegah’s curriculum in the future. Hononegah was one of the first eight schools to implement the concept.
Career and Technical Education instructor Jason Brunke has taught the INCubator program at Hononegah since its inception. Students learn all aspects of entrepreneurship, and are challenged to develop skills to start their own business. Some work in groups while others create their own business.
“Students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned to life. What they take away from the class is real world business experiences,” Brunke said.
“This type of program is important to areas such as Winnebago County where home-grown small businesses provide employment.”
The program includes area businessmen and women who volunteer as mentors and coaches throughout the year. They spend many hours in the classroom working with the students helping them in developing their business model.
This year’s coaches and mentors included Mike Frank – State Farm Insurance, Tim Storm – RockTek Workspace, Jenni O’Connell – Merrill Lynch and Ryan Rydell – RyCOM Creative. Their task was to encourage, answer questions and offer solutions and alternatives.
At the end of each school year, three businesses are selected to present their plans to the INCubator Board of Directors. At the conclusion of their pitch, board members offer suggestions and have the option of investing in the new business.
The fifth annual Pitch Night was held at the HCHS PAC, May 21.
“There was a total of 12 groups this school year. Three were selected to pitch their businesses,” Brunke said.
Dominick Welte introduced The Catholic Juice Box, a customized box designed to bring lapsed Catholics back to the church. The box contains materials such as a rosary, religious medals and prayer cards. The boxes can be customized to fit the recipient. “It’s basically a care package practicing Catholics can buy and send to lapsed Catholics,” Welte said.
Complete XP is a job placement service that matches small to medium sized business in Winnebago C
Connor McCullough, Nick Tarara and Mason Servant pitched their business – Complete XP. ounty with student interns. The trio have already placed one successful match.
Maggie Yoho, Jordan Diehl and Jalen Ponder presented Evendtor, a business that matches food vendors such as food trucks, with small events in the area.
Most of the business ventures do not survive after the students graduate and go away to college. However, they carry the skills they have learned with them into their future endeavors.
Jacob McCabe took the INCubator class this year. He loves cars and decided to start a car cleaning business.
“The class taught me to learn things the right way,” he said. McCabe plans to work at a car dealership this summer and learn all he can about detailing and caring for cars before opening his own detailing business. Attending college is not in his plans at this time.
Anna Pipitone was one of the finalists at last year’s Pitch Night. While a student at Hononegah, the young entrepreneur started a business baking and selling custom confectionaries. She learned how to put together a business plan, financing and marketing, through the INCubator program. Today she is a student at the Culinary Institute of America in California. Her goal is to return to the Rockton area and open her own bakery.
This year’s INCUbator sponsors were Stillman Bank, Members Alliance Credit Union, First National Bank & Trust, SENB Bank and AllWorld Machinery.