Entrepreneurs from Madison and Guilford creating own opportunities [New Haven Register]

New Haven Register
In recent years, the transition from traditional 9 to 5 jobs to the world of entrepreneurship has become common among young adults.

With post-graduation jobs becoming more competitive, some Madison and Guilford residents are creating their own opportunities.

Ryan Duques, business owner, entrepreneur and chairman of the Madison Economic Development Commission, said there have been two major global shifts that have affected the career paths of the younger generation during the past two decades.

There has been a rise in employers’ resources on demand — “allowing for the rise of a freelance workforce, which allows for flexibility for workers and a scalable workforce for employers.”

He also said the recent generations entering the workforce aren’t afraid to work, but rather, they just want to work on their own flexible schedules — which often means actually working more hours than a typical eight-hour workday.

Duques’ company TutaPoint provides online teaching and tutoring to students, where instructors choose their own schedules as well as work from their own home or office.

Johnathan Bone, owner of Bowl’d Creations food truck, said as a business owner in Madison he works long hours but it is worth it in the end.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into it behind the scenes, just making sure permits are being kept up with and health inspections, supplying and keeping the inventory up. Then there’s the whole accounting part of it, making sure the numbers add up and we’re not wasting product or wasting money,” said Bone. “It turns into long days. I work seven days a week, and the grueling hours are kind of tough but to be honest with you, it’s totally worth it. You don’t really think about it too much. If anything you’re a little tired but in the end, it’s worth it, just knowing that you’re doing something you love to do.”

And part of the attraction of owning your own business is having certain freedoms that aren’t available when working for someone else.
Eileen Banisch, executive director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, said there are many reasons younger people tend to gravitate more toward creating their own opportunities, including having complete say-so over decision-making.

“(There is a) sense of independence (and) the fact that it’s all up to you whether you succeed or don’t succeed. If you know you have a lot of talent in one area, it’s a lot of hard work but it’s so rewarding, maybe not even monetarily but rewarding for your sense of self-confidence,” Banisch said. “It’s very satisfying. A lot of people don’t want to work for anyone else. They don’t want to be told by somebody else what hours they can work. It’s nice to be your own boss.”

Bone has similar views.

“The pros are you are your own boss, you don’t have to answer to anybody. It’s great to get feedback from customers. You can be proud of everything you put out knowing that you built it and that everything is earned by all of your hard work,” Bone said. “You get to set your own hours. If I need to take a day off for whatever reason, I can take a day off and not worry about getting my shift covered or anything like that.”

Jamaal Bryant, Jeremy Spang and Nathan Bryant, young entrepreneurs from Guilford, said they’ve never been attracted to conventional and traditional jobs.

The three Guilford residents are members of the band Atlas Jungle, owners of the Let it Float floating center, and creators of Mudra Mushroom tea distribution.

“I’ve never wanted a normal job. Going to work from 9 to 5 every day Monday through Friday and going through this routine thing and then retire — maybe go on a few vacations — I just never felt as if my life was that way,” Bryant said. “I felt as if I always was just going to do whatever I want to do whether it’s making me a lot of money or not making me any money; but at least it’s making me happy.”

Spang said he tried working in a corporate environment, but quickly realized it wasn’t for him.

“I tried to work a 9 to 5 job, (but it) was basically just a soul-draining experience for what I specifically was doing. And I just couldn’t do it; I felt like I was dying an early death,” Spang said. “So, I quit my job, and I didn’t know what I was going to do but not knowing what to do instead of working, that was way better for me. It was scary but that’s just a good part of the journey I guess. Everyone has a different voice inside of them. I just wasn’t happy where I was at.”

“You learn a lot and you make a lot of mistakes, but you benefit from them. My life is going to be the way that I make it,” Bryant said. “It makes no sense to do anything else than the things that I’m interested in. People who are best at what they do are people who are passionate about what they do and are doing what they love.”

And with a fairly high unemployment rate in the state — 6 percent — people are choosing to create their own opportunities. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, unemployment is at 6 percent compared to the national 5.4 percent unemployment rate.

According to the Connecticut Economic Resource Center town profile released in 2014, Guilford’s unemployment rate was at 5.6 percent and Madison stood at 5.4 percent.

“I think a lot of it is it’s tough to find jobs and to find good jobs that pay well. It’s tough because not a lot of jobs are offering great benefits and things like that. So you start to look at all these things and decide to try something on your own and take a risk,” Bone said. “And it’s nice to know that I’m able to make my own money and not making somebody else’s. There’s something satisfying in that.”

According to Stephen Kops, chairman of the Guilford Economic Development Commission, there has been a surge of entrepreneurship in recent years, which he said is highly encouraged in Guilford.

In terms of preferred working environments and what entrepreneurs tend to look for when choosing working conditions, Kops said many people begin their business from home, and then eventually expand to a rented office.

“We do know there are a lot of people working from home and that’s how it all starts,” Kops said. “A good way to start out is if you can start from home, but in time, you will need to expand.”

Kops said once the business begins to grow, and the owner starts to hire and bring more people on board, there may be a need to relocate to an office space.

“One of the first things I would recommend is to make a plan of what they want to do and then go to SCORE, their local Chamber of Commerce or they can speak to me. These are the main places to start,” Kops said. “They should do research and to explore what the need is for that service.”

Eileen Banisch, executive director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce said SCORE is one of the best resources available to young entrepreneurs. Banisch said SCORE provides workshops on various topics including creating a business plan or managing business finances.

“At least once a month, SCORE will have a workshop. Sometimes, they’re in Madison, there’s a few in Guilford, Old Saybrook and they go up as far as Norwich — and that’s just the southeastern Connecticut SCORE. There’s also the New Haven area SCORE,” Banisch said. “That’s usually the best resource. It’s a lot of great counseling services.”

Banisch said evening workshops are also available to those who balance both a day job and their own businesses.

Bernard Sweeney, district director of the Connecticut Small Business Association, said young entrepreneurs that utilize SBA’s services are more interested in starting businesses within the technology field.

“Most of the young people we work with are leaning toward computer-type of businesses, offering any type of interfacing with bigger companies like Google,”
Sweeney said. “Of course, there are a good number of people who want to do webpages and web design. I think the trend is geared toward technology.”

According to Sweeney, there are various resources available for young entrepreneurs around the state, including the SCORE program, SBA’s small business centers, Connecticut Innovations and women business centers.

The SCORE program, with its seven different satellite offices across the state, is comprised of part-time volunteer mentors, who provide support services to entrepreneurs.

There are also many other different opportunities arising for young entrepreneurs. Pulse, for example, was established just in the past five years and is a networking platform for young professionals ages 21-40 in the greater New Haven area.

Sponsored by Southern Connecticut State University, the program is designed to provide a platform where young professionals can connect, network and share ideas.

Angelina Morais Stackpole, vice chairwoman of Pulse, said the benefits of a Pulse membership include access to exclusive networking events, happy hours, leadership roundtable discussions, community service activities, seminars and professional development opportunities.

Each of its 500 members are in a variety of diverse fields. Some are self-employed and some members work for large corporations, Stackpole said.

Senate Minority Leader, Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said Republicans proposed a loan program titled “CT FAST,” which would have supported local start-ups across the state.

“The state’s Department of Economic and Community Development runs many important programs for small businesses and serves as a point of entry to a variety of resources for entrepreneurs” Fasano said. “I do believe there needs to be more focus on young entrepreneurs in our cities. Many young people come to our cities to attend college, and we need to make sure there are opportunities for them to stay when their schooling ends. This year Republicans proposed a new loan program called CT FAST funds to help small start-ups in Connecticut’s largest cities.”

Fasano said the legislation wasn’t approved this year, but he plans to continue to focus on efforts to get the bill passed.

“We also need to help young people who have grown up in our cities access the tools they need to find success, especially if their goal is to start their own business,” Fasano said. The minority leader said while the legislation was not approved this year, it did garner bipartisan support.

In terms of the practicality of recent graduates starting their own businesses, Banish said funding is the biggest obstacle faced. Those who start businesses in their 20s usually worked for a similar company before deciding to start their own.

“I think it’s hard to start your own business if you’re just a recent graduate. I don’t think they are necessarily the people who are starting businesses because you have to have money in the bank to start a business,” Banisch said. “The people you see starting businesses have already worked for somebody else in the same field and have developed a sense of what that business is like, how it would be like to do that on their own and not have a boss to answer to.”

Jennie Fresa, owner of Jennie Fresa Brow and Beauty Bar in Madison, said she worked for Trish McEvoy Cosmetics for about six years in New York and abroad.
Once Fresa relocated with the company to Greenwich, that’s when she decided to branch out on her own. She said she was fortunate enough to be able to fund her own business.

Bone graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s in communications and began working in the restaurant industry — working in management, catering and bartending.

“I worked for a while. I moved out to California for about four years and just lived and worked out there. And then I’ve been back here for about three years, and just started this business this year,” Bone said.

Bone said he and his business partner each contributed their own money to start their business.

Fresa said between being in her shop and taking care of business behind the scenes, she almost never gets a break from work. However, she tries to find a balance between work and her personal life.

“I love what I do, so if it were 9 to 5, that would be great. But I’ve been working in a retail setting for so many years, it’s second nature to me to work on the weekends. I don’t really think twice about it,” Fresa said. “I work 24/7. Mondays the store is closed but I still spend about half the day doing administrative work. And then I work here in the boutique Tuesday through Saturday. I just this past year started finding a little more work-life balance. So I take Sundays to myself.”