The Center for Entrepreneurship prepared me with all the necessary tools to
create a business plan and present it well in the “real” world. I’m amazed at
how many of my peers lack the knowledge to even begin the process or creating a
business. I can clearly track and give credit to the Center for Entrepreneurship
for the knowledge and first hand experience I walked away from Oregon with. To
be frank, the education I received has allowed me to fully pursue my dreams with
the confidence necessary to create and launch a new venture within three years
of graduating. I am extremely grateful for my experience in the Center for
Entrepreneurship and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to exit college
with the practical knowledge to succeed.
Biography
After graduating, I played my senior football season in the fall, and
then moved to Seattle, WA immediately following the season. I began here as a
Pastor Intern at an Urban Church for a year and a half. During that time, I was
married, and had a dream to start a nonprofit health and fitness center (Rainier
Health and Fitness) to accomplish two purposes: address the epidemic of
overweight and obesity that plagues inner city America and use sports as a means
to build relationships in a very diverse community through which more holistic
service can be conducted.
At the conclusion of my internship in June of 2003, I took a job as a personal
trainer and sales manager at a local health club in order to obtain industry
experience.
Meanwhile I had created a business plan for Rainier Health and Fitness and
presented it to an organization called Northwest Urban Ministries hoping that
they would implement the plan as one of their programs. They agreed and hired
me as the Site Director in Feb 2004.
I spent the majority of 2004 raising funds and developing Rainier Health and
Fitness, and, we were able to launch March 1, 2005.
In November, the Executive Director of Northwest Urban Ministries resigned, and
the Board hired me as the Interim Executive Director, and, in December, they
hired me permanently. I am currently participating in this role.
