Young entrepreneurs show off business plans

TIFFIN – Seneca County Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its spring bash last week, allowing the next class of the Seneca CEO program to present their business projects. Among the third graduating class from the Seneca CEO program's annual Trade Show were: Nate Beagle, Steven Borawski, Andrew Hartzell, Lorelei Ludwig, Audra Miller, Levi Morgan, and Chloe Steele. According to the Seneca CEO program's website, it seeks to prepare people, especially youth, to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute to economic development and sustainable communities. The class meets five days a week for 90 minutes a day and is a year-long, two-credit high school course. Beagle - "Nook" Nate Beagle is a senior at Seneca East High School and member of the Quiz Bowl and Bowling teams. After high school, Beagle plans on enlisting in the Navy to serve his country. The business he presented was Nook, an imported goods store. Among his products were various meats, cheeses, and baked goods from various parts of the world, with several products from Italy. "Because I will be joining the navy come fall, I have been committing my time and efforts to that," said Beagle. Borawski - "Petternative" Steven Borawski is a senior at Columbian High School, and is a part of the e-sports and bowling team. As someone who has always been interested in business, Borawski took all three business classes offered at Columbian prior to joining the CEO program. His business, Petternative, is self-described as a made-to-order "better food for dogs" and is made from the same high-quality ingredients you would buy to feed yourself. "We are helping dogs live longer and healthier lives, meaning you get to spend more time with the pups you love," he said. Hartzell - "I'd Rather Be Fishing - Handyman and Repair" Andrew Hartzell is a senior at New Reigel High School and a second-year auto-technician at Sentinel. He is also part of the New Riegel quiz bowl team and runs his own handyman service, I'd Rather Be Fishing - Handyman and Repair, part of what led him to join the CEO program. "I thought it would be a really good opportunity to network with the community," said Hartzell. "I've learned a lot throughout the course of this program." Ludwig - "The Southern Magnolia" Lorelei Ludwig is a junior at Columbian High School and member of the Golf team and Track and Field. Ludwig moved to Tiffin from Japan in 2021, but her roots are in Louisiana, which is where she had the opportunity to try a southern praline. She decided to join the CEO program to help her take the next steps in following her dreams of being a business owner. Her business, The Southern Magnolia, was started to share the memories and culture of the South that she once got to experience. "I've loved baking for as long as I can remember and am really excited to share the cultural experiences I have had with those around me," said Ludwig. Miller - "Handy T-Shirts" Audra Miller is a senior at Old Fort High School and is involved in volleyball, softball, student council, National Honor Society, art club, science club, Teen Leadership Corps, and FFA. She joined the CEO program to meet new people and make connections that will help her achieve her future goals. Her business, Handy T-Shirts, is a print design company specializing in soft materials like cotton. "We're a print design company who prioritizes the customer's needs first, always," said Miller. Morgan - "Blue screen Productions" Levi Morgan is a senior who is homeschooled as well as a digital technologies student at Sentinel, and they are an aspiring video producer and video game designer. Morgan joined the CEO program to work on developing their speaking skills and to connect with other entrepreneurs in the county. Their company, Blue Screen Productions, is a videography and production company with a focus on short promotional videos. "My idea for the business is to able to change the way people see another business for the better," said Morgan. Steele - "Buck-a-Billys" Chloe Steele is a senior at Columbian High School and a part of 4-H, Seneca Junior Fair Board, and the captain of the women's bowling team. She joined the CEO program with the hope of making new connections and growing my skills in the business world, something she says she has achieved. "I really am grateful for all of the support the program has given me," Steele said, adding "as well as from the greater Tiffin community." Her business, Buck-a-Billys, is a clothing brand with a southern draw that currently sells hats as well as T-shirts. "In the future, we plan on designing some things on other kinds of material, like jeans for example," said Steele. For more information on the Seneca CEO program, visit www.senecacountyceo.com.