Services offered:

NFTE Chicago is building an alumni services program that provides academic, postsecondary and business development support to its young entrepreneurs.

Meet some of NFTE Chicago's recent alumni:

Lawrence Yamoah

Lawrence participated in the NFTE course at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy. He won first place in the NFTE Chicago Citywide Business Plan Competition in 2006 and advanced to the 1st annual Smith Barney/NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, where he won third place in a field of competitors from across the country.  Lawrence Yamoah has a shoe customization business, Intouch Customz. He adapts athletic shoes and boots to his customers’ personal style by painting illustrations, characters, and colors on their footwear.  Lawrence began his freshman year at Howard University in Fall 2007. He plans to pursue a major in finance.  

Johnnie Lovett and Christopher Houston

Both Johnnie and Chris graduated from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep in 2007. In 2006, they launched their business, StayFreshOnline.com, an online fashion magazine that sells advertising space to local clothing retailers.  The website provides articles and features on fashion labels, trends and designers in the urban, youth market.   The site also features user-generated content and reviews.  Johnnie and Chris placed 1st overall at NFTE Chicago’s JP Morgan Chase 2007 City-Wide Competition and 2nd in the 2nd annual Smith Barney/NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in October 2007. Both are currently attending their first year of college. 

David Hurst

David is a senior at Entrepreneurship High School in the South South Campus.  He created his business, Lawn Care Extraordinaire, to provide lawn care services to his local community. David placed 2nd  in NFTE Chicago’s JP Morgan Chase 2007 City-Wide Competition and competed in the 2nd annual Smith Barney/NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in October 2007.  David says that he didn’t really care about his classes until he got involved with NFTE. 

Ebony Sims

Ebony’s business, Grunts & Giggles, provides clowns for kids’ birthday parties. Both she and her mother went through clown training and then began performing for a fee at parties.  In 2007, Ebony graduated from Northwestern University.  After NFTE Chicago introduced Ebony to Steven Rogers, the director for Kellogg’s Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice, he helped Ebony land a full time position at Loop Capital Markets.  Ebony often volunteers as a NFTE alum to speak about how the program has affected her business education and career goals. 

Aaron Miles, WeVenture.net

Aaron completed his NFTE course at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep.  Aaron is currently a student at the University of Illinois-Chicago, pursuing his degree in Business Administration.  His business, BizConnect, is geared towards providing an online networking space for small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, similar to a Craigslist specifically for small business owners.  Aaron stays active by working with a NFTE mentor regularly.

For more information about our alumni services program, contact Allyson Gaston at 773-938-8703 or send her an email: Allyson.Gaston@nfte.com.

To visit NFTE's national Alumni Network website, go to http://www.nftealumninetwork.com/.