Success stories

NOS Projects

 

Sean Colter is pictured on the left, Jessica Vipond [BA] in middle and Nathan Holt on the right.

 

NOS Projects is owned and operated by recently graduated, Peace Wapiti Academy student, Sean Colter and his friend, Nathan Holt, a student at the Grande Prairie Composite High School. It might be worthwhile to note that Nathan partnered with Sean, worked on the assignments together, really out of his eagerness to do the business. He was not receiving credits or anything. Both of them were RAP [Registered Apprenticeship Program] students in the construction trade.

Their business idea:

  • Purchase old camp trailers that were in disrepair
  • Complete refurbishment on them
  • Sell for a profit at auction or to companies via Nathan’s dad’s network

 

They started working on their business plan in April 2008 and p resented their plan to Jessica,the Business Analyst, in August 2008 for a $2500.00 loan. The loan was intended to help them with their cash flow while they were working on it and before it was sold – it covered things like tools and materials

 

In the time between April and August, Sean and Nathan had already partnered with a local company [a business contact from Nathan’s Dad] and planned to purchase a trailer the company had for sale. The company agreed to let the boys work on the trailer and pay them for it once it was refurbished and sold. Sean and Nathan were able to work on the trailer in the company’s yard so that minimized their need for work space; they were also covered by the company’s WCB policy but did their research beforehand to ensure they did not need to get their own coverage.

 

The boys approached a local flooring company in hopes that they could get credit to purchase the flooring needed to re-floor the trailer; at that time, the flooring store owner offered the company assistance in a few ways. The owner would “train” Sean and Nathan on how to do flooring properly and would also supply flooring to them on credit until they were paid for the sale of the trailer. They also completed all of the other necessary maintenance to the trailer and sold it. Over the summer, the boys estimate they made approximately $20,000. They agreed to hold the money in their business account until they graduated at which time they would split the proceeds 50/50.

Sean actually completed all of his credits early (right after first semester January 2009) but he continued to work at his RAP worksite until the end of the school year. He commenced in May 2009 and finally brought in evidence of his provincial diploma in July 2009 and the loan was paid out via Ventures dollars September 1, 2009.

 

Ventures Success

The Ventures Program saw three students successfully complete the Ventures program in its first year being offered across Northern Alberta. These students successfully completed the business plan and successfully received a Community Futures loan.

Success Stories

Aurora Crystals - Megan Paranich
Megan was a grade 12 student at J.A. Williams High School in Lac La Biche when she enrolled in the program. She was a busy high school student with an interest in holistic healing in relation to crystals. Megan has been making crystal jewelry for the past two years and during this time has studied under a local authority in gem jewelry. Megan has registered her business as a sole proprietorship under the trade name Aurora Crystals. Megan plans to incorporate and to build a website as her business grows.

Shay’s Gel’s – Shaylene Minalcheon

Shaylene was a grade 12 student at J.A. Williams High School in Lac La Biche when she enrolled in the program. She developed an interest in nail artistry while being employed at Kut n Kurl. For this reason Shaylene decided she would like to start a business to put her new passion to work. Shaylene successfully received a loan from Community Futures Lac La Biche and will be operating Shay’s Gel’s as a home based business and enrolling in Nail Artistry courses following high school. She graduated in June of 2010 and will be operating her business after high school. By graduating, she was able to successfully have her loan repaid on her behalf by the Ventures Program.

Zachary Wiebe

Zachary Wiebe was a Grade 10 student when he was accepted into the program. He has been producing his own music for approximately for 1 year. During this time he has worked with a few local producers who liked the sound of his work. Given his success, he has started his own studio to produce music. As a music producer his will compose, sequence, arrange, mix, master and finish instrumentals for artists. Zachary successfully received a loan from Community Futures Grande Prairie and Region and will be operating his business from home throughout his final years of high school.


Ventures Success

The Ventures Program saw three students successfully complete the Ventures program in its first year being offered across Northern Alberta. These students successfully completed the business plan and successfully received a Community Futures loan.

Success Stories

Aurora Crystals - Megan Paranich
Megan was a grade 12 student at J.A. Williams High School in Lac La Biche when she enrolled in the program. She was a busy high school student with an interest in holistic healing in relation to crystals. Megan has been making crystal jewelry for the past two years and during this time has studied under a local authority in gem jewelry. Megan has registered her business as a sole proprietorship under the trade name Aurora Crystals. Megan plans to incorporate and to build a website as her business grows.

Shay’s Gel’s – Shaylene Minalcheon

Shaylene was a grade 12 student at J.A. Williams High School in Lac La Biche when she enrolled in the program. She developed an interest in nail artistry while being employed at Kut n Kurl. For this reason Shaylene decided she would like to start a business to put her new passion to work. Shaylene successfully received a loan from Community Futures Lac La Biche and will be operating Shay’s Gel’s as a home based business and enrolling in Nail Artistry courses following high school. She graduated in June of 2010 and will be operating her business after high school. By graduating, she was able to successfully have her loan repaid on her behalf by the Ventures Program.

Zachary Wiebe

Zachary Wiebe was a Grade 10 student when he was accepted into the program. He has been producing his own music for approximately for 1 year. During this time he has worked with a few local producers who liked the sound of his work. Given his success, he has started his own studio to produce music. As a music producer his will compose, sequence, arrange, mix, master and finish instrumentals for artists. Zachary successfully received a loan from Community Futures Grande Prairie and Region and will be operating his business from home throughout his final years of high school.