Media Releases

Girls Minding Their Business
Teen Girl Scouts Become Business Women

Media Contact:
Ann Marie van den Hurk, APR
302-456-7170
avandenhurk@cbgsc.org

Newark, DE, November 5, 2005:  What’s the most important tool in being a successful business owner? According to Chris Sopa of Chris Sopa International is attitude. She told that to over 15 girls attending the program Mind Your Own Business.  Mind Your Own Business is a program designed to expose teen Girl Scouts to the world of business by being business women themselves which started on Saturday, November 5.

Teen Girl Scouts interacted with eight women business owners from diverse businesses such as Karin Berd of Brandywine Packaging to Karen Randolph of KRC Waste Management. The teens were given the basics as to how to start their businesses from writing a business plan to selecting a product/service to creating advertising to actually selling their product.

“I felt it was important to get involved with Mind Your Own Business,” said Regina Mancini, Valic Financial Advisors and chair of the event, “because it is helping them become future leaders and independent women.”

“I want them to know they can run their own business.” said Sandy Slemko, The Right Connection, “I want to share my passion for business.”

These teen Girl Scouts participating in the program are completing requirements for their Sliver Award which is leadership/service award; it is the highest achievement a teen Girl Scout aged 11-14 can earn.

“I really like Girl Scouts … I’m here for fun… and to learn about business,” said Samantha Keulmann, age 13, “I want to earn my Silver Award which is to benefit animals or the Roland McDonald House and this is going to help me.”

Toby Carter, age 13 said, “Candles… that is what the business is”

The program will finish with the teen entrepreneurs holding an open to the public market place on January 28, 2006 to put their knowledge into action. Funds raised will go to specific projects of the girls such as their Silver Award and community service endeavors.

The program started in January 2005 with local female business owners as well as assistance of the Small Business Administration offering advice and support to the teens and was very successful with over 30 teens starting own businesses. This is the second Mind Your Own Business program.

Girl Scouting builds girls of confidence, courage, and character, who make the world a better place. We do that by providing girls with personal leadership development and programs that build real life skills for the real world. To learn more about Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council, visit www.girlscoutschesapeakebay.org.

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