Green Pest Solutions Owner and President Matt Jesson talked to students about entrepreneurship.
Green Lawn Fertilizing and Green Pest Solutions in West Chester, Pa., gave students from Chester County Futures’ Futures Ahead program a better understanding of what it takes to start and run a business.
Futures Ahead uses enrichment camps at local companies or schools to help encourage low-income middle school students to pursue higher education. It is part of the Chester County Futures poverty prevention program that provides academic mentoring and scholarship support to disadvantaged children in Chester County.
More than 50 middle school students participated in the event, which was held at the company’s West Chester office on Nov. 3. They learned how a local pest control and lawn care service operates as they broke into groups led by Green Lawn Fertilizing employees, Chester Valley Futures volunteers and West Chester University students.
Later, employees manned stations where they explained their areas of expertise to the children. Pest General Manager Adam Granito explained how Green Pest Solutions operates, Chris Dejohn demonstrated how to use some of the lawn equipment, Alex Wolfington showed off the sales office, Kelly Zynn discussed customer service and Ben Schloss presented the marketing channels the company uses to attract new business.
Green Lawn Fertilizing Owner and President Matt Jesson then spoke to the students about the challenges of starting a business. He shared the three keys to building a successful business: build a business plan, recruit the best people and never stop learning.
“I don’t care if you are 80 years old or in the 6th grade, the most successful people are lifelong learners,” he said.
The students then gathered in four groups to brainstorm ideas for start-up companies. The developed plans for plans for a 24-hour taco restaurant, a cell phone case that becomes a secondary screen, an after-school video game entertainment center, and a pet care/walking company. They created company names, tag lines, and what details about each company’s services. Green Lawn Fertilizing management employees answered their questions about finance, marketing, human resources, sales, and customer service. The students then incorporated what they learned into their businesses.
Green Lawn Fertilizing and Green Pest Solutions is an independently owned lawn and pest control company that was founded in 2004. In 2014, it received the “Best of Philly” award, which is considered the recognized mark of excellence in the Philadelphia tri-state area.
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