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From "Future CEO Stars" Magazine - November 2007 by Kacey Tweeten 
Kacey Tweeten
I first participated in Marketplace for Kids when my sister was learning how to turn on all the lights and I was the lucky one who had to run after her and shut them off. Like any older sister I got tired of it, so I started Kid's Lights Out, a little contraption to Velcro onto the switch with a handle attached so she had to do it herself! This idea opened a dozen more for me; I wanted to be the next person to invent the Post-It note!! Really, imagine the money that a person made! Later on I realized I could use what I learned in the "Kids" program and apply it to a real life business. Today, I'm a veterinarian in a rural west Texas town with a booming practice concentrating on equine surgery. While in vet school, I took a business class which focused on organizing a plan to start my own practice someday. I submitted my plan to the Marketplace BOSS Business Plan Competition and received first place for my efforts. During the competition I made contacts with people who make a living helping young entrepreneurs get started, individuals I will recruit to help me make my business plan and dream a reality. Between this class and things I've learned in my first three months since graduation, I'm comfortable taking this plan to a small community in North Dakota and starting my own clinic. Since the competition, I've made contact with communities in North Dakota who are interested in my plan and are willing to partner with me. As with any venture, I'm facing hurdles along the way such as the needed start up capital and experience in running a successful business. I'm taking steps to overcome these hurdles not only by practicing my trade, but also by taking notes and gaining valuable experience. One of the most valuable lesson I learned was through the Marketplace BOSS Business Plan Competition. To compete, you must have the ability to put together a feasible, well though out business plan and be able to present that plan to potential investors with confidence. By doing this, I received valuable feedback on how I can improve my plan, as well as the judges' insights and opinions of my work. That's what is helping me today to continue working towards my goal. I'm beyond excited when I think of the opportunities that are out there for younger people. I want to live in rural western North Dakota and practice equine medicine. At 27 years old, I have a solid, feasible business plan to carry that out. I have the deepest appreciation for Marketplace and Marketplace for Kids. With their help and support I've come a long way from Kid's Lights Out. 
Kacey Tweeten with ND Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson and US Senator Kent Conrad
The Marketplace BOSS Business Plan Competition is held in conjunction with North Dakota's Marketplace for Entrepreneurs. The competition seeks to encourage the nation's best and brightest, to help "North Dakota Grow from Within," by starting a new business or considering self-employment as a viable career option. For more information, log onto www.MarketplaceForEntrepreneurs.org. |