Entrepreneurs Share Success Stories

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Three Morrisville State College alumni and a current student were among presenters at Morrisville State College?s first Entrepreneur?s Jam. Pictured, from left are:?Kimani Smith, Kathryn Hunt, Paul Farnham, and Karl Driesel.

Morrisville State College news

By Franci Valenzano

(Morrisville, NY) When Karl Driesel was turned down for a bank loan to help start up his own custom woodworking business, he refused to close the door on his idea.

The aspiring entrepreneur hit the streets and wouldn?t stop applying for loans, despite the number of times he was denied.

?It was a struggle to get financing,? said the graduate of Morrisville State College?s wood technology associate degree and entrepreneurship and small business management bachelor degree programs. ?I had zero debt. Everyone told me I had great credit, but I didn?t have the credit history.?

Driesel eventually secured a small loan, which when combined with money he?d saved working three jobs through college, helped him start up KDI (Karl Driesel Incorporated) Woodworking, in Kent.

Like his company, his projects started out small. He made a church mailbox, crafted poker tables, built a front porch, then moved on to larger projects like designing an entire hickory kitchen. Later, he reconstructed an elaborate judge?s bench for the Town of Kendall?s Courtroom.

As his one-room shop expanded to include a paint booth and a warehouse, so did dreams for the 25-year-old entrepreneur who launched his business while he was still obtaining his entrepreneurship degree.

Driesel was among five young, local entrepreneurs who shared their business success stories during Morrisville State College?s first Entrepreneur?s Jam held in the STUAC Little Theatre.

?Entrepreneur?s Jam is a day of celebration and learning for the field,? Cydney Johnson, assistant professor, School of Business, said. ?It?s a great event for the college?s entrepreneurship program and it also aligns with our mission for entrepreneurship and community engagement.?

Dr. David Rogers, provost and chief operating officer at Morrisville State College, noted the numerous students and graduates he has seen go on to start their own businesses.

?The success of our program is evident in the success of our students,? he said as he looked at the budding entrepreneurs that filled the room. ?This event is all about promoting the true spirit of entrepreneurialism.?

Entrepreneurs who shared their stories were:

Kimani Smith, of Manlius, sales agent at Pyramid Brokerage Co., Paul Farnham, of McDonough, owner of In Motion Designs, Inc., Karl Driesel, of Kent, owner/artisan, KDI Woodworking, Kathryn Hunt, of East Northport, owner of Fashion Geek for Hire and?iKat Gear,? and Carrie Blackmore, co-owner of Good Nature Brewing Inc., in Hamilton.

During the jam, Blackmore, whose nano-brewery with co-owner Matt Whalen opened in January, talked about leasing, different factors with sourcing locally, and utilizing community resources.

?Use as many resources as possible to help you,? she said. ?Reach out in the community and take advantage of the support groups and programs already out there.?

Franci Valenzano, Public Relations Associate and photo by Nicolas Murphy, marketing assistant, Morrisville State College

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