FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mandy Mayberry

July 10, 2014 Director of Communications, Marketing & Recruiting

(580) 242-2750, Ext. 183

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS WORKSHOP AND COMPETITION

ENID, Okla. ¾ Northwest Oklahoma is famous for “growing its own” success stories and the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation conference at Autry ensures that tradition continues. In fact, many of today’s millionaires began their entrepreneurial quest before the age of 21. Facebook, Google, Groupon, Mozilla Firefox, just to name a few, were the ideas of young entrepreneurs who became successful and wealthy!

Autry Technology is offering a one-day workshop on Tuesday, July 15 from 9am to 3pm for those between the ages of 9 and 17. In an age of instant access to information via technology and growing numbers of workers needed in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (collectively referred to as STEM), today’s youth needs to be more than consumers, they need to be makers.

Participants will have the chance to learn about starting a business and developing an entrepreneurial mindset, as well as the opportunity to present their idea before a panel of judges. The “big idea” is simple: to encourage our youth to seek solutions to everyday problems, identify new areas of opportunity and offer contributions that advance society – in ways both silly and significant. Prizes will be awarded to each category recognizing idea creativity, chance of success, and presentation. Each participant will pitch their idea, much like the television show Shark Tank, on July 17 with winners being announced at 7:00pm. This workshop will include topics such as: Creativity and Idea Development, Entrepreneurial Skill Sets and Character, Finance and Budgeting, Marketing, Networking, and Concept Presentation.

Contributors include Encompass Financial Services, Inc., Enid Regional Development Alliance, The Sign Garden, and Koch Ag Industries. If seasoned entrepreneurs or area companies wish to get involved in Enid’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, there are opportunities to mentor start-ups and/or students, present at seminars, and donate funds. Grow Enid, Inc. has fundraising goals of approximately $40,000 each year, which are used to pay for specialized training opportunities and award seed capital through various competitions.

Autry Technology Center has been a part of the Enid community since 1967 and is one of 29 CareerTech schools across Oklahoma. The center has more than 25 career programs and offers a wide variety of evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications for many diverse career fields. Autry serves nearly 13,000 individuals each year, including many area employees who receive training through the Business and Industry Services Department that works with over 500 local businesses each year.

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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Mandy Mayberry at 580-242-2750 or e-mail Mandy at