Raising Entrepreneurs

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Two Wisconsin high school seniors have been named “Young Entrepreneurs of the Year” by the Department of Commerce and the Department of Public Instruction. The pair, Caleb Taplin of Ellsworth High School and Tanner Strunz of Brodhead High School, were recognized during National Entrepreneurship Week USA, February 21 – 28, 2009.

“I am delighted to announce the winners of this honor,” said Commerce Secretary Richard J. Leinenkugel. “Caleb and Tanner are both great examples of Wisconsin’s best and brightest young entrepreneurial spirit. Wisconsin’s economic future depends on the discipline and desire that these young entrepreneurs possess.”

“As Caleb and Tanner know, successful entrepreneurs use 21st century skills like self-direction, financial literacy, communication, and creativity,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “Congratulations to our 2009 Young Entrepreneurs for developing abilities that will continue to contribute to their own well-being and that of our society, for years to come.”

Taplin, of Ellsworth, is involved in the design of a line of clothing in operating Clarity Clothing. Strunz, of Brodhead, is the owner of Strunz Lawn Care, which provides lawn care, snow plowing and tree removal. They will each receive a recognition plaque signed by Governor Jim Doyle, as well as a free business counseling session through a Wisconsin Small Business Development Center near them, and an opportunity to receive business mentorship.

Strunz, who is now a 17-year-old owner of his own business, was a bored kid in the summer of 2006. “My uncle asked me if I’d like to mow his lawn to make some money. I used a push mower and made a little cash and I liked it.”

By the next summer, he had six yards to mow and decided to add snow removal for all of those clients. Last year he took steps to grow his business. “I decided I needed to get my name out there. Dad said he sees other lawn care businesses with sweatshirts and T-shirts, so I had some of those made and got business cards and did some advertising,” he said.

His clientele more than doubled and he added some commercial clients, including a local bank and car dealership with 2 acres in need of snow clearing. He also added several clients over the state line into Illinois. One of those homes is in a gated community where he’s meeting with management and may add five to eight yards to his to-do list.

Tanner said he’s done most of the work himself to this point, just hiring a few friends to help out when he wanted a vacation. But with the work he’s lined up for next year, he plans on taking on an employee, one of his best friends who has done some work with him in the past.

When he started Strunz Lawn Care, he drove to his clients’ homes on the lawn tractor, towing his push mower on a small custom trailer, since he didn’t have his driver’s license. Now he can drive his pickup truck and tow the new lawn tractor he purchased.

Read the full story in Wisfarmer.