EnterpriseU 2011 Winner GeekSpeak Inc. Establishes Bourbonnais Office

Aaron Rice of Geek Speak, Inc. at the Enterprise U 2012 press conference at KCC

Technology services and equipment provider GeekSpeak Inc., one of the top winners of the inaugural Kankakee County business plan competition EnterpriseU, is set to open its first commercial office at 263 N. Convent, Suite 1,  in Bourbonnais on June 1.

GeekSpeak, third place winner in the 2011 contest, will open its doors just weeks before the June 19 announcement of the 2012 EnterpriseU competition winners.

“How thrilling that as we approach the culmination of our second year of EnterpriseU, one of our inaugural winners has successfully taken an outstanding concept all the way through to opening day,” remarks Mike Van Mill, Economic Alliance of Kankakee County president and CEO. “Our hats are off to GeekSpeak and similar entrepreneurs throughout our county. They are truly the backbone of our economy.”

The brainchild of local IT specialists Aaron Rice, Richard Tran and Jeffrey Rice, GeekSpeak is a computer boutique specializing in computer repair, sales of trendy computer peripherals and accessories, and education. The shop will offer professional technology certification testing for Microsoft, Adobe, AutoCAD and QuickBooks, expanding in time to offer advanced professional certification tests. General classroom topics will include instruction in the Microsoft Office suite. A “Geek Kids Club” will engage area youth in science and technology projects.

“At GeekSpeak, we understand that people are using technology more and more every day,” explains Aaron Rice, “but we also hope to close the gap between how much people use technology and how much they know about how technology works.”

The company tagline: “We speak IT, so you don’t have to.”

“Our business is more than just selling and fixing computers,” adds Jeffrey Rice. “It’s about a life-long passion for science and technology. It’s a passion we want to share with our community through engaging education and imaginative science and technology activities for kids and their families.”

GeekSpeak’s brick-and-mortar storefront complements an established website, ShopGeekSpeak.com, and a social media presence.

As third-place winner in the 2011 EnterpriseU Kankakee County competition, GeekSpeak received a generous prize package, including startup capital, office space, and complimentary business products and services. GeekSpeak’s brand identity and website were created with the assistance of Holeshot Design Studio and LinkPoint Media, respectively.

“We’re thankful to EnterpriseU and those who sponsored the prize package we were awarded for the great help and support in getting to this point,” notes Richard Tran. “We now have a central base of operations and a visible presence in the community we wish to serve.”

GeekSpeak’s initial hours of operation will be 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday. EnterpriseU program partners will host a ribbon cutting and business after-hours to mark the opening of the new storefront in early June.

Aaron Rice has been involved in information technology for more than 10 years and has experience repairing various types of PCs, Macs and servers. He has certifications in information security (CISSP), bioinformatics (BINF) and project management candidate (PMP). Aaron has an MBA and loves taking grad classes for fun. He currently lives in Reddick with his wife, Sarah, and a new baby daughter.

Richard Tran earned his BA in computer science and MBA from Olivet Nazarene University, where he has been employed as an information technology systems support engineer for more than eight years. With extensive experience repairing printers as well as Mac and PC computers, Richard currently holds a CompTIA A+ and a Dell computer repair certification. He has also been involved in the management and hiring of technical personnel. Richard lives with his wife, Krista, in Kankakee.

Jeffrey Rice has had a life-long passion for science, technology and learning. Completing his BA in biology and his MBA, Jeff has worked in information technology for more than a decade. He specializes in information security, routing, switching and wireless technologies and has been active in designing and maintaining enterprise class networks. Jeff lives in Bradley with his wife, Sheila, and their toddler, Ellie.

The EnterpriseU Entrpreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition is a program of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, Kankakee Community College and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, supported by The Daily Journal, LinkPoint Media/Visible Ads, Momentum Momence, the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, WKAN, Kankakee Public Library, Kankakee Farmers’ Market, 5 Stone Marketing, Heritage Development & Construction, National Bank of St. Anne and Wayba Productions.

Semi-final business plan submission deadline for 2012 EnterpriseU contestants is May 30. Competition final presentations, which are open to the public, will take place Tuesday, June 19 at the Kankakee Public Library. Participants have been attending a customized small business training program administered by Kankakee Community College’s Small Business Development Center as well as professional networking events since March.

For more information about EnterpriseU, visit www.enterprise-u.com or phone 815-935-1177.

Enterprise U – Meet the Contestants!

Manteno Small Business Standouts             

Cohost EnterpriseU 2012 “Meet the Contestants”

KANKAKEE, IL – April 18, 2012 – EnterpriseU contestants and program sponsors joined Manteno Chamber of Commerce members today for a “Meet the Contestants” business after-hours, the second event in the EnterpriseU 2012 networking opportunity schedule. The event was cohosted by Manteno’s Rad Rides by Troy in conjunction with Pub at Midtown.

Local restaurateur Adam Baumgartner was slated to present to the group.

Attendees were introduced to this year’s EnterpriseU Entrepreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition participants, who, along with their business concepts, include:

• Elizabeth Benoit, Kankakee – Natural baby products
• Lenda Hunt, Buckingham – Specialized food service
• Bill Barnes, Bourbonnais – Traffic safety device
• Benjamin Vasquez, Monee – Electronics consignment
• Jeni Chaffer, Bourbonnais – Travel service
• Jacki Long, Manteno – Specialized personal care service
• Tina Gullquist & Jacki Long, Bourbonnais – Indoor dog park
• Nicole Pollock, Bourbonnais – Special event service
• Melanie Boehm, Kankakee – Aquaponics
• Jacob Carlisle, Bourbonnais – Architecture firm
• Emily Hay & Amanda Mazzarro, Bourbonnais – Recycled jewelry and home décor
• Timothy (TJ) Hoekstra Jr., Kankakee – Auto repair
• Cody Dekens, Bradley – Community service organization
• Ellen Rohlwing, Chebanse – Education tool
• Steven Beatty & Lauren Beatty, Kankakee – Sustainability project
• Jeff Yonke, Kankakee – New Age retailer

Contestants are attending a custom small business training program administered Kankakee Community College’s Small Business Development Center. Their completed business plans are due May 30, with live competition finals taking place June 19.

EnterpriseU is program of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, Kankakee Community College and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, supported by The Daily Journal, LinkPoint Media/Visible Ads, Momentum Momence, the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce, Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, WKAN, Kankakee Public Library, Kankakee Farmers’ Market, 5 Stone Marketing, Heritage Development & Construction, National Bank of St. Anne and Wayba Productions.

For more information, visit www.enterprise-u.com or phone 815-935-1177.

Economic Alliance of Kankakee County Opposes Dwight Correctional Closure

Economic Alliance President and CEO Mike Van Mill appeared before the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability April 4 in Dwight to register the Alliance’s opposition to the closure of Dwight Correctional Facility. The following letter was read for the record:

Dear Governor Quinn,

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee County wishes to go on record opposing the closing of the Dwight Correctional Facility. The Dwight facility’s economic influence covers a vast region including Grundy, LaSalle, Livingston and Kankakee Counties. The most recent employment data released by IDES shows the aggregate unemployment rate of the four counties at 11.1% compared to the State rate of 9.4%. Statewide, three of the four counties top the State’s unemployment list.

No doubt, the anticipated 629 jobs lost to the region will have dramatic and negative long lasting effects. Based upon a recent Northern Illinois University economic analysis of the closing, the region stands to lose over $28.1 million in direct and indirect employee compensation and $16.2 million in business sales and output.

As for Kankakee County, the impact is magnified. The February 2012 employment data shows Kankakee County to have the highest unemployment rate of any state MSA at 12.9%. According to Correction Facility records, 76 correctional employees, approximately one-quarter of all employees, reside in Kankakee County. The closing and loss of employment for our residents will compound an already devastating unemployment condition in Kankakee County.

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee respectfully requests the State of Illinois reconsider its announcement to close the Dwight Correctional Facility in order to maintain and stabilize a fragile and challenged economic region of Illinois.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Van Mill, AICP

President & CEO

Registration Opens for EnterpriseU Kankakee County 2012

Expanded Entrepreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition                                      accepting applications through March 16

KANKAKEE, IL – February 21, 2012 – The 2012 edition of “EnterpriseU,” Kankakee County’s dedicated boot camp and business plan competition for aspiring entrepreneurs, kicked off this morning with a press conference at Kankakee Community College. Prospective participants, the business community and contest sponsors gathered to learn about several program enhancements, including an increased prize package, and mark the official opening of the program’s registration period.

“We’re thrilled to mark National Entrepreneurship Week by sounding the call for EnterpriseU applications,” remarked Mike Van Mill of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, a premier EnterpriseU

sponsor. “The people of Kankakee County are filled with smart, fresh small business ideas. We’re ready to hear them all.”

Also speaking Tuesday were KCC President Dr. John Avendano, KCC Small Business Development Center Director Ken Crite, Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley Executive Director Rick Manuel, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Senior Account Manager Dr. Ed Piatt and 2011 EnterpriseU third-place finisher GeekSpeak Inc.