Leaders Across America With Steve Acorn

On today's show, we talk to Charles Beck, a young leader who will share with us insightful details about his 5 years experience with Student Painters that started back in 2014. Currently, Charles owns his own painting business and he is also a Field Underwriter at Symmetry Financial Group. In today's show, you will find out when Charles heard about  Student Painters and what drew him into the prog...

On today's show, we talk to Ben Cummings, a Branch Manager at Student Painters back in 2012 who used what he learned in the program to start three different companies He is currently the CEO of Sales Rev, an organization that helps small businesses streamline and innovate how they do business as well as adopt the right technology stack for their needs. Before Sales Rev, he owned a video production...

On today's show, we talk to Laura Lawson EVP and Chief People Officer at United Wholesale Mortgage and elite company helping independent mortgage brokers deliver a far superior client experience than banks and retail lenders.  Additionally, they offer training, technology, marketing support, and more to help their partners compete, win, and grow their businesses. In this special episode, Laura is...

On today's show, we talk to Fernando Tenesaca, Senior Executive at YEAA, currently building the New England Team for Young Entrepreneurs Leadership Development Program for our 2022 Summer Internship opportunity. As a Senior Executive, Fernando is recruiting and interviewing candidates for the Branch Manager position from public and private institutions in the New England area and also mentoring st...

On today's show, we talk to John Gave, Managing Partner at The Metiss Group, a company that provides team development solutions, recruitment selection services, talent assessment, and EOS integrator recruitment. John's experience working with emerging companies through growth and performance initiatives enabled him to accelerate the company's growth. To help The Metiss Group and their clients crea...

On today's show, we talk to Mike Praeger, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at AvidXchange, a successful company that provides "AP" (accounts payable) automation software and payment solutions for middle-market businesses and their suppliers.  As a YEAA alumnus, Mike believes that the experience and skills he gained in our program contributed greatly to becoming who he is today - the owner of...

On today's show, we are joined by YEAA Vice-President Josh Drushel and Aaron Acorn who share with us the 4 keys to starting and managing a successful start-up business . Drawing from their combined experience of nearly three decades, Josh and Aaron share some of the biggest things that can help eighteen-year-olds manage a large painting business at YEAA (Young Entrepreneurs Across America).  You w...

On today's show, we talk to Galen Malthouse, a young leader from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. This is going to be a different kind of episode because Galen is not one of our alumni and he is not working for YEAA. He works with Scholars Edge, another company dedicated to empowering and developing the very best university students through business ownership. Galen is here...

On today's show, we talk to Anna Ostrowski, National Sales Onboarding and Training Manager at Henry Schein, an elite company that is always on the lookout for young talented professionals to be part of their worldwide team. It is going to be a special episode in which Anna is going to share important insights and the steps you can take as a young student to get the attention of an organization of...

On today's show, we talk to Abigail Jaqua, a recent internet of Young Entrepreneurs, who ran a business in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2021 and completed the internship with an incredible result, with an $80,000 business and profits over $17,000. In today's show, Abigail will talk about her experience with the YEAA internship and will give a roadmap of exactly what she did from the time training was ov...

On today's show, we talk to Abigail Jaqua, a recent internet of Young Entrepreneurs, who ran a business in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2021 and completed the internship with an incredible result, with an $80,000 business and profits over $17,000. In today's show, Abigail will talk about her experience with the YEAA internship and will give a roadmap of exactly what she did from the time training was ov...

On today's show, we talk to Peter Schanz, Sales Counselor at Fischer Homes and CEO of Seasonal Setter, a holiday decorating business he started in 2018 inspired by his experience with the Young Entrepreneurs Across America program.  Back in 2015, as a rookie branch manager with us, Peter did about $45,000 worth of business. After attending our internship, he believes he has advanced much further i...

On today's show, we talk to Jenna McBride, majoring in finance and entrepreneurship, with a big passion for the business field that includes sales, finance & marketing. Jenna is on her third internship year with Young Entrepreneurs Across America. She had an incredible preseason and in her rookie year, she did $121,000 in business. In today's show, Jenna will talk about her success in the program...

On today's show, we talk to Brian Marr, a successful entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in the commercial printing and marketing industry. As the owner and president of National Wholesale Printing Corp, Brian excels at establishing long-term relationships with clients and teams to meet their specific marketing needs. In this episode, you will discover how Brian started his printing busi...

On today's show, we talk to Brian Marr, a successful entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in the commercial printing and marketing industry. As the owner and president of National Wholesale Printing Corp, Brian excels at establishing long-term relationships with clients and teams to meet their specific marketing needs. In this episode, you will discover how Brian started his printing busi...

On today's show, we talk to Chandler Bolt, an investor, advisor, founder of Self-Publishing School & SelfPublishing.com, and author of six bestselling books. Chandler's journey to success started with the YEAA Program back in 2011. He was a branch manager and a regional manager and he won the Rookie Executive of the Year in 2012. In this episode, you will discover a little about Chandler's story a...

On today's show, we talk to Jon Gusanders who shares a fascinating, unique story with a powerful message about freedom and how to take control of your life at a young age. Jon was a rookie branch manager with the YEAA back in 2005 and he believes that the biggest lesson he took from our program is "to be able to wake up every day and have control over what you do and how you do it".  In this episo...

On today's show, we talk to Gabe Elias, a junior at Bridgewater State University who just finished his rookie branch manager year at the Young Entrepreneurs Across America program. He ran a $175,000 business and earned over 30,000 last summer as a sophomore, a life-changing experience that helped him grow personally, as well as professionally. In this episode, you will find out a little bit about...

On today's show, we talk to Gabe Elias, a junior at Bridgewater State University who just finished his rookie branch manager year at the Young Entrepreneurs Across America program. He ran a $175,000 business and earned over 30,000 last summer as a sophomore, a life-changing experience that helped him grow personally, as well as professionally. In this episode, you will find out a little bit about...

On today's show, we talk to Tyler Lajoie, a young entrepreneur with an inspiring vision and perspective on life, career, and success. In 2018, Tyler was the Manager of the Year in our program, he made over $100,000 in his first year and he came back in 2019 as an executive. Tyler has successfully run three different entrepreneurial ventures after graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amh...

On today's show, we talk to Tyler Lajoie, a young entrepreneur with an inspiring vision and perspective on life, career, and success. In 2018, Tyler was the Manager of the Year in our program, he made over $100,000 in his first year and he came back in 2019 as an executive. Tyler has successfully run three different entrepreneurial ventures after graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amh...

On today's show, we talk to Joe Lisa, an ambitious, hardworking and self-driven young leader with a passion for entrepreneurship, leadership, and creativity. He was an intern with us for three years from 2016 to 2018 and he cumulatively ran a $950,000 business and earned over 100 grand while he was in school. Joe studied Business Administration at Bowling Green State University, focusing on sales,...

On today's show, we talk to Nick Turnbull, Head of Manufacturing Execution at The Kraft Heinz Company. Previously, he was the Director of Quality and Operations at TurtleCell LLC, a company that he co-found in 2011. Nick was a YEAA intern back in 2010 and he stayed with Young Entrepreneurs for three years. He went to the University of Michigan and graduated with an engineering degree in mechanical...

On today's show, we talk to Joe Delia, CEO of the Infinity Group, Operating Principal at Keller Williams Paint Creek and Somerset and founder of the Delia Group.   Joe was a YEAA intern back in 2004 through 2008 and has since gone on to become a huge success in the real estate business, including over $100 million in the house selling space, over $157 million in the mortgage business, etc.   You'l...

On today's show, we talk to Sammy Lee who is a senior at Indiana University Bloomington. Thanks to his hard work and willingness to step out of his comfort zone, Sammy was able to run a $82,000 business with over $14,000 in profit and was awarded the Quality Award in Indiana for his team's excellent work.   His experience in the program paid off in ways he couldn't have imagined, as his successful...