The Central Texas College (CTC) Enactus team earned first runner-up honors in the semi-finals of the Enactus National Exposition which placed the local team in the top five in the nation among all Enactus teams. The national competition was held recently in Kansas City, MO and featured 153 regional Enactus champion teams – 19 two-year schools and 134 four-year universities. The teams were judged on the entrepreneurial projects completed during the year and the impact on their local communities.

During the national competition, CTC Enactus earned first place in the Wal-Mart Women’s Empowerment Grant and received $6,000. The team captured first place in the Sam’s Club Step Up for Small Business Grant to win another $6,000. CTC also won first place and $2,000 in the Spirit Award competition and won $1,000 for placing in the top eight in the nation for the Campbell’s Let’s Can Hunger Grant.

CTC Enactus team finished ahead of seven four-year universities to win the opening round of the competition. The team advanced to win first runner-up in the semifinal round against four other four-year schools and earned $2,000 and a trophy. As the semifinal first runner-up, CTC Enactus finished the national competition in the top five among the competing teams and the more than 535 college and university Enactus teams across the country.

Much like the regional competition, each Enactus team must submit a written annual report and make a live audiovisual presentation detailing the results of their community outreach projects to a panel of judges comprised of area business leaders. Following an intense question-and-answer session with the judges, the teams are then evaluated based on how successful they were at using business concepts to improve the quality of life and standard of living for its community.

The CTC presentation focused on four of the group’s main projects this past year: Operation Upgrade, Operation Step-Up, Operation “I” Serve Too and Operation Liquid Gold.

Operation Upgrade offered weekly job readiness and personal development training for low income, welfare recipients, veterans and military spouses who are unemployed. As a result, 69 central Texans were trained, 26 obtained employment, 15 enrolled in GED or college this year and 422 took their skills to job fairs where they were able to land a job.

Through Operation Step-Up, Enactus members assisted two local businesses achieve success through improved business practices. The Fins and Flowers Pet Shop in Copperas Cove received a total makeover which included new marketing and advertising strategies, business plan a new inventory tracking system, customer service training and a store remodel. The end result was a new name (Out of the Cage Pet Store), increased sales of 50 percent, increased profits of 281 percent and the business has lowered its credit debt by $5,000. The second business, Michelle’s Flowers and Gifts was able to open a second location in the main Post Exchange on Fort Hood and has increased its sales and customer base.

Military spouses were the target in Operation “I” Serve Too as Enactus members provided entrepreneurial mentoring to help military spouses start a small business. A week-long “Be Your Own Boss” seminar was held in which 37 military spouses created a business concept and learned to develop a business plan. The top three were chosen and given a $1,000 grant to start their business. After seven months of mentoring and skills training, accounting practices, product placement, pricing strategies, Internet strategies and marketing plan development, Diaper Baby Dolls is now generating $200 a month income. Old Fashion Portraits earn a monthly income of $800 and Jessica’s Classy Crafts generates an income of $900 a month.

CTC Enactus initiated Operation Liquid Gold to help the City of Killeen and other businesses cope with the problem of proper disposal and recycling of fats, oils and grease. The team developed a proposal for the City of Killeen to implement a used cooking oil program and educated 130,000 residents on reducing, reusing and recycling used cooking oil. Disposal containers were placed at the Killeen Recycling Center, various low-income residential areas, three apartment complexes and five local businesses. The project will save Killeen an estimated $429,000 in the next three years in maintenance and clogged sewer pipes should be reduced from 75 to 25 percent. The Killeen city council signed and approved the proposal this past week.

CTC was represented at the Enactus Nation Exposition by David Netherwood, president; Frank Fitzgerald, vice president; Jasmin Ramos, director of team management; Taryn Ellis, operation executive director; Alvin Perry, operation executive director; Artia Perry, operation executive director; and Melissa Wise, secretary and computer technician.