1. Teen Entrepreneur Academy
2015 Year in Review
More than 100 teenagers from six states and
four countries (China, France, Singapore, and
Canada) reported for “work” in July during the
fourth annual Teen Entrepreneur Academy (TEA),
hosted by Concordia University Irvine’s School of
Business.
The week-long international business start-up
program helps high school students who are
interested in starting their own businesses or
learning the principles of entrepreneurship. The
students lived on campus for the week (arriving
on Sunday, 7/12 and leaving Saturday, 7/18)
while learning basic business principles and how
to start their own businesses. The capstone of
the week-long training was the business plan
competition (generously sponsored by Citi) where
all students were put into teams of four each.
Twenty-five teams were given just eight minutes
and presented a 12-slide investor PowerPoint
presentation to a panel CEOs and entrepreneur
judges hoping to win the $1,000 first place cash
prize.
The TEA week culminated with the Citi Business
Plan Competition on Friday, July 17. Each team
was mentored and coached during the week by
local business owners and entrepreneurs. Over
30 business mentors assisted the teens on their
plans.
(Continued on page 2)
Irvine Teens Win 4th International Citi Business Plan Competition
Citi Business Plan
Competition
Winning Team
“85% of
America’s
teenagers
wish they had
more business
education in
high school;
75% indicated
they wanted
to learn to
start their
own
business.“
Gallup 2011
Stephen D. Christensen with 1st place team (left to right), Katherine Wong, Beckman High School, Natasha Takahashi,
Woodbridge High School, Tony Hsu, Woodbridge High School and Lisa Deloney, Southern CA Division President, Citibank.
TEA 4 - year Growth
Distinguished Judges with Winning Team
(Left to right: Arthur Carter, Joseph Hensley,
Lisa Deloney, Rosario Marin, Hugh Hughes,
Lorna Wise, Sunil “Sunny” Tolani,
Bill Osland, Charles Zhang, Peter Meyers,
Kim Kovacs, Stephen Christensen)

2. Business Plan Competition
(continued from page 1)
The top three teams (ENESi,
Ride Pool and Treasure Chest)
presented their business plans on
Friday evening. The distinguished
CEO judges (including the 41st
Treasurer of the United States,
Rosario Marin) then selected the
winner, ENESi. The team was
mentored by Laura Green, Vice
President of Community Bank. That
team was awarded $1,000 for first
place, Treasure Chest $500 for sec-
ond and Ride Pool $300 for third.
“The Teen Entrepreneur Academy is about helping teenagers
succeed in business, education and life,” explained TEA founder
and Concordia’s business school dean Stephen Christensen.
Throughout the week, students received hands-on training and
real-world experiences. The teens were coached and mentored
by entrepreneurs and business leaders.
They discussed:
• Business models
• Customer profiles
• Unique selling propositions
• Product features and benefits
• Marketing strategies
• Financial projections
• Cost of goods and services
• Consumer needs
• How to identify business opportunities
• The characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
The students incorporated these principles into their business
plan presentation for the Citi Business Plan Competition. “we
are developing the entrepreneurial mindset in teens, a mindset
of seeing problems as opportunities, looking for innovation,
creativity, critical thinking,
teamwork and problem
solving skills. This is key
for future job creators and
employers. “
2
2015 Participant Wins US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Championship
This past summer (July), Karina Gonzalez, now a senior at Century High School in Santa Ana was one of 100 high school students
who attended the week-long Teen Entrepreneur Academy (TEA). She learned about starting a business and writing a business plan.
Following her summer academy experience, she was nominated by her teacher at Century High, Alan Gersten for the US Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) BizFest Youth Entrepreneurship Program. She was selected to participate in the program in
Houston, Texas held in September. During the course of the BiFest program, students developed a business plan and competed for
the best plan. Karina’s business plan presentation won 1st place and a $5,000 scholarship in the National Bizfest Competition. She
is now a National Business Plan Champion.
BizFest is a signature program of the USHCC Foundation. The BizFest curriculum focuses on two critical components – leadership
development and entrepreneurship training. It is a three-day workshop that empowers youth with knowledge and insight into the
world of business.
Karina said, “Sweat slithered down my forehead, my teeth chattered
as the airplane captain called for take-off. Who would have thought
that I Karina Gonzalez from the small city of Santa Ana would be flown
on an all-expense paid trip to Houston, Texas to compete in a national
business plan competition?” Her business plan idea for “Solar-Tek”, a
virtual enterprise company from Century High School, seemed all but
a dream until then. “I presented Solar-Tek to very important people. It
was such an honor receiving 1st place and a $5,000 scholarship in the
National Bizfest Competition. I am thankful to my teacher Alan Gersten
as well as the Teen Entrepreneur Academy, hosted by Concordia’s
business school dean Mr. Christensen. The TEA summer entrepreneur
academy at Concordia University really gave me the head start and
guidance on selecting the business I presented. TEA set the foundation
of what Solar-Tek has now become.”
Second Place Team
The Treasure Chest
Third Place Team
Ride Pool
James “Jim” Mazzo, Chairman & CEO,
AcuFocus, a guest speaker for the
TEA program, advises student Natasha
Takahashi about her business plan,
which took first place.
Stephen Christensen, Karina Gonzales & Alan Gersten

3. Corporate Sponsors & Donors July 12-18 2015
3
The School of Business at Concordia University Irvine presented
a brand new program this year, the Kid Entrepreneur Academy
(KEA) Summer Business Day Camp. Open to grades 5, 6, 7 and 8.
KEA inspires students to create real businesses and realize a profit.
The KEA has five educational goals:
1. Teach students the relevancy of entrepreneurship
2. Develop an entrepreneurial mindset while connecting their world to
the world around them
3. Provide students with the psychological benefits of ownership and
empowerment so that vital business and life skills emerge
4. Enable students to start exploring possible career options; and
5. To show kids how their core academic learning applies to the world
around them. www.cui.edu/kea
It’s never too early to teach kids business and positive values. Positive
and productive kids become positive and productive adults.
Concordia’s
Kid
Entrepreneur
Academy
(KEA) is
ccomitted to
developing
the leaders of
tomorrow.
Kid Entrepreneur Academy (KEA)
KEA Class of 2015
TEA Class of 2015
Gold Sponsor
Citi: Citi Business Plan Competition
Bronze Sponsors
Experian
Kay Family Foundation
US Bank
Wells Fargo
Business Investors
Broadview Mortgage, David Leichtfuss
Comerica
Business Partners
Stephanie Allyn
Asian Woman Entrepreneurs (AWE)
Broughton Hotels, Larry Broughton
California Bank & Trust
ClearingHouse (CDFI)
Community Bank
Crevier Classic Cars, LLC
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Terry & Sharon Hartshorn
David and Jan Holder
HighTower/ The Bahnsen Group
Keithly Seed Company
Kit Kat Clock/Woody Young
Orange County Employees Association
Orange County Navy League
Kris & Jim Vitale’92
David and Mable Wheeler
UPS
Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
Charlie Zhang
Friends
Robert & Ruth Bein
Barrington Investments, Rick Roethke
Mike Danzi
Dr. Martin Eaton
Fredericks Benefits, Bob Fredericks
Risk Management Association (RMA)
Bob and Susan Odle
Mark Polito
It is truly an honor and privilege to recognize and express our heartfelt thanks to these generous donors whose
gifts positively impacted the lives of high school students who aspire to become entrepreneurs.

4. Partners and Sponsors
The 2015 TEA program was sold out with 104 teens. Those interested in attending the 2016 TEA, (July 24-30, 2016) or would like
more information, visit www.cui.edu/tea or email stephen.christensen@cui.edu or call 949-214-3198.
TEEN Entrepreneur Academy (TEA)
July 24 - 30, 2016
Register Now
www.cui.edu/tea
KID Entrepreneur Academy (KEA)
July 25 - 29, 2016
www.cui.edu/kea
Isabella Martinez attended the 2015 TEA program on a full scholarship
and presented a business plan for a new non-profit that offered an
innovative training program for teaching social media to senior
citizens. She took what she learned at TEA and applied for and was
awarded a national "Summer of Creativity" grant from Youth Services
of America (Washington D.C.). She used the funding to take her TEA
non-profit business plan and followed through to create a non-profit.
Isabella said, "I went to the Teen Entrepreneur Academy at Concordia
University Irvine and I had to work with a group. I had an idea, kind of
a relative idea of what to do and I had an idea of helping seniors learn
how to use the Internet and how to use social media. My plan was
crystallized at the TEA program and now it's a reality."
Teen Wins National Grant, Launches Non-Profit
Isabella Martinez - www.Net4seniors.org