Livestream of Speaker: Mike Barkley, Former CEO of KIND Snacks

Mike Barkley, the Former CEO of KIND snacks company, was able to convey an experience that not only shaped him as a person, but the company and logistics he was a part of. Through this experience, the speech Mr. Barkley conveyed brought forth the concepts of business management, in-depth experiences dealing with adversity, and the difference between establishing business portfolios and time management skills. Mr. Barkley was able to explain how his faith, that of the Jesuit tradition (Something I am familiar with having attended a Jesuit grade school ‘Gesu’),  was able to guide and manage itself into his company and commercial decisions.

Guest Speaker: Nolan Holland, Ph.D. Cleveland State University

Upon attending this guest speaker, Ph.D. Nolan Holland, I was skeptical about my own personal interests and abilities. Personally, I have never had a true interest in any form of medical or science field until the past few years of my high school experience. This being said, however, after learning of Mr. Holland’s experience and history at Cleveland State University, and his track record of educational/biomedical research, I was able to learn a great deal about the field of biomedical research and scientific study. This experience brought to life the inner workings of on-campus research and laboratories, as well as how the use of new scientific and technological equipment is constantly being updated and developed. Mr. Holland was able to bring forth the processes of how universities (Such as Cleveland State University), actively work with their students to create learning experiences, “not typically found,” across modern-day society. 

Guest Speaker: Mr. David Caranci - Disney Imagineer 

Personally, this has been the best live speaker experience I have ever attended during my time in the Vector Program. Through this hour-and-a-half zoom session, Disney Imagineer Mr. Caranci not only brought forth to life the inner workings of the Walt Disney Company but how his personal experiences in business and creative development propelled him to the position that he is currently in. Mr. Caranci’s life stories of constant failure and success demonstrated how the characteristics of optimism and perseverance can pave the way in the business world. From this experience, I learned what it was like to work for a company that projects its influence on millions of individuals daily, and how this company creates the “magical standard,” (As Caranci described it), for people young and old. This experience also taught me the importance of time management within an interconnected business setting, and marketing, and how the importance of communication within the workplace all play a role in creating an image the consumer is familiar with and intrigued with experiencing. 

Zoom Class: Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH)

The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) program was an opportunity offered by Gilmour Academy initially with the intent of gaining service hours. This experience, however, was able to include the root causes of homelessness within Cleveland and the United States as a whole, how people of different backgrounds experience and deal with homelessness/hardships daily, and what businesses and organizations such as NEOCH are doing to combat the global crisis. Through this zoom session (Which consisted of a 3-day 4-hour meeting), I was able to meet with people such as Latanya Burton and Jean Kosmac, both staff of the NEOCH community who deal with the concepts of homelessness on a daily basis. Not only were they able to share their knowledge on social justice within Ohio specifically, but how their non-profit company, NEOCH, actively works with other businesses all over Ohio in an effort to combat the crisis. From this experience, I was able to hear personal experiences and stories of how poverty affects those within the Northwest, and how the inner workings of nonprofits stay afloat, mainly after the effects of covid, and how NEOCH continues to stay interconnected with homeless groups across America.

Over the course of 3 hours, Gilmour Academy VECTOR students and I were able to tour, explore, and gain hands-on experience with modern mechanical devices and lessons. Through this experience, I was able to learn about the interconnected world of innovation, and how students who attend Case Western Reserve are able to put their ideas into reality. With this, my group and I were able to design objects such as laser-cut keychains and developed models of 3d printed designs. Overall, I enjoyed this experience for its hands-on lessons and the fun/innovative experience I was exposed to. 

While at a glance the elective, "Intro to Web Design," appears as a subject more in relation to computer engineering, the concepts explored over the last semester deal heavily with the topics of business and entrepreneurship. While yes, in this class I was taught the basic concepts of coding in programs such as Replit with HTML, I was also exposed to how businesses, from megacorporations to small enterprises, use and build websites that are engaging, creative, and user-friendly to draw in more commerce. In addition to this, and through another justification as to why this course deals with business and entrepreneurship, we would begin almost every class with what Mr. A would call, "Do Nows." Through these Do Nows, we would analyze various websites to identify their form, function, user-friendliness, and accessibility. Typically, sites the class found more "engaging," or "cool," in a sense, tended to perform better while selling their products. Through this class as well, I was also able to gain insight into Mr. A's hobbies and past. I was able to learn how he used coding and website building as an outlet to work with others, sell his designs to different companies, and also the possible steps I could take in the future toward working with Companys on a graphic design/website building level. Finally, through this class, and as another justification as to how this elective deals with the concepts of business and entrepreneurship, our, "Final," was to work with another student to design a website for a local business. My partner, Trevor Weltle, and I, worked on designing a website for Trevor's uncle, Matthew, a local contractor and owner of Weltle Building And Remodeling Co. based in Sandusky, Ohio. Not only did we reach out to Matthew to see what he specifically wanted and envisioned for his company's website, but Trevor and I gained a greater understanding of how the profession of contracting is conducted and worked in the modern world.

Throughout the course of part of the school day, some of my fellow classmates, peers, and Vector cohort members participated in a stock market simulation event. Through this experience, we were presented with a number of events, setbacks, and outcomes which affected the price of our stock, and future investments. Not only were we able to gain hands-on experience with the concept of buying, trading, and exchanging stocks, but we were also opened up to the wider possibility of how real-life events and actions can influence the minds of investors, and the stocks themselves. Additionally, in correlation with the challenge, my group (Liam C., Jilia G., and myself), placed first out of the rest of the teams, showing our understanding of the topics at play. 

Throughout this meeting with my cohort, which was spearheaded by Mrs. White, the VECTOR business and entrepreneurship advisor, I was not only informed of the future steps I need to take toward completing my VECTOR journey, but also was informed of future opportunities that I could experience. Through this cohort meeting, I was able to learn from other students about experiences they have gone through and how that has played a role within their future goals and aspirations. Finally, the biggest "takeaway," I would consider I had gained through this experience and the meeting was the future week-long business camp, LAB, which I could apply to attend this summer. This LAB (Learning About Business) camp, would be held at Lake Erie College during the beginning weeks of summer, giving me insight into the idea of business in the modern world. 

Over the course of three immersive yet complex days between the dates of November 18th to the 20th, I had the opportunity to participate in a thorough shadowing opportunity offered by the Jay Auto Group located within Bedford Ohio. Directed under the influence of my older brother, Douglas Hayslip, who holds the dual roles of Finance Manager and Client Advisor, I was able to gain direct insights focused towards the engaging fields of sales and regional management within the automotive industry.

Specifically under Douglas's mentorship and guidance, I witnessed the multiple responsibilities of an appointed Finance Manager, witnessing the complex yet interesting process of economic structuring and opportunity for vehicle purchases. Additionally, in viewing my older brother, I was able to view his ability to connect with customers to evaluate the concept of creditworthiness, negotiate profitable loan terms, and provide commitment towards financing regulations. With this, I also observed how the factors of insurance and extended warranties were discussed and essentially offered to customers, providing personal insight into what I could run into in my foreseeable future. In relation to my brother, I was able to truly view his commitment to compliance, a vital role that factors into the field of Finance management, essentially bringing to light the ability to traverse the sophistication of industry regulations.

Beyond the defined roles of "Finance Manager" and "Client Advisor," my exposure and time spent learning the importance of personal relationships and the intricacies of regional management was brought into a more focused view. I gained valuable insights and information regarding the commerce and movement of individual auto parts between different regional and national dealerships, emphasizing the connected nature of the automotive business. In addition to all this, this experience highlighted my future career interest in the study of International business. Through my brother, specifically, I was able to learn about the key role of international trade and shipping within the confines of the United States. By actively showing me certain policies that companies (Such as the Jay Auto Group) abide by when conducting international trade within the borders of the U.S., the transportation of auto parts across state and national borders emphasizes the importance of an efficient supply chain. With this understanding, I was able to effectively learn about the interconnectedness of the automotive industry on a global scale.

Douglas Hayslip Contact information:
- Phone: 440 232 5005 Ext. 3337

- Fax: 440 786 3367

- Direct/SMS: 440 703 8638

- Email: dhayslip@jayauto.com

- Website: JayAuto.com

Within the beginning of my study of the TransDigm Group Inc. founded by W. Nicholas Howley in 1993, my eyes were not only opened to the inner workings of the corporate world, but also how a mass cooperation, working on a national level, possesses roots within our own city of Cleveland Ohio. Through this experience, I was able to get in contact with Mr. Howley himself, to which he recommended I should listen/study the 50X Colossus Business podcast. Through this 4.5-hour long, 4-episode series, my understanding of how corporate dynamics, intersected by the business of aerospace engineering, plays a role within our modern-day society. Within the podcast's detailed analysis, specifically, the episodes featuring W. Nicholas Howley, the former CEO of TransDigm, the concept of the "aerospace components manufacturing sector," as well as the unraveling of the company's quote "intricate journey from its origins," was brought into greater fruition. 

Additionally, throughout the discussions within the confines of this 50X podcast, the topics of product innovation, as well as crisis management, were thoroughly considered and explained within the context of a truly global company. The podcast itself was not only able to shed light on the "strategic" and economic aspects of TransDigm Group, but also emphasized the role of connections which paved the way for the company's success. This experience offered a unique opportunity to learn about the complex world of aerospace engineering within a corporate landscape.

Link to the 50X podcast series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50x/id1633461254

During my immersive 2/3 day-long shadowing experience at Q-Lab Corporation, I had the valuable opportunity to learn and understand directly from industry experts like Andy Francis, Global Marketing Director, Chris Parks, Field Repair Technician, and Jean-Paul Riccio, Head of Sales. Throughout the time I was on-site, I was guided through a thorough tour of the company's facilities, viewing directly how Q-Lab's operations and business strategies are conducted. From observing how trade is conducted across international markets and individual countries to understanding the variety of international standards that qualify product "credentials," such as determining if a material is truly "waterproof," I gained a deep understanding of the elaborateness of the industry itself. In addition to all of this, I also had the liberty to interact with and observe the utilization of multiple weathering machines, viewing their abilities and functions in action. In addition to using machines such as "Q-Fog," and "Q-UV Tester," this experience allowed me to respect the complicated processes involved in material durability testing. In essence, my shadowing experience at Q-Lab was not only educational but also, surprisingly, inspiring, furthering my insight toward my own future career path in International Business.

Completed!!