Sally Snyder, President of JA of West Virginia

May 24, 2011

"A lot of people start business not knowing anything about business," Sally Snyder told Putnam Rotarians today. " All they have is a great idea and a lot of hope. They don't have a business plan or any idea what to do after that."

Junior Achievement wants to change that, she said.

As President of JA of West Virginia, Snyder manages a cadre of volunteers from the business community in practical financial education experiences to young people across the state and in five counties in eastern Kentucky.

Job-shadowing programs often take students into the workplace to see firsthand what happens on the job."We work with the teacher in the classroom," said Snyder.

In the "company program," which has operated in Putnam schools for several years, business people help students design a company, produce goods or services, and market them.

Through the Chamber of Commerce education committee's annual business symposium, banks and other businesses work with groups in the high schools. Each group sells stock to raise money to start their businesses. They elect officers. They set up a business plan to develop and market a product.

Kevin P. Adkins (left) is welcomed by Rotary President Mike Herron.

"A group of kids from each one of your high schools put together a company, worked with a local banker as their mentor, and then came up with a product. One group bought t-shirts from a company that went out of business.They gave them their money, but they didn't have a product, so they had to start over again. Very discouraging, but a very good true life lesson.

"Another group bought lanyards, put their school name on them and sold them. Made about $1,500! And they donated the proceeds to your animal shelter."

Business volunteers are the backbone of Junior Achievement, said Snyder. "We look to business people in the community to go into the school and teach our program."

JA now has over 23 programs for classes from kindergarten through high school. Sequential programs in the elementary grades proceed from ourselves -- what I want may be different from what I need -- to our families, our community, our city, our region and our nation.

Business success comes from a foundation of financial literacy, job readiness and entrepreneurshiip. "We try to start young," Snyder said, "to build habits that will bring them into the work force with a clear mind about how do I make money, how do I save money, and what's the best way to spend it.

All JA programs meet state standards. The teacher and the volunteer each receive a guidebook which includes lesson plans, and ideas on use of the materials. "Many of the programs are social-studies based, because [economic literacy] is good citizenship."