 SUCCESS
STORIES
Brandon
Janke, Brandon Janke's Firewood
Business
is Heating Up!
 When
the snow is flying in January, and
it is –20 degrees and you are grabbing
that log to throw in the fireplace
or woodstove, you may not realize
the work involved in getting that
log to your house. If Brandon Janke
has his way, he wants to be the
individual who supplies you with
this natural source of heat.
Although
only going into Grade 10 at Fellowes
High School in Pembroke, Brandon
has the drive and dedication of
a veteran independent businessman.
Brandon grew up chopping wood for
his house, so the idea of a business
based on his history was a natural
idea. Brandon defies the stereotype
of the lazy teenager. He spends
an average 8 hours a day chopping
and sorting wood, and he also works
weekends. Although he has only been
in business for a few weeks, Brandon
has already secured some customers
for his pre-cut wood. Brandon’s
family lives just off Highway 41
in Pembroke, so he has easy access
to many customers in the county.
Brandon received a $1500 investment
from enterprise Renfrew County as
part of its commitment to helping
young people develop independent
businesses.
Prior to opening
up his own business, Brandon spent
the last few years working part-time
as tutor in the Kumon reading program.
But now Brandon is his own boss,
and loving it. As he pointed out,
“I get to make all the decisions
and nobody is around to tell me
what to do and when to do it. I
realize that I am responsible for
the success or failure of my new
business, but that is what makes
it so exciting.” In some ways, Brandon
is not your typical teenager…but
in some ways he is!
Brandon is one
of only seven students in Renfrew
County to successfully qualify for
the Enterprise Renfrew Business
Program. The competition is a program
of the Ontario Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade. It is organized
by Enterprise Renfrew County, a
non-profit governmental business
development agency funded by the
Ontario Government, the County of
Renfrew and the Town of Renfrew.
The Pembroke Campus of Algonquin
College is the major sponsor of
the 2004 Business Plan Competition.
Brandon can be reached 735-2263.
Read
First Success Story
Back
to Success Story Page
Back
to Summer Company Main Page
|
