Cover Story: "E-Day" Winners
Entrepreneurial Success
Recognizing the region's visionaries

By Steve Patterson, Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly Magazine
Winter 2007

The following is an excerpt from the above article...

Because big business gobbles up most of the headlines and attention, area leaders take the time to make note of and honor those small-business leaders helping to make Northwest Indiana's economy all that it is today.

"We honor those who have staying power, who have created jobs and who've been creative," says Sue Anderson, organizer of the annual Entrepreneurial Success Awards, sponsored for more than 20 years by the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center. "We have a seven-person committee that reviews all of the nominations, and they really wrestle with it before they come to a decision on the winners."

Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
Brandon L. Griffin

The time of day largely dictates what hat you'll find Brandon Griffin wearing. Student at Gary's West Side High School, magazine publisher, Old Navy associate, online web developer, teenager hanging out with his friends, motivational speaker - take your pick, Griffin is 17 and wears each hat with ease.

His father, Edward Griffin, recognized his son's interest in business at an early age and got him involved with a computer class at Indiana University Northwest. He also nominated him for this award.

All these years later, Brandon has helped companies develop better web sites. He's also launched FyeBye Magazine - "For Young Entrepreneurs...By Young Entrepreneurs," targeting those, like him, who are under 21 and interested in business. And all of that experience at such a young age has prompted requests for speeches to other young people, with hopes he'll inspire others.

"All of my companies, my efforts, are successful and continuing to grow," he says. In the fall, he'll be off to college, with plans to major in journalism and business, but he's going to continue juggling his various ventures, all listed at www.ContactBrandon.com. "To be a success, you have to make a lot of sacrifices, be really determined and give a lot of your personal self," he says. "I'm able to do all that because I like what I do."

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Empowering black male youths
GARY: First conference focuses on building entrepreneurs
From Sunday, January 21, 2007
BY MELISSA BATKA
Times Correspondent

GARY | Brandon Griffin is an accomplished entrepreneur.

The Gary resident and West Side High School senior is the president and founder of Quality Web Solutions, a business he started when he was just 12. At 13, he began a second business called For Young Entrepreneurs By Young Entrepreneurs, a Web site and magazine where other young people could learn how to start their own businesses.

On Saturday, 17-year-old Griffin sat on a panel at Indiana University Northwest and shared his personal stories of struggle and success. He was taking part in the first National Conference on Entrepreneurship in the Black Community.

"We are trying to empower the young people of Gary to live out their dreams and inspire them to do more in life," he said.

The free event was co-sponsored by the Kenneth Allen Foundation for Entrepreneurship Inc. and the African American Achievers Youth Corps Inc. The Youth Corps is a male-only organization.

The young men who attended Saturday's conference were encouraged to set goals, take action and refuse to succumb to the negativity of their environments. While the event was open to the public, males ages 6 to 12 were strongly encouraged to attend.

"Young people can control the things they input," said Vernon Smith, board chair for the Youth Corps. "They just have to refuse to input the negative."

And that is exactly what Adolph Taylor Jr. plans to do.

"I am going to be a lawyer," said Taylor, a freshman at Merrillville High School.

Taylor said he knows the path to his dream won't be easy, but the solution is simple.

"I am not going to let anyone stand in my way," he said. "I am not going to let anyone hold me down."

The Youth Corps meets weekly and holds similar workshops and programs for black male youths ages 6 to 12. Adult male memberships also are available for high school students, and the organization provides tutoring services and counseling.

For more information about the group, call (219) 980-7120.

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Youth conference on entrepreneurship
Public invited to IUN event Saturday
From Friday, January 19, 2007

GARY | African American Achievers, Inc. and the Kenneth Allen Foundation For Entrepreneurship, Inc. will join forces Saturday to sponsor the first National Conference on Entrepreneurship in the Black Community.

The conference will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday in Room 219 of Hawthorn Hall on the Indiana University Northwest campus, 3400 Broadway. Others collaborators are Above and Beyond Limousine Service, Bridgeforth Communications and Quality Web Solutions.

According to Vernon G. Smith, AAYC Board chair, the presenters will be Kenneth “Biznessman” Allen, David Bridgeforth and Brandon Griffin. Allen a graduate of Roosevelt High School and founder and chief executive director of KAFFE Inc., which focuses on providing an alternative learning entrepreneurship program for low-income, prior and current offenders, and academically challenged youth. Allen was named Indiana Black Expo’s 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Bridgeforth, an Indianapolis native, has been described as one of the premier young speakers today, having been mentored by well-known motivator and author Les Brown.

Griffin is a student at Gary’s West Side High School and is the president of Quality Web Solutions and FYE BYE magazine. Griffin received the 2006 Indiana Black Expo Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The conference is free and open to the public. Smith encourages parents who have sons in sixth- through 12th-grade to attend with their sons.

The African American Achievers Youth Corps is open to males in sixth- through 12th-grade. If interested, call Smith at (219) 887-2046.

- For The Times

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Radisson Star Plaza
October 26, 2006

The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center
and the Executive Committee of the Northwest Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards
Program present The Entrepreneurial Excellence Luncheon to recognize the
entrepreneurs of Northwest Indiana and the impact they have made in the
regions development.

Congratulations to Brandon L. Griffin,
2006 SBDC Young Entrepreneur Award

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Community college recognizes innovators who follow dreams
October 19, 2006
BY CAROLINA PROCTER Post-Tribune

To Richard Marrell, innovation is one of society's greatest allies.

"It's the basis of progress," said Marrell, himself an innovator as owner of RLM Tissue Bank Prosthetics in Valparaiso. "If you have a non-innovative society, you don't have much of a chance to be the most highly developed."

Marrell helped choose six new fellows for Ivy Tech Community College's Society of Innovators. They will be inducted during a ceremony tonight.

They include:

*Daniel Hayes, founder and president of HealthCall - HealthCall, located in the Purdue Technology Center in Merrillville, is an information management system that allows patients to communicate with doctors via phone and Internet. Patients who need to monitor conditions like congestive heart failure or high-risk pregnancy can call an 800 number or visit a Web site to report symptoms and ask questions. "It's analogous to what the ATM did for banking," Hayes said. "Doctors and nurses are strapped for time, but the key is to stay in touch with patients."

*Robert Cornwell, project representative for the Calumet Astronomical Society - Cornwell's day job is practicing internal medicine in Munster, but his passion is astronomy. He helped develop the new Conway Observatory in Lowell and is working with the CAS to build the Northwest Indiana Robotic Observatory, which will enable Purdue University astronomy professors to share telescope images with middle school students. "We're hoping to use astronomy to create curiosity about the natural world," Cornwell said. "I think most people find an interest in looking up at night when the skies are clear and seeing a comet or shooting star or even just the moon," he said.

* Gayle Kosalko, executive director of Whiting/Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce - Whiting's Pierogi Fest used to be a tiny neighborhood festival, but Kosalko helped thrust it into the national spotlight. She revamped Pierogi Fest's parade and added mascots -- Mr. Pierogi and the Pieroguettes -- who represent each flavor and sing and dance to show tunes. "I come from a theater background, so that's where I got these crazy ideas," Kosalko said. The crazy ideas work. The parade draws 9,000 people and inspired Saveur Magazine to name Pierogi Fest one of the 11 best food events in the world. Food Network and Travel Channel have featured it, as well.

* Arie Donkersloot Sr., owner of Donkersloot & Sons Marina - Donkersloot came to Chicago from the Netherlands in 1955 to work as a truck mechanic. Soon he was making all sorts of inventions, including an automatic, self-storing flagpole currently used at the White House and the John Hancock Center. Donkersloot, who lives in LaPorte, also designed the dock system at the Michigan City marina and opened his own marina in New Buffalo, Mich. He's 75 and suffers from Parkinson's, so friend Kathy Trask spoke for him. "Arie has an incredible mind," she said.

* Greg Ludkovsky, chief technology officer for Mittal Steel - Ludkovsky, a native of Russia, has developed nearly 20 patents during his 34-year career in the steel industry. One is for steel with high magnetic permeability and low core loss, which improved efficiency in refrigerators, furnaces and similar appliances by decreasing the size and energy consumption of electric motors. But he's more proud of the fact that 20 nationalities are represented in his department at Mittal's East Chicago plant. "If you walk through this building, you see a United Nations of engineers," he said.

* Brandon Griffin, Web developer and entrepreneur
Griffin runs a Web design business, publishes an online magazine, gives speeches and is writing a book. He also finds time to be a senior at West Side High School in Gary. Griffin's Web site, www.ContactBrandon.com, links to his start-up business, Quality Web Solutions, and offers Griffin's services as a motivational speaker for young business people. It also links to FyeBye, Griffin's magazine "For Young Entrepreneurs, By Young Entrepreneurs." "He's an entrepreneur at heart," Marrell said. "All that under age 21, it's pretty fantastic."

Contact Carolina Procter at 648-3086 or cprocter@post-trib.com

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Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Society of Innovators to induct six fellows
Special to The Times

Six fellows will be inducted Thursday into the Society of Innovators.

This is a three-step process in which the Society has designated members, fellows and the recipient(s) of the Gerald I. Lamkin Award for Innovation. Members are nominated and accepted by the Society. Fellows are selected from among the members, and the Lamkin recipient(s) from among the fellows.

Gerald Lamkin is the retiring president of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana whose "dream" it was to establish a comprehensive community college.

The selection was led by a panel of judges headed Roy Evans, Ph.D, of Purdue University Calumet, in a process that began with nominations from May 15 through July 15. The final selection took place Sept. 18 at Ivy Tech's East Chicago campus.

"We are grateful to the volunteers of the Society of Innovations who gave tirelessly to honor innovators and innovations in our region," said J. Guadalupe Valtierra, chancellor of Ivy Tech Northwest. "We are especially thankful to (sponsors) Mittal Steel USA, The Times and Horseshoe Casino for making this regional project possible."

Those to be celebrated as Society Fellows are Robert Cornwell, M.D., Munster, Calumet Astronomical Learning Facility; Arie Donkersloot, Sr., founder of Donkersloot & Sons Marine, LaPorte; Gregory Ludkovsky, chief technology officer, Arcelor Mittal Steel R&D, East Chicago; Brandon Griffin, West Side High School, Gary; Daniel Hayes, HealthCall, Purdue Technology Center, Merrillville; and Gayle Kosalko, Whiting/Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce.

At least one of those six will receive the Lamkin Award on Thursday. Lamkin recipients receive $1,000, and the fellows $500 each, along with plaques, courtesy of Mittal Steel USA.

Society "members" also will be recognized. They are: Richard Barnes, Ph.D; William Beatty; Herb Bigelow; Cal Bellamy; Ed Charbonneau; David Cieply; Tom Gryzbek; Ken Jania; Kelly Manning; America McAlpin; Mike McCloskey; Gary Mitchell; Kevin Nightengale; Joi Patterson, Ph.D; Ross Pangere; Don Powers; Michael Schrage; Roger Sims; Robert Steingass; Diana Underwood-Gregg, Ph.D; U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind.; Mark Wellensiek; Mary Wellnitz; Robert Wichlinski; William Wellman; and Linda Woloshansky.

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Date: October 13, 2006

Event:
New Member Fall Session "Meet & Greet" - Gary Chamber of Commerce

Time:
3:00pm

Location:
Gary Chamber of Commerce Conference Room

Description:
Brandon L. Griffin, 2006 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, will be the guest speaker for this event.

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Indiana Black Expo honors best of best
Poitier credits a life lesson to his mom, who taught him to either sink or swim
By Gavin Lesnick
gavin.lesnick@indystar.com
July 14, 2006

When screen legend Sidney Poitier was 7 months old, his mother threw him into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean over and over again.

But his father would then swim out, rescue him and return him each time. The family lived on Cat Island in the Bahamas, and Poitier's mother knew it was important to learn to navigate the sea.

"They were teaching me how to swim," Poitier told a sold-out crowd Thursday at the RCA Dome. "But if you were a 7-month-old baby, you'd wonder, too, why they were trying to snuff you out."

Poitier, 79, shared that story and other snapshots from his life at Indiana Black Expo's Corporate Luncheon to shed light on his identity and help show the importance of learning. Poitier served as the keynote speaker for the annual event and was awarded IBE's Freedom Award, its highest distinction.

He finished his speech telling people that learning takes dedication and work.
"Education accumulates into knowledge. Knowledge accumulates into wisdom. They cannot be borrowed. They cannot be loaned. They must be fought for from the cradle to the grave."
He talked only briefly of his rise to Hollywood fame -- listing the many actors he has worked with, from Spencer Tracy to Harry Belafonte to Paul Newman -- and instead talked mostly of his childhood.

He told the audience how his mother's discipline kept him in line and how her hope helped save him when he was born two months prematurely.
"With the exception of my mother, everyone -- including my dad -- was prepared to let me go," Poitier said.

About 400 extra seats were added this year to accommodate the crowd of 3,600. U.S. Rep. Julia Carson, D-Ind.; Gov. Mitch Daniels; and Mayor Bart Peterson addressed the crowd, while U.S. Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., spoke by video.
The IBE also recognized attorney Willie Gary with its Entrepreneur of the Year award; 17-year-old Brandon L. Griffin, Gary, with its Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award; and Indiana Supreme Court Justice Randall T. Shepard with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Author and historian John Hope Franklin received the Carolyn Brown Mosby Above & Beyond Award, and state Rep. William Crawford, D-Indianapolis, received the Rev. Charles Williams Award of Excellence.

Gary, a Florida attorney nicknamed "Giant Killer" for his victories against big companies, won over the audience with an intense, emotional speech.
"This is my first time at the Indiana Black Expo," Gary said, "but it won't be my last time."
Shepard was recognized for developing the CLEO program, which helps minority students go to law school. The program, started in 1997, has about doubled the number of minority lawyers in Indiana.

"It's been a great thing to be associated with and really gratifying to have Indiana Black Expo recognize what's occurring," Shepard said.

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Indiana Black Expo
Teen biz whiz tells his story
Poitier will give the keynote address at awards ceremony
By Gavin Lesnick
gavin.lesnick@indystar.com
July 13, 2006

In the fall, Brandon L. Griffin will be limited to a few hours a night working on his successful Web design and publishing businesses. That's because Griffin, 17, will be a senior at Westside High School in Gary, and his homework always comes first. Griffin's work includes the Web site www.fyebye.com, which serves as an online community for young entrepreneurs.

His businesses have been so successful that Indiana Black Expo will honor him with its Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award today, alongside such luminaries as screen legend Sidney Poitier and Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard.

"This is an extraordinary honor," Griffin said. "It's an eye-opener to check your perspective. To even be recognized among Sidney Poitier and Randall Shepard, it's really great."
While the awards ceremony, which features a keynote address from Poitier, is sold out, a variety of other Expo events are planned throughout the day. The UniverSoul Circus will perform for Children's Day at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. A health fair at the Indiana Convention Center will offer participants $1,000 worth of medical tests for free, and a town hall meeting in the evening will feature discussion on the economy of black families.

In addition to Griffin, Shepard will receive the lifetime achievement nod, attorney Willie Gary will be named Entrepreneur of the Year, and noted author and historian John Hope Franklin will receive the Carolyn Brown Mosby Above and Beyond Award.

Poitier, meanwhile, will be given the annual Freedom Award.

"Each one has a unique story and is being honored for a different reason," said Alpha Garrett, director of communications for Black Expo. "It's tremendous for Indiana Black Expo, for the city and for the state overall that these people see value in coming here and speaking."
Griffin arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday and shared his story at a workshop, encouraging a group of about 50 young people to invest in their own ideas. That didn't stop the crowd from letting out a collective gasp when they learned Griffin's age at the end.

"I guess I look older than what I really am," he said. "They do think I'm older, but when I was 12 years old, I didn't know if I could start a business. And every year just gets better and better."

Other events today include the Black and Minority Health Fair "In Shape Indiana," which begins at 5 p.m. in the Convention Center. Free screenings cover conditions ranging from diabetes to high cholesterol. The Rev. Charles Williams Prostate Cancer Mobile Unit also will be there to offer free tests.

"There is representation from pretty much every major health organization in the city and the state," Garrett said.

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Event:
Indiana Black Expo Corporate Luncheon presented by Pacers Sports & Entertainment

Time:
11:00 a.m.

Location:
RCA Dome (Indianapolis)

Description:
Featuring keynote speaker Sidney Poitier and honoree Willie Gary, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, Brandon L. Griffin; Tickets are $50.00 per person or $500.00 for a table of 10. Sponsors: American Family Insurance, Irwin Mortgage, Eli Lilly & Company, FedEx, Ice Miller, Veolia Water, AT&T, bright house Network, Comcast, Sport Graphics, Black Enterprise Magazine, Ice Miller, NIPSCO, General Mills

Contact:
Karen Wright
www.IndianaBlackExpo.com

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Brandon Griffin selected to one of the "Talented Twelve"
Talented Twelve
2006 Leaders Of The Future Honorees

For the 10th consecutive year, 12 outstanding students have been chosen from among dozens nominated from across Northwest Indiana. Join us in applauding them, along with all those earning honorable mentions.

First Grade - Jacob Zak - Protsman Elementary (Dyer)
Second Grade - DeEryl Henderson - Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Third Grade - Matthew Foundos - Johnston Elementary (Highland)
Fourth Grade - Alyssa Fernandez - Porter Lakes Elementary (Lakes of the Four Seasons)
Fifth Grade - Timothy Ford - Aylesworth Elementary (Portage)
Sixth Grade - Keren Turner - McCullough Academy (Gary)
Seventh Grade - Morganne Sytsma - Kankakee Valley Middle School
Eighth Grade- Ashley Nyongani - Forest Ridge Academy (Schererville)
Ninth Grade - Ericka Ochoa - East Chicago Central High School
Tenth Grade - Pedro Lara - Merrillville High School
Eleventh Grade - Brandon Griffin - Gary West Side High School
Twelth Grade - Matthew Malecha - Valparaiso High School

Brandon Griffin - Two years ago, a ninth grader wondered if someone his age could start his own business. He decided to give it his best; today, Brandon is the proud founder of FyeBye.com, a website focused on energizing others his age to become entrepreneurs.

FyeBye's current project involves the formation of entrepreneurship clubs in schools, starting with his own, West Side High. So far, the local club has 25 interested students, but Brandon isn't satisfied. His goal is to use his high school club as a model for other school systems throughout the country. He's even created FyeBye Magazine, which is scheduled to launch sometime this year. Brandon hopes the magazine will be a business magazine for young people by young people.

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04/21/06 - Beginners at Business
By Leslie Jones McCloud
Post-Tribune Correspondent

Gary - A sea of bright blue shirts emblazoned with the letters NWIEA on Thursday pointed out teens harboring ideas of starting their own business.

With a theme of closing the gap to economic wealth, it signaled the end of a three-day conference for youth at the Genesis Convention Center.

"We know that all the students that we work with will not become entrepreneurs, self-employed or business owners but we are producing better employees," Cherese Glenn, founder of the organization. "Employees with entrepreneurial mindsets are less likely to be downsized."

The information learned at the Northwest Indiana Entrepreneurship Association 2006 Youth Conference was a tool to unlock knowledge so that it may bloom into a reality. Glenn told the youth that civic engagement was also a must for the entrepreneur.

Brandon Griffin, a West Side High School Junior, started his own Internet Business a few years ago. He credits the Reginald F. Lewis entrepreneurial summer program sponsored by the NAACP and headed up by Glenn. There he got $500 see money to start his business.

"It's a summer program. I've been working with Ms. Glenn ever since," he said. Griffin said his NWIEA membership helps him to continue to network and grow his business. At the conference, Griffin worked the room. He passed out his business card and a mock-up of a youth based magazine he created to keynote speaker Robert Ingram, senior account executive for Black Enterprise Magazine.

Ingram said youth have somthing to offer the business world, and that it's sometimes difficult working with other people. But it's necessary.

"You can get very little accomplished by yourself. The more you work with (together), the less likely yo are to break," Ingram said. He also told the youth that success is doing what you like.

"When you go to people and they have somthing that they want to share with you, recognize it's a two-way street," Ingram said.

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05/2005 Brandon Griffin - 2005 Wendy's Intl. & Black Enterprise Magazine Teepreneur Nominee

This award recognizes entrepreneurs under the age of 18 who serve as role models and are committed to advancing the rich tration of black achievement.

Quality Web Solutions
Type of Business: Web Design Services
Principal: Brandon Griffin
Location: Gary, IN

Brandon Griffin's business, Quality Web Solutions, was born out of his love for computers. Now 16, he was only 12 when he got the idea but wasn't sure if someone his age could start a business. Through internet research he found out that young people did indeed start businesses and that he would need a business plan. Started with approximately $1000, Quality Web Solutions is now a profitable web services company.

Quality Web Solutions offers a variety of services, including web site design, web hosting, domain name registration, and e-business consulting. Griffin is involved in every aspect of his 15 employee business. He's the customer satisfaction officer, meeting with new clients to ensure their satisfaction with rendered services, and handles all of the businesses' accounting.

The company's web hosting packages range in price from $10 to $30, and its web design services cost approximately $60 per page. To date, Griffin and his team has designed more than 200 web pages.

Griffin recently began offering search engine services and a traffic exchange website. He even found a way to turn his original research into a business. He compiled a lot of the information he found on youth entrepreneurship and business plan writing and started a business called FyeBye (For Young Entrepreneurs, By Young Entrepreneurs) that promotes youth entrepreneurship. Future plans include launching a publishing company.

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03/30/05 - Griffin to speak at Indiana State Capitol

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at 10:00 am, the Gary schools will rally at the Indiana State Capitol. Brandon Griffin is one of two students selected to represent the students within the Gary Community School Corporation. In his speech, Griffin will ask Gov. Mitch Daniels and the Indiana Legislators not to go through with the proposed $26 Million budget cuts from the Gary school district.

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03/18/05 - Aiming high through ACT-SO
High School Students Compete for Scholarships in NAACP event
By Anthony KaDarrell Thigpen
Post-Tribune Correspondent

Gary - A monologue performance by Barbara Stansil captivated the audience at ivy Tech State College.

"You don't live on my street," the 16 year-old yelled. She was explaining the conditions of inner-city poverty and stuggles. "I almost cried," said Lisette Guillen of Workforce Development Services. The Bishop Noll institute sophomore was competing in the local Academic Cultural Technical and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). Stansil was joined by 14 other area high school students, who substituted a relaxing Saturday for nearly six hours of competition.

Categories included humanitities, performing arts, fine arts and entrepreneurship. But all came with hopes of walking away with a chance to represent Indiana during the national competition in July. Sponsored by the NAACP, academic rivalry in encouraged and rewarded. According to JoAnnWhite, assistant event coordinator, students can win up to $3,000 in scholarship funds. "In previous years, national winners from the science category were given desktop computers as a surprise," she added.

Barbara Bohling, state NAACP president, said it's and "awesome" opportunity to showcase talent, and students did. Emerson School for the Visual and Performing Arts student Taylor Shine sand, "When the Saints Go in to Worship." The 14 year-old stirred a sense of inspiration in the applauding listeners.

West Side High School student Brandon Griffin competed in the entrepreneurship category. The 16-year old said he's following in the footsteps of his father, Edward Griffin of Griffin Realty Co. The name of Brandon's company is Quality Web Solutions.

Bishop Noll High School student Lorenzo Dillard built a robot to help people with disabilities. His robots will be featured in the Milwaukee national competition. "These are the best of the best," White said. Local champions are expected to travel to Milwaukee, WI, to compete at the national level.

About ACT-SO
The Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a major youth initiative of the NAACP. Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist Vernon Jarret, ACT-SO provides a forum through which black youth demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise, thereby gaining the same recognition often only reserved for the entertainers and athletes. ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program that centers around the commitment of volunteers and business leaders, to serve as mentors and coaches to promote excellence among black students. Source: NAACP

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3/18/05 - The Gifted & Talented Program Awards Brandon Griffin...
Education Briefs - Gary Post-Tribune

The Gifted and Talented program of the Gary Community School Corporation presented sophomore Brandon Griffin with a plaque of recognition for his entrepreneurial endeavors. Griffin owns a Web design and publishing company, and intends to launch a magazine in 2006. He is pictured with Superintendent Mary Steele; his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Griffin; Ritchard Watkins, Gifted and Talented Program coordinator; and Darren Washington, School Board President.

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03/01/06 - King enlightens teen shadow
Gary student gets an inside peek at the daily workings in city hall.
By Andy Grimm
Post-Tribune Staff Writer

Gary - The self-styled CEO mayor me the boy CEO on Monday.

West Side High School sophomore Brandon Griffin tailed Mayor Scott L. King for National Job Shadow Day, but the 15-year old wasn't interested in politics.

"I wouldn't want to be mayor, but I would like to be a major business leader," Griffin told the three-term mayor. "I wanted to see exactly how you kind of manage everything."

After a brief tour of the mayor's memorabilia-stuffed office, Griffin sat rapt as the mayor answered his questions with dissertations on the advantages of attending law school, local economics, leadership, economic development, and municipal government.

"What if a group of real estate developers and builders wanted to do something with Broadway?" asked Griffin, who started his own web design company when he was 12 years old. "There are a lot of abandoned buildings, and that just seems like it could be a big opportunity."

King, who campaigned on a strong economic development platform, answered: "In this town, there's seldom a simple answer to any question."

Griffin's first visit to City Hall likely won't be his last. King himself said he didn't consider a career in politics until he was nearly twice Griffin's age. "It never even crossed my mind," King said. "When I was his age, I think I still wanted to be an Air Force pilot."

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02/27/06 - Top Student Orators Speak Out

Brandon Griffin, 10th grade student at West Side High School (Gary, IN), will compete at the regional Rotary Speech Competition. Griffin will be reciting his award winning oration titled "The State of the Union Address: Robin Hood Style". Brandon won first place at the local compeitions.

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02/04/05 - District next for speech winners
High school orators take top honors at Gary Rotary Club contest
By Carole Carlson
Post-Tribune Staff Writer

Gary - From talk of a manmade tsunami to female bullying, the sounds of original oratory filled the Gary Teachers union on Thursday. Out of 15 contestants, four high school students earned top honors in the Gary Rotary Club's citywide speech contest.

The four now advance to the Rotary's district speech contest on Feb. 27 at Valparaiso High School, "I'm surprised. I wasn't expecting it," said Jarrod Johnson, 18, a Wirt High School senior who tied for first place. His speech centered on whether Americans should exercise the right to vote.

Contest judges Danita Johnson Huges, John Vinzant and Louis Hughes placed Johnson in a first place tie with Brandon Griffin, 15, of West Side High School.

Right behind were Brittanie Buggs, 16, and Tamia Mays, 16, both of West Side.

"I was very nervous, " said Griffin who called his speech "A State of the Union Address: Robin Hood Style." Griffin talked about what he called the corrupt government in Saudi Arabia and why the United States should combat terrorism by establishing stronger ties with the country.

Mays' speech focused on female bullying, a topic she said attracts little attention. Buggs compared the war in Iraw to a manmade tsunami. She said resolving the war should be the top priority for Americans.

The winning students will deliver their speeches at a coming school board meeting.

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1/08/05 - "True professional" - At Just 15 Years Old
Gary teen is an entrepreneur before he can vote on tax laws
By Michelle L. Quinn
Post-Tribune correspondent

(Contact Michelle L. Quinn at zulabean@mlquinn.net)

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