February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month, and Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) is celebrating by equipping students with the skills needed for successful careers—including those who want to be their own boss. With the rise of entrepreneurial interest among Gen Z, PTC’s Business and Industry Services team launched the "Own Your Future" program to help students turn their business ideas into reality.
The inspiration for the program came from Mark C. Perna, a well-known expert on education and workforce trends, who spoke at the Education and Workforce Summit in July. He shared a Gallup poll revealing that nearly 80% of Gen Z students aspire to own their own business. Seeing this trend, Innovation and Incubator Manager and program coordinator Janet Schwabe emphasized why PTC created the program: “If our students want to own their own business someday, we want to make sure they have the knowledge, tools, and support to succeed.”
The "Own Your Future" program included eight weeks of training followed by three weeks of one-on-one coaching, guiding students through business idea development, branding and marketing strategies, financial basics, business plan writing, and pitching their ideas. Along the way, students received real-world advice from local business owners, including insights from Industrial Coordinator Johnny Thornburgh on how manufacturing plays a role in business operations.
At the program’s conclusion, students presented their business plans to a panel of industry professionals, including Alicia Herrera (Equity Bank), Charlene Flanery (Blackwell Industrial Authority), Spike Henderson (Cherokee Strip Credit Union), and Clint Barney (RCB Bank). The top three winners received prizes donated by Equity Bank and Pampered Chef consultant Dondi Rowe:
1st Place: Chad Chrisco – Catering Business
2nd Place: Teresa Adame Mejia – Coffee Shop
3rd Place: Mason Marazas – Body Armor
The program was taught by Janet Schwabe, Ben Evans, Brook Lindsay, Ian Freeman, and Kat Long, with support from PTC’s Business and Industry Services team, who provided mentorship and feedback to participants.
Programs like "Own Your Future" are great examples of growing entrepreneurs through CareerTech in Oklahoma. Last year CareerTech enrollment grew by 6%, with 520,733 students participating in career-focused education. At technology centers like Pioneer Tech, enrollment jumped 7.6%, and nearly 45% of all Oklahoma high school students took part in a CareerTech program. Additionally, CareerTech’s adult education and family literacy enrollment increased from 10,081 to 11,015, and its business training efforts expanded, supporting 9,289 businesses which was up from 8,764 the previous year.
By investing in programs like "Own Your Future", Pioneer Tech is helping students gain the skills, confidence, and real-world experience to pursue careers or launch their own businesses. Whether students work for a company or build their own brand, PTC is committed to helping them succeed.
To learn more about Pioneer Tech’s entrepreneurship training, business programs, and CareerTech opportunities, visit www.pioneertech.edu or call 580-762-8336.
Caption: PTC’s Business and Industry Services team launched the "Own Your Future" program during the first semester to give students the knowledge and skills needed to turn their business ideas into reality. Pictured left to right Mason Marazas (3rd Place); Alicia Herrera (Equity Bank), Clint Barney (RCB Bank); Chad Chrisco (1st Place); Spike Henderson (Cherokee Strip Credit Union); Teresa Adame Mejia (2nd Place); and Charlene Flanery (Blackwell Industrial Authority). To learn more about Pioneer Tech’s entrepreneurship training, business programs, and CareerTech opportunities, visit www.pioneertech.edu or call 580-762-8336.