Perseverance, dedication and goal-oriented all speak of Tyler Way, a senior majoring in Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in Entrepreneurship at GVSU.

It all started with a Sharpie marker and a pair of sneakers in his freshmen dorm room. From the time that marker tip first touched the shoe, Tyler had the vision of his unique business opportunity. However this was no overnight success story. It took years of dedicated research and development before Tyler finally developed his process and materials that now enable him to custom-design sneakers for his equally unique list of clients.

From his early days in elementary school, Tyler always dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. The day before his senior basketball season started at Brighton High School, Tyler’s dream quickly came crashing down as he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his vertebrate. Looking back on things now, Tyler said without that injury his senior season, he probably would not be where he is today.

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www.twaycustoms.net.

Chris Young & John Levandowski

Drawing from previous experience in the valet industry on Michigan’s east coast, Chris Young and John Levandowski saw the need to bring valet parking to Grand Rapids. Both students, being longtime friends and finance majors, began their innovative and exceptional business venture, At Your Service Valet, during the summer of 2008.

Chris, knowing the ins-and-outs of the valet business, began to focus on his previous employer’s “way of doing things.” At the same time, John recognized the importance of “attention to the little details and customer service.” After much collaboration, the team decided to run with the idea of how to improve on existing models of valet companies.  Following their motto, “a touch of excellence,” both students strived to establish an affordable service that has now become a leading valet business in downtown, Grand Rapids. When asked what they plan on doing with their business, Chris and John expect growth and expansion, including the possibilities of a chauffeur service and car detailing.

Joe Pohlen

DormTshirts.com is a business platform that allows its' users a place to turn their design into cash. It is an innovative artistic outlet for people who want to say something with what they wear. It combines a flexible platform for developing and submitting design ideas with free market capitalism. It is a zero-risk option that enables the amateur designer to make some money on the side. Just create a design, submit it, market it, and if people like it and buy it, you make some money!

The concept for DormTshirts.com was invented by business and graphic design majors: Joe Pohlen and Dan Tasman who are current students at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Joe and Dan had been providing custom clothing for several years when they decided that they needed an easier way to provide garments at a low cost for low volume orders (1 to 20 shirts). Lots of people came to them with ideas for shirts, but only wanted a few at a time, and wanted to get paid for their ideas if other people liked them.

Mass customization is the key. DormTshirts.com can inexpensively produce an order for one shirt or an order for 10,000 shirts. For small orders DormTshirts.com uses a brand new direct to garment technology, which allows DormTshirts.com to print shirts without the overhead of silk screens and at a higher quality than the competition. This technology uses water based inks which wash better, feel better on the skin and create a sharper image.

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Dave Zakoe

Ever since Dave can remember what he wanted to be when he grew up, someone who owned their own business. One thing he has always wanted to own is a restaurant.

Early on in the Entrepreneurship program, students have to think about what they want their business to be for the semesters to follow. Dave chose opening his own coffee shop.  After the second semester he started to get serious about it and, over the summer, he met with countless banks trying to get a loan to start his very own coffee shop. Finally, on his eleventh try, a bank decided to take a risk on Dave.  He had a building picked out and was ready to sign a lease when suddenly he got some bad news from the township building inspector. He had to scrap his plans and start from square one. A month or two later he heard of Dillenbeck’s for sale. He stopped in there a few times, met the owners, and decided to purchase Dillenbeck’s.

"The Entrepreneurship Program at Grand Valley has been the sole reason I’ve been able to purchase Dillenbeck’s and actually run a business. For anyone with aspirations to own their own business in the future - an entrepreneurship minor is a must.”

Have a cup of Dillenbeck's coffe for yourself! - Get there...