Paul's Plan to Success

Angela Pezzotti for SooNews.ca
Sunday, November 29, 2009, 3:21PM

When Paul Caputo first started his Student Summer Company Green Grass Lawn Care he thought the seasonal business would be an interesting side line to a career in Social Services. But now after a very successful start Paul is planning to expand his business into a full time career.

Caputo started his business this past summer under the provincial program, Student Summer Company through the Sault Ste Marie Enterprise Center. The program provides up to $3,000 to assist students returning to school in the fall the opportunity to operate a summer business. Participants must follow certain criteria to succeed in the program including creating a business plan.

Caputo’s business success in the program was rewarded by the Enterprise Centre last week at the Bridges to Better Business Seminar when he was awarded the Enterprise Center Student Summer Company Business of the Year.

Small Business Advisor Zoltan Virag, at the Enterprise Centre who along with Terri Chiarello assisted Caputo and the other students, says that “Even though this was one of the most successful years for the program Caputo and his company stood out.”

Local businessman Dennis Iannelli of Guys Auto body , a personal friend of Caputo’s served as his mentor for the program, a mentor is a requirement of the program, told Soonews he was “pretty impressed,” with Caputo’s commitment and dedication to his business. The program requires the student spend at least an hour every two weeks with his mentor Caputo met with Iannelli over and above that.

“He’s a real go-getter. He knows it’s not just a six to eight hour job.” Iannelli didn’t find it difficult to mentor Caputo he was a willing student eager to learn and bounce ideas of him. “He asked a lot of questions. He was always calling and saying what do you think of this?”

Caputo credits with Iannelli with helping him make decisions about buying equipment and considering expansion.” Along with his drive Iannelli says that Caputo is very careful with his money and sometimes he needs to be prompted to take a risk.

Caputo said he was “honoured to receive the award,” and called it a great accomplishment.” But he’s not resting on his laurels. While he works to finish his education at Sault College he is also working on plans and taking the first steps to expand his business next summer.

Next year Caputo plans to add excavation and in ground sprinklers to list of landscaping and lawn care services. Caputo will also expanding to a year round business by offering winter services such as snow removal. But he’s not waiting until next year for that.

Caputo already has a couple of snow removal clients for the coming winter. “I didn’t want to get too many clients because I have to finish school.” Caputo will graduate from the Social Service Worker program at Sault College in May 2010.

But “expanding my business is my number one priority.” Caputo said. He’s confident that he can come up with another successful business plan. His business plan for Green Grass Lawn Care is one of the reasons he received the award.

Virag said they evaluated the 17 participant’s business plans in the program by objective and subjective criteria. Caputo ran his business according to his plan when it came to purchasing equipment and his projections for the business were the closest to his actual results. “He did outstanding” Virag said.

“He’s got that knack.” Iannelli told Soonews of his student, Virag agrees “He’s got that entrepreneurial spirit.”

Caputo knows a good thing when he hears it and credits the support and advice he received from Iannelli and the Enterprise Center for helping make him a success.

Iannelli continues to mentor Paul with his plans and is offering advice on his expansion plans. “He loves it” Iannelli says of his student “He loves working with people and working for himself.”

Caputo once didn’t see a connection between his chosen fields of Social Services, and business but he told Soonews that while on placement at Ontario Works he has seen a connection between the two. He believes as a local business man, He “has a responsibility to give back to the community.”

Next summer he hopes to do some of that by giving jobs to two or three people.

Caputo’s expansion plans don’t qualify for the Student Summer Company program participants must be returning to school in the fall.

He encourages other students to take advantage of the program.

Caputo’s secrets of success include hard work but that's not all. “You’ve got to love it. And you have to have drive. You have to have drive in order to achieve.”

Virag couldn’t be more delighted with Caputo’s success, “that’s what we hope for. Give entrepreneurship a try. It’s all for the positive growth of small business.”

Virag says students can apply now for the program of summer 2011. Deadline for entry is May 6th.

For more information on the Summer Company Program Click Here

For other government programs for young entrepreneurs:
Click here

Find out what the Enterprise Center has to offer:
Click Here

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