Nice picture of Heather with juicydudes

Daniel St. Jules, Heather Conyers and Frank Carello were among the students and young entrepreneurs we found mixing and mingling last night at Algoma University's Speak Easy Pub.

They were there to partake in a little camaraderie, some Mustang Sally and a few mocktails as part of the first-ever free EntrePrep mixer hosted by the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) and Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie (ECSSM).

"It is an opportunity for high school students to interact with local small business owners, particularly youth entrepreneurs," said Mei Ling, communications manager for the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.

She said participants in the event weren't just there for the music and non-alcoholic mocktails - they were there to learn about local entrepreneurship opportunities and programs.

St. Jules and Carello are both veteran Youth Summer Company participants and business plan competition competitors.

Carello successfully set up and operated CG Lawn Enforcement, a lawn and garden maintenance company this past summer and plans to do it again for summer 2010.

"I may even look at hiring someone to help," he said. "I really felt a lot of pride in working for myself."

St. Jules won both the local and regional award for his business plan last summer and he's still operating WebEnuity, a web design company.

"Of course I don't have time to do it full-time right now but I have customers from all over the world," St. Jules said. "The Summer Company was great because, not only did they set me up with some funding, they went out and found me a mentor in my area. The things I learned have helped a lot."

Carello is a student at Sault College and St. Jules is at Algoma University.

St. Jules said he plans to be a lawyer but wants to keep doing his web design on the side, sort of a fun hobby that pays.

Conyers is a Grade 12 student at St. Marys College who says she hadn't really thought about business as a career before.

She's looking more at something in social work, psychology or some area of counselling.

Ling said that's exactly the sort of student the Entrepreneurship Prep program is looking for.

A lot of students who are considering jobs as chiropractors, counsellors, dentists or in other fields forget that operating a business is part of doing those jobs, she said.

"The Entrepreneurship Prep program will run for the 2009- 2010 school year with the goal of educating high school students in the Algoma District on the entrepreneurial opportunities available to them in Northern Ontario," said Ling. "It will teach them to make a business plan, prepare them to participate in Summer Company or to enter the high school business plan competition."

Tonight's mixer was the program's first event and more events are planned, she said.

"There will be a series of free workshops beginning early in 2010, with plenty of time before exams," said Ling.

The second free EntrePrep mixer with music and mocktails is also planned for early next year.