{"id":10259,"date":"2022-11-16T08:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T13:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/?p=10259"},"modified":"2022-11-16T09:17:47","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T14:17:47","slug":"taking-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/2022\/11\/16\/taking-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>It requires guts and skill to translate an idea into a business. These entrepreneurs had enough chutzpah to believe in their products and build successful enterprises.<\/strong><br><br><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>It Suits Her<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a C-Suite executive with the Dallas Stars Hockey Club, Alana Newhook \u201909 Matthews was surrounded by men in custom suits and sport coats. They chose their own fabrics, and the garments they wore were studiously fitted to their frames. The same wasn\u2019t available for Matthews: \u201cI was like, \u2018I want that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/AlanaMattews_11-1024x911.jpg\" alt=\"\n\" class=\"wp-image-10260\" width=\"512\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/AlanaMattews_11-1024x911.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/AlanaMattews_11-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/AlanaMattews_11-768x683.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/AlanaMattews_11.jpg 1079w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, in 2018 while pregnant with her first child, Matthews took a leap. She didn\u2019t know what challenges motherhood would bring, so she felt it was the right time to pursue a creative endeavor. \u201cThere\u2019s lots of women in executive roles or even building their careers, but the traditional, custom clothing companies tailor for men,\u201d Matthews notes. With Alautus (the name is a portmanteau from the name Alana and the Latin root for elegant, <em>lautus<\/em>), she seeks to flip the script by providing upscale, versatile workwear for women. Prices range from $449\u2013749.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to note that Alautus wasn\u2019t an overnight endeavor. Before seriously considering founding the company, Matthews first crowdsourced opinions about whether there was a need to be filled, surveying her wide network of bankers, lawyers, and sports executives. The response was overwhelming \u2014 of the custom options women could get, they were either made of cheap fabrics or cost upward of $4,000. The garments were more accessible to Hollywood celebrities than the average executive. And, the pieces were basic, boxy cuts lacking fashionable flair. \u201cI wanted to build something that was an investment piece, but also somewhat attainable,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>\u201cMy time in sports really cemented in me a passion for helping women on the way up in their careers.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><cite>Alana Newhook \u201909&nbsp; <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Alautus-LIFESTYLE22-10017-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10261\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Alautus-LIFESTYLE22-10017-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Alautus-LIFESTYLE22-10017-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Alautus-LIFESTYLE22-10017-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Alautus-LIFESTYLE22-10017-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Alautus-LIFESTYLE22-10017.jpg 1439w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being the highest-ranking woman at the Dallas Stars didn\u2019t hurt when it came to business experience. In her role as executive vice president of business operations and general counsel, Matthews navigated the general running of the franchise, which appeared at the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020. She says her role helped her round out the skill sets necessary to run her own business. \u201cI could see it as a functioning business, as opposed to just an idea that I was piecemeal putting together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall though, she sees Alautus as a chance for women to support women: \u201cMy time in sports really cemented in me a passion for helping women on the way up in their careers,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso, supporting the women who had fought the fight and been successful and risen to the tops of their profession.\u201d<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>A New Kind of Pocket Protector<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018, Hilary Poticha \u201995 Kurinsky and her family were having a roundtable chat when the conversation turned to collectible toys. \u201cI wonder why there isn\u2019t a product where an animal\u2019s arms and legs could actually stick out through holes in a pocket?\u201d someone in the group pondered.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/PocketProtector.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10281\" width=\"604\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/PocketProtector.jpg 604w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/PocketProtector-300x209.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A month later, during the holiday season, Kurinsky noticed an ornament in the shape of an animal with long arms and legs. \u201cI grabbed a T-shirt of mine, and I cut four holes in it,\u201d she remembers. \u201cI took the ornament down and shoved the arms and legs through, and I thought, \u2018Huh, that is pretty cute.\u2019\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s how Pockimals \u2014 palm-sized stuffed animals that button into kids\u2019 pockets \u2014 were born. \u201cWe say, their belly buttons button in,\u201d Kurinsky notes. In addition to Pockimals, she sells shirts, dresses, and backpacks with button holes that allow the tiny unicorns, foxes, and lions to attach. \u201cEveryone asks, \u2018Well, what are you? Are you a clothing company or are you a toy company?\u2019 And I say, \u2018I\u2019m all of it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Business Know-How<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Unicorn-Kitty-Piggie-Backpack-on-Bench-1024x819.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10284\" width=\"512\" height=\"410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Unicorn-Kitty-Piggie-Backpack-on-Bench-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Unicorn-Kitty-Piggie-Backpack-on-Bench-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Unicorn-Kitty-Piggie-Backpack-on-Bench-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Unicorn-Kitty-Piggie-Backpack-on-Bench.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kurinsky spent 15 years in the banking industry before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She draws from both experiences to successfully run her business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On Practicality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attaching the animal to a child\u2019s pocket is cute, but mostly \u201cthere\u2019s a place for it to go back for safekeeping with the hope that they don\u2019t lose it,\u201d Kurinsky notes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where to Buy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pockimals are sold on Pockimals.com, Amazon, and Etsy, but recently Kurinsky has also taken the business on the road: The toys are now available in more than 17 stores around the United States, including the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, an apple orchard in Massachusetts, and festivals in the Midwest.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>A Dream Come Tru<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Product-photo-1-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10302\" width=\"512\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Product-photo-1-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Product-photo-1-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Product-photo-1-768x526.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Product-photo-1.jpg 1403w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After years scoring goals for Colgate\u2019s men\u2019s ice hockey team, Jack McNamara \u201914 wanted to take a shot at a new venture: wellness beverages for athletes like himself. The final product was Tru, a line of health-focused canned drinks formulated to suit a range of needs. For McNamara, the project was research intensive; he was hell-bent on creating something that actually worked. \u201cWhen I hung up the skates, I reached out to a bunch of different sports dietitians for top teams and basically begged them to talk to me,\u201d McNamara remembers. He ended up sitting down with a former Boston Red Sox dietitian, and they talked ingredients, top-selling brands, and athletes\u2019 common needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That conversation led to a seven-year process of making sure each can of Tru tastes great while deliaxavering on its health-focused promises, like better sleep and stronger workouts. \u201cThe reason we launched all these products was because these were all problems that I had specifically,\u201d McNamara says. The secret to making Tru work: delegation. With branding by a designer at Blue Bottle and growth led by a salesperson from Red Bull, the team remains lean. \u201cI realized you can\u2019t control every aspect of the business. As a co-founder, it\u2019s difficult to let go,\u201d he says. \u201cBut, when you hire the right people and delegate accordingly, things start taking shape in a beautiful way.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Jack-McNamara-Headshot-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10299\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Jack-McNamara-Headshot-1-1.jpg 512w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Jack-McNamara-Headshot-1-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Jack-McNamara-Headshot-1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Jack-McNamara-Headshot-1-1-125x125.jpg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>\u201cOne of the things we really wanted to stay true to was always using premium natural ingredients in our seltzers.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><cite>Jack McNamara &#8217;14<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On Taste<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are seven flavors of Tru: Energy, Focus, Power, Defend, Rescue, Dream, and Beauty. All of the drinks are naturally sweetened, utilizing ingredients like mango juice and green tea. \u201cOur first formulation tasted like tree bark \u2014 you have to find a way to balance great ingredients with great-<em>tasting<\/em> ingredients. It\u2019s been a learning process. Every year, we\u2019ve grown, and we just try not to make the same mistake twice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Expanding Horizons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tru is now found at several retail locations, like Market Basket and Wegmans. \u201cMost recently, we landed a regional launch with Walmart into 430 stores. It\u2019s a big opportunity for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Secret Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the things we really wanted to stay true to was always using premium natural ingredients in our seltzers. Oftentimes, those are more difficult to work with. Each of our products has a unique blend and a unique juice. Then, we go on from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Colgate Connection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phil Corrinet \u201970 was one of the first investors in Tru, and McNamara has since served as a mentor for Thought Into Action. Also, McNamara often takes cues from Super Coffee CEO Jimmy DeCicco \u201915. \u201cI reach out to him, being like, \u2018Hey, yo. I\u2019m having this problem,\u2019 and he always picks up the phone, lends an ear, and helps us out. The entrepreneurial world in food and beverage is really small and extremely supportive.\u201d<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>Natural-Born Businesswoman<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shirene Brown \u201991 is flanked by color.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A rainbow of ribbons, fabrics, and other bits and bobs surround her as she gets to work on the items she sells on her e-commerce website. Among her creations are laser-cut wooden earrings, screen-printed coffee cups, and skincare products made from natural ingredients. Chances are, if you want it, Brown is willing to find a way to make it. \u201cThat\u2019s what I do \u2014 so many different things,\u201d says the owner of Naturally Made By Shirene. Learn more about what she makes in her studio:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/294685559_10160437060723385_3429881388562561081_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10319\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/294685559_10160437060723385_3429881388562561081_n.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/294685559_10160437060723385_3429881388562561081_n-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/294685559_10160437060723385_3429881388562561081_n-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/294685559_10160437060723385_3429881388562561081_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/294685559_10160437060723385_3429881388562561081_n-125x125.jpg 125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Finding a Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One section of her business, the one closest to her heart, is Brown\u2019s skincare line. Throughout her childhood and early adulthood, she struggled with a skin ailment that doctors couldn\u2019t fix with medicine. Trial and error led her to create her Whipped Shea Body Butter, which helped calm the rashes she experienced. She says the process of creating this product helped her gain self-confidence and acknowledge that she was beautiful even with physical imperfections. \u201cNobody thinks about the mental part of psoriasis, eczema, or skin inflammation,\u201d she notes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Making Improvements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brown is actively growing the skincare side of her business, recently enlisting the help of a cosmetic chemist to reformulate some of her bestselling products. In the future, she\u2019s hoping items like her natural deodorant, made with tea tree oil and lavender, will be more shelf-stable. Next on her product agenda: A makeup line made with natural ingredients. \u201cI am, one person at a time, trying to get everybody to become a little more natural and a little more wise about what they put in and on their body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Using Her Artistic License<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/IMG_6487.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10320\" width=\"180\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/IMG_6487.jpg 720w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/IMG_6487-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When creativity strikes, Brown runs with it. Recently, she started making hand-painted earrings in the shape of butterflies. \u201cI get to blend paints and come up with different colors. Even today I was thinking of different earrings to design because I\u2019m having fun with it,\u201d she said during her interview with <em>Colgate Magazine<\/em>. \u201cThat\u2019s the creative part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>An Early Business Mindset<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brown first became an entrepreneur at age 8, when she baked and sold bread and pies to members of her community. \u201cI\u2019ve always been a hands-on person,\u201d she says, and that attribute, mixed with innate creativity, led her to pursue several businesses throughout her career.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2019Tis the Spirit That Is Colgate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brown, a Colgate Africana and Latin American studies major, credits the University with helping her learn how to budget for her business. During her senior year, as the vice president of the Black Student Union, she was in charge of the financial aspect of the organization. She\u2019s still connected with Colgate \u2014 last year, she designed and engraved the champagne flutes for the 30th anniversary of the Alumni of Color organization.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>This Father-Daughter Duo Is Mixing Up the Mezcal Scene<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through a decade of visits to Oaxaca, Mexico, Sydney Block \u201918 and her family came to appreciate the ancient, spiritual tradition that is mezcal. So when Block and her father went into business together to launch a mezcal brand, they kept the <em>mezcalero<\/em> (a person who distills mezcal) at the heart of the company. \u201cWe visited upwards of 50, even 100 <em>palenques<\/em> over the last several years,\u201d Block says, explaining that these small distilleries are often on family farms, and each family makes the alcohol in a slightly different way. \u201cIt\u2019s the most amazing experience to see families come together to do this \u2014 it\u2019s part of everyday life for many people in Oaxaca.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/SydneyJeff10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10323\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/SydneyJeff10.jpg 720w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/SydneyJeff10-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s the most amazing experience to see families come together to do this.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><cite>Sydney Block &#8217;18<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/MG_9974.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10328\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/MG_9974.jpg 640w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/MG_9974-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An environmental economics major at Colgate, Block was focused on bringing sustainability into the business from the beginning. Things clicked into place when the father-daughter duo met one <em>mezcalero<\/em>, Jorge, who is also a botanist working to graft wild agave so the plant can be more sustainably cultivated. Wild agave contains more sugar than cultivated agave, which means better-tasting mezcal, so Jorge is grafting together high-sugar-content wild agave plants and cultivating them on his ancestral land to avoid depleting the region\u2019s wild supply. Each <em>mezcalero<\/em> the Blocks work with owns equity in the company, and the company plans to use these local partnerships to support more sustainability efforts in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the mezcal market in the U.S. is the <em>espadin<\/em> varietal, which is made primarily from the blue agave plant, but Block said mezcal is made from more than 40 different types of agave. The brand hopes to introduce mezcal fans to new varietals with six offerings from six different <em>mezcaleros<\/em>, including an espadin, three wild varietals, and two ensembles. \u201cMy personal favorite is the <em>mexicano<\/em> because it has this beautiful, approachable, citrusy silkiness to it,\u201d Block says. She recommends sipping it neat, at room temperature, with a slice of orange on the side to bring out its bright citrus quality.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>From Vintage to Viral<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Kimberli-Product-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10360\" width=\"320\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Kimberli-Product-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Kimberli-Product-1-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Madison Bailey \u201918 bought a pair of 1960s chain earring sunglasses from a Brooklyn vintage shop, she had no idea that her modern spin on the retro style would become an overnight success. \u201cI had never seen anything like these glasses, and I felt like the coolest person in the world when I wore them, but I also felt like they were lacking in modern colors, styles, and functionality,\u201d Bailey says. In July 2020, she posted a video of herself to TikTok sporting a pair of her homemade chain sunglasses, called SUNLOOPS, and woke up the next morning to 300 preorders. <br><br>\u201cOne of the first things I did after I fulfilled the 300 preorders was email [Colgate\u2019s Thought Into Action incubator] because I recognized that I needed help,\u201d she says. By the end of 2020, she had left her job at the United Nations to run SUNLOOPS full-time, relying on the daily and weekly check-ins with her Thought Into Action mentors Kate Foster \u201999 Lengyel and Julie DeLoca \u201991 to help her navigate being a first-time CEO.&nbsp;<br><br>The company has been featured on the <em>Today Show<\/em> as well as in <em>People Magazine<\/em> and <em>Marie Claire<\/em>, among other media outlets.<br><br>&nbsp;\u201cTo put the power of social media into perspective,\u201d Bailey says, \u201cin April 2021, I had five videos go viral on TikTok and Instagram Reels in the span of one week, and those videos directly led to $20,000 in organic sales, without me having to spend a cent on marketing.\u201d<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>On a Roll<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parents want the best for their kids \u2014 especially with the first child, decisions can be most precious. Barry Donaldson \u201903 and his partner, Danielle, are no exception. When the couple had baby Nola, they wanted to buy her a ball pit for playtime. The parents ordered two types, but they weren\u2019t up to snuff. \u201cTheir foam was sourced overseas, so it wasn\u2019t good quality,\u201d Donaldson explains. Based in Canada, the pair found a company that provides soy-based organic materials and \u201cwe just went with it from there,\u201d he says. \u201cWe started building everything ourselves, ball pits and play mats.\u201d Balu Organics was born in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/IMG_0476.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10345\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/IMG_0476.jpg 720w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/IMG_0476-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Stars, they\u2019re just like us<\/strong>: Justin and Hailey Bieber bought one for their nephew; Ashley Tisdale, Dakota Fanning, and several basketball players have also purchased the ball pits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Snowball effect<\/strong>: When the couple started the business, they were running it out of their home. Soon, they moved into a storage facility and have since moved twice into new warehouses as the operation has expanded. \u201cWe\u2019ve always taken the money we\u2019ve made and rolled it back into the company. It\u2019s like a snowball that we\u2019re rolling downhill to make it bigger and bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>\u201cWe started building everything ourselves, ball pits and play mats.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><cite>Barry Donaldson &#8217;03<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Adults can have fun too<\/strong>: When some customers half-joked that the company should make a ball pit for adults as well, \u201cwe did and it\u2019s gone really well.\u201d They\u2019re also looking into making slides for the ball pits and kid-sized couches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By day<\/strong>: Donaldson, who majored in computer science at Colgate, has been a project manager for the City of Toronto for the past 17 years. He earned his MBA at Ryerson University in 2010 with the plan of starting a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The latest addition<\/strong>: The couple had a second child, Myles, in November 2021. We wonder: What will he inspire his parents to do?<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>A Little Flourish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last two times the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, Michael Kanners \u201990 got a call. One of his clients, who works in the team\u2019s front office, wanted custom-made cuff links to commemorate each event. In 2013, Kanners crafted a pair in the shape of a baseball; the 2018 commission was more ambitious \u2014 in the form of the World Series trophy. \u201cIt was rather challenging to try and create something that\u2019s about 2 feet tall into a cuff link,\u201d Kanners says, \u201cbut we got all the details down.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A third-generation jeweler, he has tapped into a niche market for bespoke cuff links. Kanners joined the family business after earning his bachelor\u2019s at Colgate and a gemology degree from The Gemological Institute of America. A segment of the clientele were collectors who were in search of vintage cuff links. \u201cThe clients started asking me to make them new designs since there just wasn\u2019t enough of what I was trying to hunt down for them.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Sarto_Cuffs7592.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10347\" width=\"321\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Sarto_Cuffs7592.jpg 641w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Sarto_Cuffs7592-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of Kanners\u2019 cuff links range from $5,000\u20139,000. He acknowledges that it\u2019s an expensive price point but explains that they\u2019re costly because of the work involved. The process begins with Kanners sketching out the design and then collaborating with workshops in Italy, Germany, and New York City. \u201cThese are the most highly sought-after stone carvers in the world,\u201d he says, adding that the labor is the largest portion of the cost. His customers, therefore, are people \u201cwho appreciate finely made things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><strong>The process begins with Kanners sketching out the design and then collaborating with workshops in Italy, Germany, and New York City.<\/strong><\/p><cite> Michael Kanners \u201990 <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Sarto_Cuffs7664.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10348\" width=\"321\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Sarto_Cuffs7664.jpg 641w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Sarto_Cuffs7664-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>His Colgate philosophy degree guides his work: <\/strong>\u201cI try to figure out how the stones look best, what it means to be mounting each particular stone, and what the point of it is. There\u2019s more thought behind it rather than just aesthetic design.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Most challenging commission: <\/strong>A Wake Forest University alumnus requested four sets of cuff links representing the school\u2019s mascot, the Demon Deacon, with \u201cWF\u201d on the back. The client requested various hard stones \u2014 e.g., onyx for the hat; white agate for the hair, eyes, and teeth; and light brown jasper for the face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What he\u2019s working on now: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m more gemstone oriented \u2026 traditional stones like aquamarine, amethyst, or tourmaline, but still using modern techniques.\u201d He\u2019s also testing out different metals, like titanium: \u201cYou can anodize it into different spectral colors and then you can create very modern- looking designs. I\u2019m doing more custom women\u2019s jewelry now as a result of the cuff links. People are seeing that I have the ability to create things that are completely different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On his sleeve:<\/strong> Kanners says his personal collection of cuff links is rather small. He has a few pairs that his father and grandfather handed down, and he kept a couple of the first sets he made for the company. \u201cMy own dress is generally conservative,\u201d he told <em>Sarto<\/em> magazine, \u201cbut I always like a subtle highlight. I think that one little flourish, which is under your sleeve most of the time anyway, when it\u2019s revealed, it\u2019s a nice touch.\u201d<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>A Life Changer for One, and a Game Changer for Others<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Holy Grail of energy. That\u2019s what David Feldman \u201989 had stumbled upon, a kinesiologist told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feldman was testing out the origins of UCAN, which is now a variety of products that athletes use to fuel their bodies. At the time, though, he was looking for a solution to a much more personal concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/StrawBananaGelBoxTubeLS.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10350\" width=\"502\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/StrawBananaGelBoxTubeLS.jpg 1004w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/StrawBananaGelBoxTubeLS-300x287.jpg 300w, https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/StrawBananaGelBoxTubeLS-768x734.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His infant son, Jonah, was born with a rare metabolic disorder called glycogen storage disease (GSD) type 1a, which prevents the liver from metabolizing glycogen into glucose. The body\u2019s natural source of energy, glucose affects brain function, the respiratory system, and phosphate balance. Feldman and his wife had to feed Jonah every three hours. At night, they\u2019d set double alarms to ensure that they wouldn\u2019t oversleep and miss a feeding, which could have dire consequences. \u201cWe were looking for something \u2014 is there anything out there to improve life for the patient, for the caregivers, something to be made easier?\u201d remembers Feldman, who is an orthodontist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through research, they found the inventor of SuperStarch, a slow\u00ad\u2013energy release starch that could lengthen the time between Jonah\u2019s feedings. The inventor had sold the license for the starch\u2019s use in GSD, but he licensed its use for consumer nutrition to the Feldmans. In addition to glucose management, \u201cWe realized what we had was good for a variety of things: athletics, metabolic control, healthy living,\u201d Feldman says. In 2009, he co-founded The UCAN Company as a sports nutrition business. The products \u2014 gels, powders, bars \u2014 are purchased by more than 40 pro teams (including the Patriots), 300 college teams, and elite athletes. The company has rebranded the starch to LIVSTEADY, with the message that it\u2019s a product that provides steady energy for active lifestyles and everyday health. Feldman also seeks to further the applications of LIVSTEADY to provide life-altering solutions of energy management for type 1 and type 2 diabetic individuals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for Jonah? The starch has been a \u201clife changer,\u201d Feldman says. Jonah\u2019s even able to be a typical college kid \u2014 at Colgate, in fact, as a member of the Class of \u201924.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From baby ball pits to custom cuff links, these products by alumni are the foundation of successful businesses. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1222,"featured_media":10373,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[354,1181,1175,1172,1180,445,299,1173,1171,1176,1170,1174,1177,1179,122,438],"coauthors":[1168,168,388],"class_list":["post-10259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-features","tag-alumni","tag-artistic","tag-beauty","tag-beverages","tag-cufflinks","tag-energy","tag-fashion","tag-goldman-sachs","tag-kids","tag-mezcal","tag-pocket-protector","tag-skincare","tag-tequila","tag-vintage","tag-wellness","tag-women"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/palXSH-2Ft","amp_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/Initiative.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10259"}],"version-history":[{"count":113,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10259\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10982,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10259\/revisions\/10982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10259"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.colgate.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}