Three Colorado Business Leaders to Mentor Youth Entrepreneurs

DENVER - Aug. 6, 2013 - PRLog -- Three influential Colorado business leaders are serving as Presenting Mentors for the 12th annual Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs.  Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs is an annual youth business competition hosted by the nonprofit, Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

Chad McWhinney is the Co-Founder and CEO of McWhinney, a fully integrated, diversified Real Estate Company. In the past twenty years, McWhinney has planed and developed over 1,300 multi-family apartments, over 6,000 acres of land, and over 4.5 million square feet of commercial properties.

Kristy Taddonio Mullins is the President of Mile Hi Foods, Mile Hi Specialty Foods and Mile Hi Bakery; which are all family businesses that have been selling for over four generations.  Taddonio Mullins decided to become part of the family business after graduating from the University of Denver, and since then has held various positions and has worked her way to the title she now holds.

Colleen Abdoulah is the CEO of WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone, which is one of the top ten cable operating companies in the country.  Under Abdoulah’s watchful eye, the company has garnered 17 J.D. Power and Associates awards for customer satisfaction. Prior to being a CEO for WOW! Abdoulah worked at TCI, where she held numerous positions, including Assistant to the COO and Executive Vice President of Cable Operations.

Three youth entrepreneurs will be named winners of the youth business competition, each of whom will be paired with one of these Presenting Mentors.  This pairing offers an exciting opportunity for both the winners and the mentors:  the young winners have the chance to solicit valuable business advice from their seasoned mentors; while the mentors have the opportunity to support and encourage a next generation of business owners in Colorado.


About Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs

Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs is a business competition for 6 to 21-year-old entrepreneurs across Colorado.  An independent panel of judges comprised of local business people and educators reads the submitted applications and selects one winner and two finalists in each age category: 6-11, 12-15 and 16-21.  Finalists are awarded $250.  Winners are awarded $1,000, in addition to being paired with a Presenting Mentor.

Winners and finalists of the competition will be honored at a dinner and awards ceremony on September 10, 2013, 6-9 pm, at the Seawell Grand Ballroom in Denver.

This annual fundraiser benefits the programs of Young Americans Center for Financial Education, a nonprofit charity that reaches more than 50, 000 youth every year through hands-on programs and real-life experiences that develop financial literacy in youth.  Visit www.yacenter.org to learn more about Young AmeriTowne, International Towne, Get aHead for Business, Young Americans Bank and more.