March Features Ken & Kasey Schroeder

: Ken and Kasey Schroeder

Ken and Kasey Schroeder are no strangers to owning their own business. For 20 years, the couple owned Bedrock Hauling in Newnan. Great business? Undoubtedly. A passion? Decidedly not.

Eighteen months ago, Ken and Kasey began to explore coffee roasting. Exploration grew to experimentation, and they began to gift friends and family with coffee. Friends told their friends, who in turn, told their friends. With each new order, a passion grew. Luckily for Ken and Kasey, passion equaled great business opportunity, and Brewmeister Coffee was born.

The business is run out of the kitchen of their home in Newnan, where Ken, aka “The Brewmeister” roasts coffee beans one pound at a time. They actually considered buying a larger roaster, but the Brewmeister believes that producing larger quantities at one time will detract from the quality of the roast. And Kasey? She flavors one pound at a time to give the coffee the purest taste possible.

The main bulk of Brewmeister’s business comes from their website, www.brewmeistercoffee.com. With help from local company MRC Solutions, Kasey designed the website herself. The company has had orders from as far away as Canada and the Cayman Islands. “Interestingly enough,” Kasey says, “we ship a LOT to Seattle!” For local coffee lovers, Kasey takes orders over the phone and delivers the coffee in person to a home or business. It’s those personal touches that bring customers back over and over again. Leigh Brown at Bank of Coweta orders Brewmeister Coffee for gifts. “It’s so easy! I call Kasey with my order, she personalizes each package, and the coffee is delivered to me at the bank the next day…still warm!”

What’s next for Brewmeister Coffee? Kasey makes delicious desserts and may make them available on the website as well. She also plans to add coffee-themed apparel. “The possibilities are nearly endless,” she says.

Although they wish they would have known more about website building and promoting internet visibility when they started, Ken and Kasey wouldn’t have done it any other way. Asked what they like best about owning the business, the reply was simple—good coffee, good friends, no stress. The Schroeders have truly found their calling…and a formula that will ensure the success of Brewmeister Coffee for the long haul.

ETC Features Casey Curtis, Young Entrepreneur

When asked when he first became interested in computers, student entrepreneur Casey Curtis answered, “As long as I can remember”. He received his first computer when he was in the 4th or 5th grade and cannot remember when he first started handling the payroll/accounting functions in Quickbooks for his dad’s business. Casey later took Graphic Arts and Video/Broadcasting at Central Education Center and it was here that all the things he had learned earlier became relevant and tangible. He found a career in the fascinating world of 2-D Graphics and 3-D Animation and he’s also teaching others as a student intern in Animation.

Casey started his business, Thermopylae, in November 2005 when he was only a Junior in high school. He’s now a graduating senior from Newnan High School, an upcoming freshman preparing to enter Savannah College of Arts and Design – Atlanta (SCAD) and a developing entrepreneur managing the daily affairs of his business. Thermopylae develops graphics and 3-D Animation and has produced commercials for the Newnan Mainstreet Association, Beyond Communications, and 1st Coweta Bank. The company has also animated the logo for A & D Land Ventures, Inc. and completed the 3-D model and camera match for a Georgia Tech Warcar, a military concept vehicle. Additionally, Casey is the Skills USA 2006 State Winner and he recently completed about 500 hours of animation and special effects for an independent movie. He said that equated to about 30 minutes of actual film time.

With all of this success, it’s difficult to remember that Casey is still in high school and he says that some company leaders see his age as a barrier to retaining his services. When people see him, they ask how old he is and immediately think he’s not mature enough to handle these important projects. Commercials and logos create images to clients and customers and are important branding and marketing tools for companies. At this juncture, his teacher at CEC, Mr. Kevin Pullen, quickly speaks up and says, “As an intern, Casey guides the students through their animation projects and is performing work that a graduate level student would perform. Casey is extremely mature for his age and he’s cloning himself by inspiring others who might take his place as next year’s intern”.

Casey owns his own equipment and software. He uses 3DS Studio Max 8, PhotoShop and a host of other software packages. The most expensive of these is the 3DS Studio Max 8 and he won a copy of it as the Skills USA State Winner last year.

When asked what the future holds for him, he said he’ll be attending SCAD in the Fall majoring in Visual Effects and Animation and he intends on continuing to grow his business. He’d also love to keep his business based in Coweta if possible. He said the business’ mission is to produce quality versus quantity and hopes that this mission with ensure future growth of his business.

One of the task forces assembled by our Entrepreneurs THRIVE in Coweta (ETC!) initiative will help us identify youthful entrepreneurs in our county and will help these entrepreneurs plug into the support network we are working to provide. Additionally the ETC! Youth Programs task force will venture to work with our schools and the school system to foster young entrepreneurial aspirations just as Mr. Pullen has done with Casey Curtis. ETC! will help all of make sure that Thermopylae, Casey and other Coweta “home-grown” entrepreneurs will be around for years to come.

Written by: Tonya Whitlock, Coweta Campus Director for West Central Technical College; and a member of the ETC! Leadership Team; and the ETC! Champion for Entrepreneur Education.