Page 51 - The Anchor

Growing

entrepreneurs

on the path to
by Glenn Carson
Success

The relatively new Center (founded in 2021) is designed funded the Arthur and Lindee Lucas Endowed Scholarship

around communities, so that students are networking with for Entrepreneurship.
other entrepreneurs from the very beginning. Ande Noktes is the Executive Director of the Lucas
By systematically using volunteer mentors as Center. A veteran entrepreneur, Noktes created three
foundational to the program, decades of experience are schools in Atlanta, including the Midtown International

readily available to each would-be entrepreneur. In addition, School, which offers gifted students trips abroad and a
the mentors themselves and other business owners find global perspective. When Congressman John Lewis (1940-
support and new ideas through their 2020) toured the school, he commented to
partnership with the Center. Working with “Because of the Noktes, “this is the kind of school that Martin

their mentors, students are empowered Center, students Luther King, Jr. would have wanted to see.”
to reach new levels of expertise in a much can dream of Notkes says that every day she gets to
shorter time. The opportunity to learn entrepreneurship work with people to make their dreams
directly, one-on-one, from area business and transform come true. “I actually work more with local

leaders gives students a jump-start themselves to entrepreneurs than I do with students,” she
to future success. open viable said. “We are creating opportunities for
Students learn business planning, businesses.” entrepreneurs, and those aspiring to be,
finance, strategic planning, human resources, to change their lives.”

and more, so they gain a full understanding of how to start As Dean of the School of Business and Public
and grow a business. Management for the College, Dr. William (Skip) Mounts
Art and Lindee Lucas, lifelong entrepreneurs, were the oversees the work of the Center. “Entrepreneurs change
impetus for founding the Center. The Lucas Firm, started the world,” Mounts said. “The Lucas Center, through its

by Art in 1970, grew into one of the leading executive programs, can change our world. It is as simple as that
recruitment agencies in the United States. He serves as a and as big as that.”
trustee for the College of Coastal Georgia and he and Lindee While focusing on entrepreneurship is an option
were inspired through their contact with students and faculty for students, they can also choose to minor in this area

to help advance the idea for the Center. The couple has also of study, regardless of their major.

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