Success STORIES

Overflow Coffee Bar's New Manager

Self-proclaimed coffee nerd and introvert Kari Pendelton was born on the South Side of Chicago, the fourth of five siblings. Her family moved to Scotland when she was 10, so her father could participate in a semester study abroad program through Moody Bible Institute. They loved it so much they stayed, and Kari spent the remainder of her school years in Glasgow. She then moved back to Chicago in 2011 to attend Moody Bible Institute herself.

Kari's love for coffee first began in Scotland, along with a love for baking. As a teenager, she lovingly kept her family's home supplied with fresh baked, traditional Scottish shortbread and ultimately found herself selling them to a local businessman. Dreams of one day having her own bakery took shape in Kari's mind: Bakes by Kari--a place where people could come and enjoy the warmth of a cozy bakery and experience the power of hospitality. Kari truly believes that when people experience genuine love and warmth, it has the power to change them for the better.

Kari continued to practice and perfect her baking skills while still in Scotland and after moving to Chicago, as well as perfecting her coffee nerdiness through 10 years working in the coffee industry. Over the years, Kari developed a strong conviction that love for people should drive passion for product and a work ethic that includes intentionally seeking ways to do good.

Kari brought that conviction and work ethic to Entrenuity as Overflow Coffee Bar's new Manager. With quality training directly from Ipsento Coffee, where Kari worked for the past year, Kari's excited to present Overflow's specialty coffee from Ipsento at its very best, consistently. Entrenuity's also excited to help her launch Bakes by Kari and feature her baked goods at Overflow. We hope you'll enjoy being on this journey with us as we seek to intentionally do good in and through our community while offering an exceptional coffee experience. For the love of coffee and you!    

In Partnership: Curriculum Collaboration

The Male Mogul Initiative, led by former NFL football player Walter Mendenhall, in partnership with Entrenuity, completed its second cohort with high school students from the Austin Community, located on the Westside of Chicago, using the StartingUp Now curriculum. Students gained practical and applicable knowledge about business creation that can lead to success and productivity in their businesses, schools, and community. We accomplished our task by helping students develop and enhance their personal philosophy of leadership that included an understanding of self, groups and how they can be positive change agents in their communities. Students had a chance to visit Northwestern’s Kellogg Business School and present their business plans at the conclusion of the six-week program. The Male Mogul Initiative was rated After Schools Matters' highest rated summer program for the summer of 2017.

Returning Citizens

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Introducing: Bakes by Kari

Sitting in the parking lot eating a piece of pecan pie for breakfast, I knew I was in trouble. It was day 6 after Entrenuity’s pie tasting event with Bakes by Kari and my 6th piece of pie in as many days. All I could think about was that this was the last piece I had left, I was headed out of town and it would be at least 4 days before I could get my tastebuds on another piece of Kari’s pie. Pecan, Pumpkin, Apple, Sweet Potato … I’m telling you, Kari Pendelton knows how to bake pie!

And not just pies. Bakes by Kari is the start-up of baking entrepreneur, Kari Pendelton, who truly finds joy in making the lives of others just a touch sweeter, sharing in the triumphs and trials of life with every bite. From puddings and cobblers, to cookies and cakes, Kari uses only the best, all-natural ingredients for her baked goods, wielding her baking skill like a tool she uses to love people a little bit better and a little more sweetly. Whether it’s a holiday pie, a celebratory cake or a special dessert for a family dinner, Kari considers it an honor to be quietly woven into people’s stories through her lovingly prepared baked goods.

Entrenuity is excited to introduce Bakes by Kari and we look forward to sharing more with you about her journey. In the meantime, check her out on  Facebook or Instagram and ORDER  yourself a pie!

Entrepreneur Update: Esther Renee Shirk

Aspiring entrepreneur and jewelry designer, Esther Renee Shirk, stepped into a fine jewelry store to purchase a silver polishing cloth for her business and walked out with a job. When the manager learned that Esther had a small jewelry design business, she hired her part-time as a seasonal employee for the holidays. After the holidays, Esther was asked to continue working and before long was offered a full-time position as an Apprentice in their jewelry repair department. Though the job would take time away from her own business, Esther saw an opportunity to learn and couldn't turn it down.

Since then, Esther has been increasing her design and repair skills, learning the ins and outs of running a shop and the back-office work involved, as well as growing the vision for her own business beyond beads and wire, to precious metals and gemstones.

Esther continues to sell her own designs on Etsy, as well as at craft fairs and street markets. In addition, her hand-crafted jewelry can be found at Flying High and Volumes Bookcafe--two local Chicago merchants.

mox.E Women Update

Mox.E Women entrepreneur and musician, Sheila Fortson, performed before a sold-out crowd at City Point Loft on Friday evening, July 7th. Sheila and Spoken Word Artist, Maya, combine the sultry sounds of poetry and violin to tell stories about life, love, loss and rebirth, the "Love Evolution" of our lives. They are Sounds of Poetry--inspired by early R&B legends and current artists of this millenium, as well as great poets from every decade. Maya draws inspiration in her writings from her own life circumstances, friends, family and the world around her. Sheila pulls sounds from classical, soul, R&B and her own inspirations, finding her own "voice" in the way the words and music sing into her soul on the strings. Sounds of Poetry cultivated their silky-smooth sound after finding their own voice in poetry and violin in their hometown of Chicago. To learn more, check out their website.