Utica Teens in Action and the Young Entrepreneurs Academy 5-5-25

In this episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday, 16-year-old entrepreneur Dwayne Presley talks about how he launched, markets, and operates his business, Utica Teens in Action. Dwayne is an 11th grader at Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica. Michelle McCarrick, a program manager and instructor from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Mohawk Valley Community,  joins the conversation to discuss how her program provides young people with mentors, branding support, and essential business knowledge. As a young entrepreneur, Dwayne learned the importance of considering insurance and forming an LLC for liability protection when working on clients' properties.  Dwayne gives some public speaking tips, including embracing fear, treating the audience as equals, and extensive practice for high-stakes situations like investor pitches. He discusses the importance of being reliable, consistent, and a “hustler” in order to achieve business success.

Utica Teens in Action is online at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571397937533, you can also reach them by phone at [phone] or email [e-mail]. The Young Entrepreneurs Program at Mohawk Valley Community College is online at https://www.mvcc.edu/cced/community-education/young-entrepreneurs-academy.php. You can reach them by phone at 315-534-0067 or email [e-mail].

Jonathan Brooks/ DJ J-Easy is the sound engineer. He is online at Facebook.com/easyatm315, Instagram.com/j_easy315/, and https://on.soundcloud.com/XGKd3e4AZeNtrD2X9

Jim Hale is the photographer and records the show for video and podcast streaming. He is online at Jim Hale (@instanteon) • Instagram photos and videos 

Nabil Khan is the entertainment correspondent for Hot Seat: Media Monday. Nabil is online at Letterboxd.com/1andonlynabk/and Instagram.com/instanab.k/.

Ron Klopfanstein is an award-winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He hosts Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Podcasts at: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nbrIF49K56OxbPljuw1Lv?si=7e000e7279f54c2a Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Bsky.app/profile/ronklopfanstein.bsky.social, Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.