Alumni Testimonials
Alumni
Alumni and Parent Testimonials
"My time at LAB was truly an experience. Not only were there new connections formed, it also helped set my sight for the future and to decide what my future may hold. LAB Week® gave so much real-world experience and was overall a fun time and an experience that was well worth it!"
- Colleen Albu, Class of 2022
"LAB Week was an excellent experience that I truly enjoyed. I met a ton of great people that I still keep in contact with, and I learned about all the aspects of business with them. I truly believe that I am better prepared for the future because of LAB Week®."
- Ari Rubin, Class of 2022
"LAB Week® helped solidify my son's interest in business as a path for his college education and his career. The exposure to every aspect of business both theoretically and practically was a fantastic experience. We are so grateful for this opportunity to help shape his future."
- Andrea Kushnick Rubin – mother of Ari Rubin, Class of 2022
"Thanks for coordinating the greatest camp and experience in the world! LAB Week® will be cherished in my memory forever – I would never have met such great people who I have been keeping in touch with."
- Aidan Tripodo, Class of 2022
"The thing I remember most about LAB Week® was one of the speakers on the international business day. He had a wife and young twins. Because he was fluent in Spanish and they were living abroad, he would only talk to his children in Spanish and his wife in English – his children were bi-lingual at a very early age. He knew that his children would benefit from knowing two languages and how important it is to differentiate yourself. This helped me to remember to always be open to learning whenever possible – a trait I carry with me today."
- Ali Adinaro, Class of 1996
The further I progress in life, the more I grow to appreciate my LAB Week® experience. LAB week was my first real life experience where I was able to learn how to make professional connections, carry myself with poise and professionalism, manage risk within a company, and get a glimpse of what an international company (The Lubrizol Corporation) is like. Looking back, LAB Week® also put small businesses into perspective for me. After graduation, I am furthering my education in the enology (winemaking) field and working at my family business, Kosicek Vineyards. LAB Week® ignited my appreciation for small businesses through our business tour of Downtown Willoughby. Visiting Fiona's Coffee Bar & Bakery and the Wild Goose made me appreciate the heart and soul that goes into small businesses even more. Additionally, meeting like-minded individuals, many of whom I have kept in contact, was another portion of LAB Week® that I will be forever grateful for. I highly recommend ALL high school students to participate in LAB Week® regardless of their intended area of study in college or post-high school graduation plans in general.
- Emma Kosicek, LAB Class of 2017
"Thank you so much for the countless hours your team have worked to make LAB a meaningful experience. My son truly enjoyed it and I appreciated and was impressed by the daily updates."
- Kristen Tripodo, mother of Aidan Tripodo, Class of 2022
"I think LAB Week® was a great opportunity. It was a wonderful experience that changed my views on talking in front of a crowd and taught me a lot. Everyone in the program was amazing. My final thought is: for anyone who loves business or just needs to be more social, give it a shot it’s worth it."
- Tino, Class of 2021
“We are both business people with diverse global experiences and have some rather high standards for educational programs. Prior to our daughter Madeline applying for LAB, we had not heard of the program, and we had very little idea of what to expect going into it. The experience that Madeline received far exceeded any expectations we had, and we would wholeheartedly recommend the LAB program to other students and their families. Even if your student is not interested in a business career, they will gain skills and exposure in this program that will serve them well into the future. The confidence, networking ability, and communication skills Madeline took away from the program were evident as soon as we picked her up. There is no other program in Northeast Ohio that offers this level of business education while making the price point more than affordable for families. LAB provides an exceptional experience, and we are grateful that our student could access this program.”
- Jason and Heidi Frisbie, Parents of 2021 LAB Graduate
"During the Virtual LAB Experience I learned a lot about how to manage employees and how to hire new ones. In particular, I learned a lot about the difference between LLCs, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. It was very interesting to learn when it is important to use which method to keep your business ideas safe. The food truck virtual business that we had the opportunity to run was very fun and taught me the many difficulties of running a small business. I had a lot of fun with my jewelry cart and I learned a lot about how to plan my business around coming events and the weather. All in all, I had a very fun time and I learned a lot on how to start and run a business. "
- Joe, Class of 2020
“This was the best experience of my life. I am grateful and appreciate all the work in putting this together. This unique and wonderful program opened my eyes to possibilities. I made new friends and felt comfortable and safe. Thank you for showing me what awesome looks like.”
- Kyla, Class of 2019
“Thank you for presenting a great business program. All the sessions, guest speakers and activities were amazing and beneficial to partake in. The mock press conference was one of my favorite activities.”
- Jessica, Class of 2019
"The further into my career I get, the more I realize how much I appreciate and apply all of the lessons and skills I learned during my time in LAB. Not only has my experience with the camp helped me build a professional persona, but it has allowed me to communicate more effectively and confidently.
Being introduced to networking and the importance of soft skills development helped us learn to gain respect for and from business prospects throughout the area. It is quickly learned that age does not always play a factor in business dynamics as long as you practice proper business etiquette. During the camp every student was treated as an adult and was held to such standards. Assuming LAB is the first time most students are introduced to a professional environment, it allows for valuable learning experiences that students can utilize and take with them for a lifetime.
While throughout the week we learned a lot about different types of roles and careers in business, one of the most valuable lessons I took away was business etiquette. Simple things such as eye contact, where to put your nametag, telling someone they're appreciated, shaking someone's hand. All of these lessons that are not taught within the schools. A student can go on to college and get a degree in business that will teach you the job itself, but no job will teach you how to behave or carry yourself in business settings. Reputation in the business world is incredibly important and I am very grateful that LAB has taught me these skills.
Above all else, I made some life-long friends during my week at LAB who I still keep in contact with to this day. I will never be able to truly explain the extent of my gratitude for this camp, and I highly recommend this program to all dedicated high school students."
- Brittany, Class of 2015
“I was undecided on what I wanted to study in college when I arrived, but LAB Week®, with its hands-on and experiential learning style confirmed that business, and specifically marketing, was definitely my path. I found employment right after graduation from college with EyeMed Vision Care in their Sales Leadership Development program, pursuing a career in outside sales with the fastest growing vision benefits company in the country. LAB was a big reason I pursued business as a career. I couldn't recommend it enough to prospective students.”
- Alec, Class of 2010
“My LAB experience exceeded all the expectations I had. The days were filled with competitive activities that challenged our groups to think as business executives, taking us out of our ordinary teenage lives. All of the guest presenters brought an interesting dimension about their own career. In fact, I was surprised to learn that many of the professionals did not even study business in college. In the end, my lab experience was made through all the fantastic, young businessmen and businesswomen I had met and worked with throughout the week. Experiencing this program with them was unforgettable.”
- Kyle, Class of 2012
“I attended LAB in 2000. Since then, I earned my B.S. in entrepreneurship and international business from the University of Dayton. Currently, I run the marketing research and statistics program for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is the world's busiest airport. I also met my future husband at a LAB alumni event.”
- Rebecca, Class of 2000
“Dear future business leaders, here are a few tips I have for your LAB Week:
- Stay calm, cool, and collected when a curve ball is thrown your way. Although you have mapped out your business, not everything will go according to plan. Expect the unexpected.
- Take advantage of the speakers and local professionals that you will meet during LAB Week®. After a presentation, approach the speaker, shake his/her hand, and tell him/her a little about yourself, and finally ask the speaker a question about how they developed their career. One of the presenters at my LAB Week® experience became a mentor, giving me advice and recommendations for summer internships. Networking is a skill that you can develop during LAB Week®.
Because of my LAB experience as CMO (Chief Marketing Office), I decided to major in Marketing at Miami University. One of my favorite memories of LAB was video conferencing with Lubrizol employees in China, Australia, Brazil and Canada.”
- Charlotte, Class of 2010
“After having a few days to reflect on my time at LAB, I’ve come to realize how much this opportunity has changed me. The program taught me so much about business and what that really means. Looking back on the week, we were exposed to so much from the morning sessions with Donald Wayne McLeod and numerous guest speakers to the simulation and eye-opening field trips. It’s hard to believe it was only six days. This past week, I actually found myself saying out loud, “I miss LAB.” Not only did this experience affirm my decision to pursue an undergraduate degree in business, it also positively impacted me on a personal level that I wasn’t expecting. Thank you for making Learning About Business a life-changing experience.”
- Dylan, Class of 2018
“LAB really helped me decide what I want to pursue in college and potentially after that. I still want to major in business but instead of being a part of a big company or corporation, I want to own my own business, revolving around creating something I am truly passionate about. It also opened my eyes to how hard life can be at times, the early mornings and hot dorms in the middle of summer is not the most pleasant experience, but it is an experience I would not trade for the world. LAB also introduced me to people I am still friends with today, people I am very thankful for. LAB is worthwhile experience and it truly helped me in many more ways than just ‘Learning about Business.’”
- Noah, Class of 2017
“I have applied many of the skills I learned at LAB throughout my time since. I was able to use the networking abilities and the communication skills learned at LAB during my day at Leadership Lake County. The great part for me was that I was very engaged with the adults and by the end of lunch, I had gotten eight people's business cards in order to keep in touch with them. When I was leaving, one man came up to me say how great I presented myself that day. I have the LAB program to thank for teaching me how to act professionally and showed me how important it is to network. So, thank you! I very much appreciate you all!”
- Taylor, Class of 2016
“When I was on my way to Lake Erie College last year, I told myself and my parents that I was attending LAB just to get some basic information on business, knowing I’d have to eventually deal with business aspects of life. I never expected it to impact me as much as it did. I am planning on majoring in business, minoring in fine arts, and combining the two as I start my own business. LAB opened up my eyes and made me realize how amazing the business world is. Not only did it do that, but I became more outspoken, an improved version of myself. I have always been very afraid to talk to people, very socially awkward, but the six days I spent at LAB helped me overcome a lot of social anxiety problems and I am forever grateful for that. I still refer to LAB Week® as the best week of my life.”
- Abby, Class of 2015
“My LAB experience met and exceeded all the expectations I had prior to my arrival at the beautiful Lake Erie College campus. Each day had a different business theme: Teambuilding, Fundamentals, Marketing, International Business, Management, Entrepreneurship, and Investing. I felt that each participant could be engaged in any one of these areas of concentration presented throughout the week. In the end, my LAB experience was really made through all the fantastic, young businessmen and businesswomen I met and worked with throughout the week. Experiencing this program with them has been unforgettable.”
- Kyle, Class of 2012
“LAB was a big reason I pursued business as a career and continue to be invigorated and excited by my work on a daily basis. I am grateful I got the opportunity to attend. I recommend LAB Week® highly to prospective students and would love to stay engaged as an alumnus from down here in Cincinnati.”
- Alec, Class of 2011