Last Tuesday, three of Morgan County’s youngest entrepreneurs delivered their business pitches before a panel of judges during the final round of the district-level Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship X-perience (FLEX) competition held at the high school.
According to the FLEX website, the statewide competition grows workforce talent and connects high school students to the business world, enabling students to create real businesses, provide real products and services, and make real money.
The Wheelhouse, a local entrepreneurial hub, ran Morgan’s competition.
Junior Addison Hilsman and his company, Elite Motorsports, won the first-place prize of $3,000 and will move on to the FLEX state finals in Tifton as the sole representative for Morgan County.
Addison started the business when he was 14, but he said it “really took off” this school year.
As a certified diesel technician and dealer with Meyer Distributing, Addison specializes in diesel performance mechanics and vehicle accessories.
“I’m able to buy products at dealer costs and sell it to you at a lower price, typically, than what normal people can get it at,” he explained. “I can pretty much install and sell any accessory, along with repairing vehicles, from brake suspension, to grill kits, to LED lighting.”
Addison said winning the local competition “felt amazing,” and plans to use the $3,000 prize to buy more stock from Meyer Distributing and tools for his shop.
Junior Jatavious Ward, and his company, JIT Productions, received the second-place prize of $1,500. JIT Productions specializes in digital marketing for businesses and athletes. Jatavious has done marketing for local restaurant Wing Nights, Morgan County High School FFA, Virginia-based clothing company God Will Guide, and Morgan football standout Jasper Cason.
Senior Ethan Cook, owner of Cook’s Junk Removal, received the third-place prize of $750. Ethan serves residential and commercial clients, specializing in yard debris, furniture removal, and shed and barn demolition.
“Each of y’all did a very good job today,” panel judge Brooks Pennington IV told the students after the competition. “I’m looking forward to see what y’all do. All of you are going to be extremely successful when you have this kind of drive at your age.
“Everyone deserved that first-place … it was very tight, and a tough decision for us to make.”