EFK Franchisee Featured in AZCentral Article

Engineering For Kids' Ron Hoagland was featured in an azcentral article. Ron talks about how he got involved with Engineering For Kids and how he helps to improve the local community.


Aaron Rop, The Republic | azcentral.com

A summer camp in Arizona might sound like a long day under the sun with the reward of exhaustion and sweat-stained clothes.

With Ron Hoagland's summer camp, though, Southeast Valley kids can have fun designing video games, building robots or simply learning how the world works.

Hoagland is the owner and director of Engineering for Kids' East Valley division. Engineering for Kids was started by CEO Dori Roberts, a former high-school teacher, who developed an after-school program into a successful STEM program for all demographics.

Roberts started franchising her business in 2009, Hoagland says, and Hoagland bought the first franchise in Arizona in July last year. The program is in 26 states and four countries.

Hoagland says he always wanted to own his own business and have it be positive, bringing something new to the community. Coming from a sales and marketing background, he says he didn't know much about STEM or engineering, but he did research on education in the U.S. compared with other countries and found there was a need to spark kids' interest in engineering because U.S. public schools are lagging.

"Technology is moving so fast now," Hoagland said. "So, if we don't get these kids going now, it's scary to think where this country might be in 20 to 30 years. … We've been on top as the world's leader of innovation for decades and decades, but that's not guaranteed, especially if we are not addressing the education situation in the U.S. Schools are cutting back on programs all the time, so there is a need for people to come in and provide that opportunity."

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Engineering For Kids has announced it's 100th Franchise!

Engineering For Kids has announced it's 100th franchise and could not be more proud. Their enthusiasm for STEM Education has spread across the nation and even to a few other countries! Check out the article below from franchising.com.

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Fredericksburg, VA (PRWEB) May 19, 2014 - Engineering For Kids, the beloved science, technology, engineering, and math program, is excited to announce that the company has awarded its 100th franchise. The newest franchise, located in Lakeland, Florida, marks an achievement that has surpassed the expectations set by CEO Dori Roberts, "This has been an amazing accomplishment that was unexpected in less than three years of franchising. We are very proud of our franchisees who are inspiring the next generation of engineers." Engineering For Kids is now inspiring in 26 states and 9 different countries. 

Founded in July of 2009, Engineering For Kids first began offering its programs to young engineers in Northern Virginia. Dori Roberts decided that the best way to inspire the next generation on a global scale was through the franchise platform. The first Engineering For Kids franchise was awarded in December of 2011 and the 100th agreement was signed in April 2014. In 2013, Engineering For Kids increased system sales by 351.3%. With ever-increasing revenues, Engineering For Kids is excited to expand into new regions and inspire the next generation of engineers all over the world.

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CEO Dori Roberts Named One of Washington's Top Female Business Leaders  

"Washington SmartCEO has named the founder and CEO of Stafford County-based Engineering for Kids as one of the Washington area’s top female business leaders. Dori Roberts was one of 32 women selected for the 2014 Brava! Award." -Fredericksburg.com

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