Engineering For Kids featured on Arizona's Local NBC

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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Engineering for Kids in Entrepreneur Magazine

Engineering for Kids in Entrepreneur Magazine in an article titled, "Intel Engineer Shares Her Passion With the Next Generation." The article talks focused on Shu-ling Garver, a native of China, who came to the U.S. in 1986 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from a university in Shanghai. Once arriving in the United States, she received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Engineering. Garver has worked for Intel since 1989 as an engineering manager and marketing manager enabling the industry with Intel Architecture. At Intel, she also dedicated herself to engaging female engineers, mentoring them and getting young girls involved in the industry. With this background, becoming an owner for Engineering for Kids was a perfect fit.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Intel Engineer Shares Her Passion With the Next Generation

By: Jason Dailey

When Shu-ling Garver was growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, opportunity was not a word she understood. Her father, an English teacher by profession, was labeled a political enemy and forced to dig tunnels. The family lived in a Shanghai back alley. It was a terrible time, but the little girl studied hard and learned English from her father and the radio.

Garver appeared to have no chance of making it out of the slums. But when she turned 17, she was surprised to learn that she was allowed to apply for college. After completing two years at a technical school in Shanghai, she transferred to Portland State University in Oregon, where she graduated in 1989 with a degree in computer science. She was recruited by Intel and has been working for the chip manufacturer ever since.

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Franchisee Spotlight: Javier Garay

Javier Garay, 34 years old, was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New Orleans when he was seven and had to go through the first part of his schooling without speaking English, something he recalls vividly. His father was a chemical engineer at Dow Chemical and he also has an older brother and younger sister. Javier went to Harvard University majoring in economics (older brother also went to Harvard and younger sister went to Yale) and took a job with Merrill Lynch as a hedge fund trader. After six years, Javier decided to go to business school and went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, earning an MBA in entrepreneurship. Most recently, Javier worked with Stevens Capital Management until the fourth quarter of 2012 before deciding to make a move to pursue something on his own. Despite his great successes, he wanted to cultivate his passion for children and learning, so he reached out to Dori Roberts, owner of Engineering For Kids.

The idea to start an Engineering for Kids franchise came to him in 2011 when his oldest son turned two and received a flashlight for his birthday. As his son played with the flashlight, discovering all of its parts, the link between engineering and education dawned on him. He fondly calls this the “flashlight incident.” Javier understands that children are natural born engineers who have unlimited imaginations and unbridled enthusiasm. He is passionate about helping children tap into their potential by exposing them to the role that engineers play in our daily lives. Javier speaks fluent Spanish, has been married for nine years and has three children.

How did you learn about the brand? I was looking online for entrepreneurial ideas that I could do with my son and came across the organization.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Engineering For Kids? It really was the flashlight incident. It was a moment that made me think, “Alright let’s go find something.” And when I found EFK and discovered it was a franchise, it was a good fit for me.

I am currently teaching at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA and have secured space there in July for summer camps.  I will also be holding camps this summer at the Horsham Township Community Center in July and August. Long-term, I am planning to place registration on my EFK website and expand to other schools, libraries and community centers in my territory. There are well over 200 schools in my area and I hope to be able to service all of them. I currently teach on Mondays and Thursdays and I am making the preparations for summer camps this summer.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business? I am just getting underway, but I did meet with the head of the local township chamber of commerce.  I also hope to get involved with the local rotary club and was invited over there for weekly meetings. Getting more involved with the community is one of my next goals.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now? The biggest hurdle for me has been taking that leap and being self-employed after having a successful career on Wall Street for so many years. With a relatively young family it was definitely a tough decision, but luckily my wife and I have been able to make it work as she remains employed as well.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions? All of my waking hours are spent being a dad, but I love spending time with my family. I’m also an avid traveler and have been to over 35 countries in my life, not near as high as my wife who has been to over 50 countries.

Engineering for Kids Featured on CNNMoney.com

Engineering for Kids was recently featured on CNNMoney.com in an article titled, "Executive by day, entrepreneur by  night". The article features various profiles of professionals who work full time careers and run a small business on the side. Featured for EFK is franchisee Shu-ling Garver. Shu-ling notes that she was the first Engineering For Kids franchisee and that her experience with the brand has been highly rewarding.

 

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

Executive by day, entrepreneur by night

These seven moonlighters are pursuing big professional careers -- and their entrepreneurial dreams.

Intel engineer turned franchisee

Name: Shu-Ling Garver

Day job: Engineering manager with Intel

Side business: Engineering for Kids franchisee

Shu-Ling Garver has made it her mission at Intel to mentor women in the industry and get young kids, especially girls, excited about engineering.