wednesday, april 14, 2004
news
the university daily kansan
Student has head start on business-world dreams
By Samia Khan
skhan@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Mike Wilson has always been ahead of the game.
The Overland Park freshman owned stocks and operated an auto parts business by the age of 16. He is the youngest employee at a multimillion dollar mergers and acquisitions firm. But he has never believed he was too young for the business world.
When he was 16, his father bought him a black 1987 Corvette — a car that he said needed a lot of work. When he saw how expensive replacement car parts were, his father suggested he start his own business and buy the parts wholesale.
Wilson began Lefty's Auto Accessories, a retail aftermarket auto parts business that sold parts like wheels and body kits that make cars look nicer and drive faster.
"I didn't even know what wholesale was," Wilson said. "I was just a kid."
Lefty's started distributing parts for local companies. In less than a year, Wilson was ordering parts every week from 18 companies locally and nationwide.
land Park area that Wilson said were selling parts at an almost a 400-percent mark-up. When Wilson's company began selling parts at a 75-percent mark-up, customers in the area flocked to it.
There were six other aftermarket parts businesses in the Over-
Mike Wilson, Overland Park freshman, jumped into the business world early. At 16, he owned and operated his own business and bought stock in Pepsi. Wilson plans to pursue a law degree after college.
"Everybody realized my prices were so cheap, and they were loving me," he said.
His business spread by word of mouth, especially in his high school. Wilson never used filers or posters — his Corvette was enough advertising. Peers at school knew he was the guy with the Corvette, and eventually learned he had a parts business.
Wilson started a Web site but did not offer online purchases, meaning customers had to call him to order parts. This allowed Wilson to build personal relationships with his customers.
who need parts.
But Lefty's Auto wasn't Mike's last business venture.
His mother, Cindi Wilson, said he had always had good business skills. When Mike turned 16, he invested $1,500 of savings and birthday money in Pepsi stock.
Cindi said when Mike was younger his sister would spend all of her allowance money and ask for more. Mike would go to the bank and deposit his.
At the end of his senior year of high school, Mike realized he would be too busy with college to manage his business full-time. Now, he only helps close friends
"I was completely hooked," he said. "After that it was all I wanted to do."
Megan True/Kansan
Last year, Mike helped start a metal fabrication business that his father bought out. He designed the brochures and Web site for Midwest Metalcraft and Equipment Inc., his father's company. He also did the paperwork and research for the company's U.S. defense contracts and sales.
Last summer, Mike began working for Mid America Capital, Inc., a mergers and acquisitions firm. His duties included working in advertising and with banks, failing businesses and financial statements.
Jim Mueller, managing partner of the firm, said he was impressed with Mike. He said he hired him because of his work ethic, professionalism and entrepreneurial spirit.
Although Mike was the youngest worker at the firm by 12 years, Mueller said he carried himself like he was 10 years older.
Mike, who began his freshman year at the University of Kansas with more than 50 credits, will receive his undergraduate degree after two years. He will be a college graduate before he even turns 21
Mike plans to go to law school and eventually start his own business.
"it was always the kid with the plan," he said.
Mike's age has been his biggest road block, but it has driven him to succeed, he said. He said some of the businesses he had dealt with haven't take him seriously.
When he was running Lefty's Auto, the parents of his highschool customers thought he was stealing the products.
Much like he tried to turn around failing businesses at Mid America Capital, Inc., Mike turned the negative into a positive. The tagline for his company's Web site became, "Parts priced so cheap you
would think they were stolen."
The years of skepticism about Mike's age have never deterred him, and he'll continue to pursue his dreams in the business world.
"So many people laughed at me and told me it wasn't possible," he said.
Enforcement of parking spaces for disabled to increase
- Edited by Joe Hartigan
By Jodie Krafft
jkraft@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
For the next two months, the KU Public Safety Office and the Parking Department will conduct random checks on campus to enforce disabled parking regulations.
The two departments decided to increase enforcements after receiving numerous complaints that students without disabled license plates or
placards were parking in disabled parking places, said Donna Hultine, director of parking.
Captain Schuyler Bailey of the Public Safety Office said he had planned several checks until the end of the semester. Bailey wouldn't say when or where the checks would be because the system was designed to be random.
Bailey said at the end of the two-month trial period, the two departments would evaluate
the results.
"We don't know what we'll find," he said.
Two to three people from each department will team up to do the checks. Bailey said the checks would not take away from the Public Safety Office's regular duties because he was bringing in the officers specifically for the task.
Hultine said both departments were responsible for the issue.
"it's against the law to misuse a pass so it's a legal issue," she said.
In the last two years, the Public Safety Office has issued 114 citations for disabled parking violations and the Parking Department has issued 485 citations, Bailey said.
The fine for blocking or unlawfully parking in a disabled parking stall on campus is $100.
Director of Services for Students with Disabilities Mary Ann Rasnak said she was pleased the departments were becoming stricter about enforcing the regulations.
"Parking spots are a premium for all of us and it's especially difficult for students with disabilities," Rasnak said.
Students who purchase a placard without buying a regular permit can park in only the disabled parking places, Huline said. She said those with both permits could park in any space, but students with mobile disabilities still faced problems with finding places and being far away from their destination.
"We're not serving the people who need it the most," she said.
Rasnak said she frequently received complaints from students, faculty and staff but didn't know what the main cause of the problem was.
"There's the sense there is some abuse, but it would be nice to confirm it," Rasnak said. "If abuse isn't the issue, then it's the number of spaces that is the issue."
— Edited by Stephanie Lovett
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ROCK-CHALK THE VOTE, April 14th and 15th Blake Swenson Kevin McKenzie Student Body Presidential Candidate Student Body Vice-Presidential Candidate
Freshman/Sophomore College of
Liberal Arts and Science Candidates:
Taylor Price
Ethan Nuss
Rona Remmie
Victoria Lin
Mike Barry
John Conner
Bridget Franklin
Elaine Jardon
Anne Iverson
Morgan Johnston
Laura Burke
Jordan Stobaugh
Law Candidate:
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Graduate School Candidates:
Preeti Krishnan
Brandon Heavey
Anthony Jacobson
Lisa Rausch
Junior/Senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Candidates:
Cheryl Calhoun
Tyler Young
Jack Henry-Rhoads
Cooper Wood
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Architecture Candidates:
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David Kelman
Off-Campus Candidates:
Stephanie Craig
John Patrick Barrett
Danny Madrid
Jared Keller
Courtney Sullivan
Business Candidate:
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Engineering Candidates:
Marco Lara
Paul Reetz
Fine Arts Candidates:
Erin Ross
Tommy Bobo
Residential Candidate:
Michael Danielson
Non-Traditional:
Mickey Cesar-Argumedo
Patrick Ross
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