Julie Silard Kántor

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Ms. Kantor is the Executive Director of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship's Greater Washington, DC Region.

 

Julie Silard Kantor has taught entrepreneurship to urban youth since 1992. As Executive Director of the Greater Washington, DC Region of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship and a national spokesperson, she coordinates and manages programs designed to teach teens from low-income communities viable alternatives to unemployment, low-paying jobs, and encourage positive life choices. Over 12,000 area youth from DC, Maryland and Virginia Region have graduated from NFTE's �mini-MBA' Program model and over 140,000 youth to date nationally (see www.nfte.com).

 

Ms. Kantor is responsible for enhancing and expanding NFTE programs throughout the region and building �best practice' templates for the organization both nationally and internationally. She recruits and retains the highest quality educators, who share her commitment in developing an entrepreneurial spirit in students. In addition, she is responsible for increasing support and engagement in NFTE-GW programs by business, community, educational and civic leaders.

 

In her previous position as the Regional Director of NFTE-New England, Ms. Kantor served the most economically challenged neighborhoods of Massachusetts . She established and personally taught NFTE classes at numerous public schools and youth programs including summer BizCamps held at Howard University , the Wharton School of Business, Babson College , Tulane, American, Morgan State and Georgetown Universities .

 

Ms. Kantor received the NFTE Leadership Award in 2005 for the top operating unit in the country, she was NFTE Executive of the Year in 1999 and she received the prestigious Bank of Boston �Yellow Star Service Award� in 1995. She has raised over $10 million in revenue for NFTE. She is a national spokesperson and her recent speaking engagements include the National Urban League, Women's Business Network International Conference, the National Black MBA Conference, Diversity Best Practice, Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, Tavis Smiley's SuccessSoul, and the George Washington University Hoffstein Lecture Series. Ms. Kantor has served on many boards, including the Washington District's School to Career Governing Board.

 

In her new book , I SAID YES!: Real Life Stories of Students, Teachers and Leaders Saying YES! To Youth Entrepreneurship in America 's Schools (Gazelles Publishing (www.amazon.com), March 28). Julie Silard Kantor gives her first-person account as an entrepreneurial leader and takes you inside the real-life stories of inner-city youth and others whose lives have been influenced, inspired and forever changed through an interest in becoming an entrepreneur.

 

I SAID YES! speaks from Kantor's 14 year career as an innovative leader in helping hundreds of low-income youth find purpose, business savvy and even saving some of them from turning to drugs and crime through entrepreneurship education. I SAID YES! features narrations of fascinating people whose experiences give incredible insight into a world and lives that most people normally would not know. Through rich and poignant anecdotes, it makes a strong case for America 's schools to prepare youth to make it in the market economy through a proven program model.

 

With a passion for small business, Ms. Kantor worked as the Distribution and Fulfillment Manager for Inc. Magazine, the nation's leading publication for entrepreneurs and growing companies. Ms. Kantor's interest in working with inner-city youth was sparked in 1991 by NFTE founder, Steve Mariotti when he addressed more than 800 CEO's and guests at the Tenth Annual Inc. 500 Conference.

 

Born and raised in Washington , DC , Ms. Kantor started working in small business at the age of eleven. She attended Sidwell Friends School where she directed the Women's and Men's Teen Awareness group. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Simmons College in Boston , and served as Editor-in-Chief of Sidelines, the college literary magazine. She lives in Washington , DC with her husband, daughter and chocolate Lab.