A guide to finding employment and fulfillment
for the “overqualified”
By Don Morrison, “Serial Entrepreneur”
MENTORING
It sucks to be “in transition”
 Loss of self esteem
 Loss of income /Financial pressure
 Age discrimination (“sorry, but you’re overqualified”)
 Rusty job seeking skills
MENTORING
“When one door closes, another door opens”
 Take advantage of the “opportunity” to reinvent and
reinvigorate yourself.
 You now have time to get in shape you didn’t have before
(no more excuses)
 Focus not on how others can help you, but how you can
help others.
 Understand and utilize all your resources
MENTORING
Resources
 Networking organizations/opportunities
- ExecuNet
- Project Hope
- Habitat for Humanity
- Mentoring
 Financial resources
- Educational resources
- Unemployment claims
- Social Security
 LinkedIn
MENTORING
LinkedIn
 Complete profile
 List core skills
 Smiling picture
 Ask for recommendations
 Look at contact’s contacts- ask for intros
 Check out who’s checking you out
MENTORING
“It’s not what you know, but who you know”
 Most recruiters will tell you the majority of jobs are
found through networking, not responding to job
posting sites.
 A recent study show that 66% of companies use
LinkedIn as part of their recruiting process.
 Take it off-line
 It’s all about networking
MENTORING
Why mentoring?
 It make you feel good- helping others less experienced
 “Over qualified” becomes “this person knows what
they’re talking about.
 You meet lots of people
- Young entrepreneurs
- Investors
- Business owners
- Other mentors
 Many mentoring situations will turn into opportunities
MENTORING
Manage your expectations
 Don’t go into it looking for a job
 Go into it trying to help others
 Be flexible
 Be patient
 Be realistic
 The more you give, the more you get
MENTORING
How do I become a mentor?
 Research the new business start-up incubator and
accelerators in the area
 Prepare your skill set profile as hand out
 Contact the head of each incubator and let it be known
you would like to help
 Just do it
MENTORING
What is mentoring?
 It’s sharing your experience
 It’s being a coach
 It’s being a cheerleader
 It’s opening doors for others
MENTORING
What are the mentoring opportunities in the area?
 Innovation Works (Alpha Labs, and i-6)







-Jim Jens, Director
CMU’s Project Olympus
- Kit Needham, Executive Director
Youngstown Business Incubator
- Jim Cossler, Executive Director
The eCenter @ Linden Point (Grove City College)
- Yvonne English, Executive Director
Revv Oakland
Beauty Shop (East Liberty)
Energy Innovation Center (EIC)
Duquense (TBD)
MENTORING
How to get started?
 Research and attend events
 Meet as many people as you can at each event
 Collect and exchange business cards
 Connect on LinkedIn
MENTORING
The rewards you receive will be proportionate to the
time you invest.
Pay it forward.
Q&A
Mission Statement
We are committed to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Oh-Penn region by providing education,
mentorship and business resources as well as professional and technical assistance to help new and emerging
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) companies to grow and prosper.
By fulfilling this mission, we will create jobs and attract new companies thereby fueling the economic growth and
prosperity of the region.
Objectives
This project will benefit a wide range of stakeholders in the Oh-Penn region and beyond. Key stakeholders
include incubator companies and their employees, the community at large and area educational institutions.
Benefits to Incubator Companies
Benefits to the Community
Reduced Barriers to Entry
Networking
Mentorship
Education
Guidance
Increased Visibility and Stature
Lower Cost of Labor
Job Creation
Diversified Local Economy
Enhanced Image
Increased Entrepreneurship
Business Development
Increased Tax Revenue
More Vibrant Community
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
16
Services
The services available at the eCenter@LindenPointe vary based on whether a client is an incubator tenant or an
affiliate member (a virtual client that does not rent an incubator suite).
Facility-Based:
 Incubator Suite Rental
 Security, janitorial, landscaping and parking
 Mailing Address and Package Reception
 Business Center Use
 Wireless Internet Access
 Business Services Assistance
Business Assessment, Coaching and
Mentorship:
Business Coaching
 Mentoring from successful business owners
and industry experts
 Formation of an Advisory Board
 Continuous Monitoring of Client Progress
Capital and Financing:
 “Elevator Pitch” Work
 Develop relationships with Angel Investors
 Assist with search for Venture Capital
 Facilitate Corporate Partnerships
 Provide mentors to assist with capital issues
Networking and Education:
 Internal eCenter networking
 Networking with LindenPointe companies
 Educational Events and Programs
 Entrepreneur-specific Events and Meetings
 Seminars on specific “hot” topics
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
Graduat
e
Congratulations to Jon
Stephenson and Empire
Streaming on a successful
eCenter Graduation.
We know that you are destined
to do great things in the world!
Pictured here with Congressman Mike Kelly
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
New
The eCenter@LindenPointe welcomes new tenant…
Client:
Tenant
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
New
Client:
Tenant
The eCenter@LindenPointe welcomes new tenant…
Anderal Technologies
Electronically Assisted Manufacturing (EAM)
Ron Anderson,
President
Dr. John Roth
Senior Technical Advisor
Penn State Behrend
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
New
Client:
Affiliate
The eCenter@LindenPointe welcomes new affiliate client…
Prodacy.com
Partnership between Jon Stephenson (Empire Streaming) and Andrew Rademacher
(Stem Footwear).
The company is designing a new type of eCommerce platform (drag and drop) with
an integrated warehousing option.
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
New
Client:
Affiliate
The eCenter@LindenPointe welcomes new affiliate client…
App using Social Stories to help to improve the lives of autistic children by helping them to be
more prepared for social situations
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
New
Client:
Affiliate
The eCenter@LindenPointe welcomes new affiliate client…
CityLearn
“Get lost in the culture. Not in the City.”
Gamification technology to help foreign exchange students,
tourists and business travelers to instantly be comfortable
navigating a new city
Founder, Josh Fischer, with Associate Supreme
Court Justice, Clarence Thomas
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
New
Client:
Affiliate
The eCenter@LindenPointe welcomes new affiliate client…
Peace of mind and blended value to millennial women through premium natural skincare products and
philanthropic messaging
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
Get Involved!
There are a number of ways that you can be involved in this exciting venture.
 Tenants: We’re looking for prospective companies to apply to become tenant clients. The best
fit would be a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics-related venture that is less than
three years old with an entrepreneur owner or management team that is willing to be coached and
is ready for success. Other prospects include spin-offs of existing companies, new company
divisions tasked with developing new product lines and potentially satellite locations for
companies wishing to locate in the region (on a case-by-case basis).
 Affiliates: We’re also looking for companies that can benefit from our program but that might
not need to occupy a suite in the incubator. There are different levels of membership and the
application process varies. We also have affiliate memberships for companies that wish to use the
incubator amenities.
 Mentors: Interested in sharing your wisdom and experience with entrepreneurs? Want to get
back into the game? Serve on a client company’s Advisory Board or mentor students with new
business ideas!
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com
Make Contact!
If any of the options interest you, please send me an email and
let me know how you’d like to get involved.
Yvonne English: yenglish@lindenpointe.com
If you’d like to mentor, please send your C.V./Resumé.
Don’t forget to connect with us on LinkedIn!
www.eCenterLindenPointe.com