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A Southwestern Michigan College Educational Talent Search/Michigan State University Extension collaboration served 25 budding Dowagiac, Cassopolis, Niles, Marcellus and Edwardsburg entrepreneurs Aug. 4-8.

The ETS program at SMC is a federally-funded initiative designed to expose students to potential careers in skilled trades, public service, arts or science.

Students included: Niles, Emma Pomranka, Janea DeHart and Addison Thomas; Dowagiac, Isabella File, Kaden Rankin, Jeremiah Hargreaves, Kylie Lynch, Madison Lynch, Keeler Seals, Cameron Hammond and Oliver Olmedo; Edwardsburg, Katie LaPorte, Micah Molebash, Brady Troyer, Bryce Linton and Camile Ritter; Cassopolis, Krista Blanchard, Ayverie Haines, Micah Christian, Jenna Lemon and Skye Osban; Marcellus, Serenity Singleton; and Volinia: Alisha Six, Annalisa Mather and Hunter Mather.

Entrepreneurs on Aug. 5 picked the brain of someone relatable, 2024 Edwardsburg graduate Jayla Noland, 19, who started Cakes by Jayla at 13.

Though the six-year cake designer, entering her second year studying culinary arts and baking at Grand Rapids Community College (and abroad in Greece) seems an artist whose preferred medium is frosting instead of oils or watercolors, Noland insists, “I’m not good at drawing or painting. I just have a good eye for where to put things.”

“When I was younger, my mom used to make me and my siblings extravagant birthday cakes,” she said. “One year, for my brother’s birthday, I decided to help and found I actually enjoyed it, so I started doing it for all our family birthdays. A family friend asked if I could make  her a cake and she would pay me. We put it on social media where lots of people saw it. I made a little money, so decided to start my own business. I started taking it more seriously and began to invest money I made by purchasing tools and supplies,” display boxes, business cards and T-shirts “to make a brand for myself.”

“As my business grew,” she said, “I realized I couldn’t do it alone.” She built a team, relying on her mother to drive her to deliveries and her better-organized sister to track the admitted procrastinator’s schedule. Her grandmother settled the name by making her a Cakes by Jayla apron.

“Instead of feeling weak because I can’t stay organized, I lean on other people to help me,” said Noland, who took SMC business classes while still in high school.

“Time management is one challenge of owning your own business,” she said. “It can be stressful. Twice, I dropped orders walking out the door to deliver them. You just always have to roll with the punches and have a Plan B. Creativity is one of my strengths. Making people happy feels good. If you can make money doing something you love, that’s a win.

“School helps me make connections with chefs in this whole other world I never knew about, and it’s been motivating to meet people with similar interests. Finding what you’re passionate about gets you excited. Don’t be afraid to fail,” Noland said. “My dream is to open a bakery someday.”

Janice Zerbe, Van Buren County 4-H educator, Tuesday introduced the five P’s: product (does it stand out from competitors?), promotion (how to convey information to customers), price, place (storefront, online, pop-up shop?) and people (target market).

Business Professor Andrew Churchill expanded on the five P’s on Wednesday, pitching peanut butter brands after a bus ride downtown to Dowagiac Farm and Artisan Market and Caruso’s Candy and Soda Shop.

“Marketing is more than ads,” said Churchill, who also teaches information technology and cybersecurity. “It’s everything a business does to get the right product in front of the right people in the right place and at the right time and price. Everything revolves around the customer.”

Social-media companies “exist to sell your attention to marketers,” he said. “They are attention merchants. They get paid when you view an ad.”

Friday’s pop-up market outside the David C. Briegel Building on the Dowagiac campus capped the week.

K9 Kravings pet treats were a labor of love for proprietors Addison and Anna, who own five dogs each.

M&B’s Tie Blankets sold out at $35. Elegant Wreaths were a brisk seller, too.

Other booths in the sweltering sun offered Painted Pots and Plants, Mystical jewelry, Wild Heaven (“Let the Wild into Your Yard!”) birdhouses and feeders, Flickering Illumination candles, Artistic Surface painted coaster tiles and Gentle Fragrant Bars.

Students voted to donate $1,426.25 they made selling the nine products they created to the Dowagiac Fire Department, their Public Safety Camp hosts.