Palm - Spring 2008 - (Page 21) F E AT U R E Alex Kappus Sean Belnick ALEX KAPPUS Synergy is defined as the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. But to Alex Kappus, Emory ’07, and the Emory University campus, it’s more than that. Kappus is the founder of the Synergy movement at Emory University aimed at uniting the campus community and fostering a culture of positive interactions. “I think in the college environment, and really the entire world, this is something that was really needed,” said Kappus. “We’re trying to bring a small town feel to the University setting and students really want it.” Last spring, Kappus attended the Alabama session of ChapterBased LeaderShape with three other Emory ATOs. It was at that session that his vision was born. “LeaderShape just inspires you to really think big, so I thought as big as I possibly could,” said Kappus. “I’d had these thoughts before and never put them together. LeaderShape gave me the opportunity to think big and put it all together.” By the fall, Kappus’ vision was a reality. On the Emory campus, Synergy has been involved in Free Hugs Day, done sidewalk chalking of positive messages, and created a new campus award called Community Crusader. “We wanted to honor someone who is doing positive things for the Emory campus because they aren’t always recognized for what they do,” said Kappus. The student group has also helped the office of multicultural student programming create new events for its Unity Month and it holds “sit-ins” where students purposefully eat lunch with strangers in an effort to get to know more people. Emory University has taken notice of Kappus’ new student group, providing them with resources and supplies to carry out their events, and most recently providing funding to hold an all campus carnival event to bring faculty and students together. The university has also honored Kappus—who’s a sophomore this year—with its Humanitarian Award, an award normally reserved for upperclassmen. Kappus was among three recipients this year. “It was really humbling to be at the awards ceremony and to see the other people being honored. To be in the same category as them is almost surreal,” said Kappus. Up next for Synergy is the creation of Camp Synergy, a program where college students will go to children shelters, daycares and after school programs to spread the ideals of Synergy. “We want to teach kids about respect, kindness, friendshipˇthat it’s the cool thing to be nice,” said Kappus. “I think we can have a really big impact on them.” “I’ve gained so much through my experiences with LeaderShape and this chapter of ATO has altered my whole college experience,” said Kappus. “Had I not joined ATO, I can’t imagine what I’d be doing right now.” SEAN BELNICK Selling lemonade from a stand on the corner is one thing, but turning an entrepreneurial spirit into a multi-million dollar company is quite another. Sean Belnick, Emory ’06, emerged on the entrepreneurial stage at just 14 years old when he launched Bizchair.com and began selling office furniture online. “My dad was a furniture manufacturer’s rep(resentative) and I’d work with him in his office. I saw him taking orders over the phone or through fax,” said Belnick. “I saw the opportunity to start selling the product online and pounced on it.” Leveraging his dad’s access to office furniture, and $500 earned from mowing lawns over the summer, Belnick started his Web site. “We had 3-4 orders in the first day and it all just slowly took off.” Bizchair.com “slowly took off” to the tune of $38 million in revenue last year, with a goal of $50 million this year. The site has gone from a one-child shop to a full-scale distribution warehouse with 110 employees and 327,000 square feet of physical space. “I never could have imagined the success we’ve had,” said Belnick. “It was more of a hobby for me and it really just snowballed.” Make no mistake, however, the road to success hasn’t been all gold leafed. “It’s been hard as it’s grown because I obviously had no experience running a big company and my dad didn’t either,” said Belnick. “It can be stressful trying to balance the academic, the social and the corporate sides of my life. I just try to do the best I can with everything.” It isn’t as simple as that though. It is really a function of good scheduling. Belnick schedules his classes tightly together and leaves his Fridays open so he can conduct any important business meetings then. According to Belnick, ATO has helped him with his juggling act. “Being an ATO and seeing the amazing things other guys are doing and what they’re really proud of puts things in perspective for me,” he said. “ATO helps me understand that I don’t have to do everything by myself.” Belnick’s been featured on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, and countless other Web sites and news media. If past success is any indication, the appearances won’t stop there. “I’m going to finish college in the next year and a half and then start dedicating my time full time to the company,” said Belnick. “We’ve expanded into home furniture, have started importing our own products, and are starting new initiatives to sell direct to office dealers at a wholesale level.” ß 21 AT O . O RG http://Bizchair.com http://Bizchair.com http://ato.org
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