EDUCATIONAL ENTREPRENEURS

Educational Entrepreneurs

COE Alumni on the Seminole 100 List

Every year, Florida State University recognizes the fastest-growing businesses either owned or led by alumni. The College of Education is proud to recognize three alumni who have made it on to the 2021 Seminole 100 list. Their businesses are as diverse as the College of Education itself, but regardless of their industry, each of them highlights the excellence we hope to instill in our students.

Our first alumnus is Jeff Hausinger (social science education B.S. ’98), president and CEO of All Seasons Wealth. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, All Seasons Wealth is a financial advising group to help individuals and organizations meet their financial needs.

Jeff Hausinger

Joseph St. Germain (sport psychology M.S. ’05, Ph.D. ’09) is the president of Downs & St. Germain Research. Based in Tallahassee, Downs & St. Germain specializes in marketing research, specifically for the tourism industry.

Finally, Karen Walker (visual disabilities B.S. ’87, emotional and learning disabilities M.S. ’88) is the president and owner of Allied Instructional Services. Her company is located in Ashland, Virginia, and provides staff and programs for government agencies and schools to support individuals with special needs.

We reached out to our three honorees to ask them what it was like to run a business, how the College of Education prepared them for their careers, and more.

What does it mean to you to be named to the Seminole 100 List?

Jeff Hausinger (JH): It is an honor to be selected for the Seminole 100 alongside so many other successful Seminoles. To be given this recognition for the third year in a row is a testament to my team and their hard work.

Joseph St. Germain (JS): It means a lot. First, it is a testament to our team and recognition of all of their hard work and commitment to excellence. Also, to be a part of this group of accomplished Seminoles is truly special to me.

Karen Walker (KW): I am honored to be recognized by my alma mater for the fourth consecutive year. I feel extremely blessed by the success Allied Instructional Services has experienced. This growth means we are continuing to impact more and more lives of individuals with special needs! I also hope that our success will be an inspiration to other Noles.

How did your education from Florida State prepare you for your career?

JH: Florida State played a significant role in my maturity as I grew into adulthood. At FSU, I met and learned from great professors and a peer group that was diverse on many levels. I often reflect on the fact that I learned a tremendous amount about people and how to work with different types of personalities during my time as an undergraduate.

JS: I still apply some of the things I learned in class (particularly goal setting and focusing on what you can control) to the business every day. In addition, I always appreciated that the sport psychology program revolved around an open exchange of ideas, which makes each individual and the program as a whole stronger. Finally, if you can get through feedback from Dr. Tenenbaum on your latest dissertation draft, dealing with a client issue is a walk in the park. I joke that Dr. Tenenbaum was tough, but his feedback was spot on and made me and the quality of my work better.

Joseph St. Germain

KW: Florida State provided me the education I needed to follow my dream. In addition, the faculty instilled in me their shared passion that drove me to think outside the box as we strive to enhance the lives of individuals with visual, hearing, speech, motor and other impairments.

In what ways do you think entrepreneurial values and spirit can address some of society’s biggest problems?

JH: Being an entrepreneur is one of the most gratifying decisions I have ever made. Accomplishing my goals has made an impact that affects more than just myself—I have had the opportunity to change my children’s lifestyle in ways that I could have never imagined. I grew up in humble Brandon, Florida, and I often reflect on these roots as I grow my company. But the really powerful motivation comes from watching my employees accomplish their dreams for themselves and their families. I am able to help empower other people to achieve great success. This is what truly motivates me. I strive to provide an example of how to be successful and to help empower others to accomplish their dream. This seems to be a much more effective way for society to run.

JS: I think your typical entrepreneur is more willing to take risks and listen to different ideas with regard to solving problems. You can’t drive societal change for the better by doing it the same way we have always done it. We need to be willing to try things. We need to fail, learn from that failure, and then try again. In the end, I’ve always thought the biggest risk is never taking one.

KW: Many people are aware of various issues in society, and most of us tend to find it easier to just talk about them and not do anything. But if we all just talked, change would never occur, and just talking tends to lead to a negative atmosphere. It takes someone who has that entrepreneurial value and spirit, who thinks positive with the desire to lead and make change, and who is driven enough to take the necessary steps to do something about it. This does not mean just jumping on the bandwagon and following someone else’s lead, but instead being innovative in their thoughts and actions to create positive change and outcomes regarding the many issues that society faces today.

What has your experience been like running a business?

JH: It can be frightening to leave the security of a place where you have spent so much time honing your craft. I can say that transitioning to a new space will not be easy. However, the experience is what is part of the reward and it will be well worth the risk. I have had to wear many different hats over the years as we built our firm. If you love what you do and you are motivated to help people, then you will never look back.

JS: It is frightening and exhilarating at the same time. It is a strange but empowering feeling the first time you discuss something in the office and then realize everyone is now waiting for you to make the final decision on where the business goes from here. In addition, I have been very lucky that my business partner, Dr. Phillip Downs, is also a great mentor and has helped so much along the way.

KW: I love running my business because we have built an incredible staff that puts the needs of the children we work with first. I truly

believe our success is due to the fact that I, along with my other administrators and service providers, are not driven by financial success or gaining the next contract, but by the desire to serve more individuals with special needs and enabling others to succeed. If we ever lose that as a focus, I firmly believe that would all change. I am and will always be a teacher first and a business owner second.

Do you have any advice for individuals thinking about starting or running their own business?

JS: Get someone (or a group of people) outside the office with whom you can discuss your business. Sometimes you are too close to recognize the problem. Also, realize you are going to make mistakes and that is okay. Every mistake can be a positive if you can learn and grow from the experience.

Karen Walker

KW: My best advice to any individuals thinking about starting or running their own business is to try to find a niche that no one else—or very few others—are doing. Make sure you are passionate about it and that you are not going into it for just the money. If you are passionate about it, the money and success will follow. Try to find people who share your passion and will complement your weaknesses. Show appreciation to your employees and customers and never take them for granted. Be aware of any negative attitudes so that you may act on them swiftly and diligently. Lastly, always take the time to find out the “why” before you act or react.

Anything else you’d like to add?

JH: My time as an FSU undergraduate was full of ups and downs. However, this is just the reality of the college experience and life after college as well. I try to learn from every failure. My advice is to embrace the negative aspects and try to see them as an opportunity to do better and grow. Entrepreneurs have to be willing to adapt and adjust to the business environment where they work. At FSU, I was active in organizations such as a fraternity and often held multiple jobs at a time. Learning to juggle school, work, and my social endeavors trained me in time management—a valuable skill that everyone who wishes to be successful as an entrepreneur will need to learn. Real world lessons that are foundational, such as the opportunity to be exposed to different types of people and learning to utilize your time in a productive manner, are helpful tools that can build you to be a better entrepreneur and a better person.

JS: Regarding entrepreneurship, starting your own business is ultimate way to bet on yourself, which is the best investment you can make. And finally, as always, go Noles!