BUSINESS 101
Leader Lab: Apprentice takes the boys into the heart of business. They meet with business owners & entrepreneurs to learn first-hand from these inspiring men what it takes to build a business, be a business-man, and what it means to carry the kingdom culture into the workplace. In the course of two seasons (Fall & Spring), the boys interact with 20+ businessmen in all different industries. In each session, the boys help the men with a work-related task 'apprentice-style' and get to know the person behind the businessman by doing something fun with each leader.
Program Overview & Goals
Leader Lab: Apprentice is DG's business 101 program. ​The goal of each session is to expose the boys to a new kind of business and industry to widen their perspective about what it looks like to enter the workforce one day. We seek to draw out each young man's unique gifts, skillsets, interests, and dreams, and fill them with hope about the exciting possibilities available to them in the future.
​
​This program runs for two consecutive seasons, Fall and Spring, for a total of 20 sessions. The sessions are aimed at building a foundation in the boys about what it takes to be in business so that the following year they are ready to jump into Leader Lab: Entrepreneur, where they get to launch mini-businesses of their own as a team.
​
Each 3-hour session is packed with information and knowledge on different kinds of jobs, apprentice-style activities with our Leader Lab session partners, on-location tours at different workspaces, and playing fun games. We will also build go-karts from scratch together as a team!
​
Practical Life Skills Acquired
The boys will:
• Be exposed to 20 different businesses and business men
• Learn to shake hands and introduce themselves with confidence
• Discover the unique skills, qualities and abilities they each possess
• Think practically about their future careers and ask questions to 20 different leaders
• Practice collaboration & powerful communication to build a go-kart together as a team
• Grow in woodcrafting & engineering skills
​
​
Additional Program Details:
• Only returning DG participants can enroll.
• Transportation is provided.
• Drop-off/pick-up are central in Redding.
• There will always be 2 DG team members present. The boys will not be 1:1 with Leader Lab session partners at any time.
10 Sessions • FALL 2023
This is our schedule for the fall. Spring sessions start March 5th and will be posted by first week of November.
Leader Lab Lineup
Season schedules will be emailed in August. Session partners may change. Each group will have a chance to interact with each leader below in the course of both seasons, Fall and Spring.
CalFire Pilot
Eric Spoon will talk about what it takes to be a firefighting pilot, showing the boys around the CalFire HQ. He will also share his passion for supernatural healing and fun stories from the healing rooms.
Real Estate Agent
Uche Ajero will talk about all the details that go into selling & buying a home. The boys will get to see a current listing, and spend time learning about building trust with customers.
Media Production Company Owner
Phil Leclerc will teach the boys all about what goes into making a cool video, from camera angles to drone shots, editing, lighting, and more. The boys will have fun making a cool video with him.
Tech Company Startup Owner & App Developer
Patrick Elkins will talk about the process of creating a startup tech business with an app that help solves a problem in the world.
International CEO Extraordinaire
(Leader is TBA!) will talk about how to make, nurture, and grow connections in business and with other business people. He will take the boys on a quick ride in his private jet parked at the Redding Airport.
BitCoin Financier
Jesse Parsons will debunk for all of us what exactly BitCoin is and how it works. He will talk about financial stewardship and money management, and also what it means to be a father and provider of a family (which after all, is what making money is all about.)
California Walnut Farmer / Owner
Buck Jones of Jones' Family Farms will show the boys how a walnut farm is run during the most exciting time: harvest season. He will also talk about the importance of stewarding generational blessings and family.
Family Practice Doctor
Eric Saxman will talk about what it takes to be a doctor in the ER, and how faith and medicine can work together. The boys will have fun learning some basic stitching as in a real surgery.
Worship Pastor & Songwriter
Eric Rodgers will share his testimony of how he went from being a mainstream musician to discovering what worship music is all about. He will lead a songwriting session and the boys will compose a song together.
Lego / Toy Store Franchise Owner
Tom Harpham will bring the boys to his newly established Lego resale store and teach them all what it takes to buy, open and operate a franchise. The boys will also build and race Lego.
Hunting Expert & Outdoorsman
Johnny Pratt will share his passion for hunting and how God speaks to us through nature and this delicate art form. He will show the boys how to connect with God and their God-given identity as men through some fun, hunting related activities. (At this time, we are not actually shooting any guns.)
Government Official: Mayor of Anderson
Mike Gallagher, the Mayor of Anderson City, will meet the boys at Anderson City Hall and bring them in on his world of government. The boys will get to know the heart of a man who cares for people and lets his faith influence his decisions.
Professional NBA-er / Basketball Coach
Coach Wallace Bryant, former NBA player and current basketball coach will share inspiring stories from his lifetime of playing basketball, as well as play some ball with the kids.
Franchise Owner / Pastor
Henri Pera will share how he went from owning restaurants in Brazil to helping spearhead an online school of ministry in Portuguese here in California.
Car Mechanic Specialist
Melvin Sasso will teach the boys all they ever wanted to know about taking care of a car on their own. They will practice changing tires and changing the oil in a car.
Luxury Outdoor Kitchen Distributor
(Leader is TBA!) will show the boys how to assemble a luxury kitchen and what goes into staging a showroom for clients. He will also teach them how to make his favorite recipe.
Soccer Club Owner & President
Steve Hofferber will share about what it takes to run soccer club, from tryouts to coaching to admin and fundraising, and the boys will learn special soccer tips from him.
Restaurant & Coffee Company Owner
(Leader is TBA!) will talk all about what it means to serve quality food products to customers, and the incredible, international journey a coffee bean makes just to be in your coffee cup. Of course, a blind folded coffee taste-test will be involved.
