Young Entrepreneurs!

Last night we headed to The Blueprint: 20 Years of Building Futures global gala hosted by NFTE, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, at the National Building Museum. Our favorite moment: when Under Armour founder Kevin Plank thanked Cardinal Bank’s Kate Carr, saying her belief in him made his company happen when she loaned him $250,000 when he needed it early on.

NFTE provides educational and entrepreneurship programs to inspire high schoolers to discover business opportunities and plan successful futures. We snapped AvantEdge Business Centers’ Jonathan Desjardins flanked by Ernst & Young’s Jennifer Jansen and Kathryn Delli-Colli.

Routeam’s Dustin Canter, Congressional Bank’s Brittany Wismer, and NFTE’s Kara Johnson. The annual gala awards top young entrepreneurs, like 18-year-old Deena Kishawi who created clothing line Modestie; 15-year old Laura Greene who sells hand-painted crystal ware; and 19-year old Sofia Contreras who opened a restaurant, serving Salvadorian pupusas.

Young entrepreneurs showcased their businesses at the reception, while guests networked and ate chicken yakitori and lobster noisettes. Here, WTAS’s Luke Coombs, PNC Bank’s David Smith and Terrance Lovelady. Our half-day program for high schoolers who want to be entrepreneurs, Gen-Z, is this Sunday; sign up here.

For dinner, guests enjoyed panko-crusted halibut with lemon beurre blanc, tenderloin with pepper berries, and a dessert buffet with cheesecake and truffles. Here, KPMG’s David Wolf and Scott Wolfson, surrounding their wives Amy and Jennifer.