News and Articles

 Special Intro Offer — Join Now & Save!

Become a member of Life Skills Academy and Maker Space before December 31 and receive 20–25% off your membership — whether for personal use or business support. This is a great chance to access tools, space, and community that help turn ideas into reality.
Learn more about categories and pricing & join: https://ibrcenter.org/Join-Life-Skills-Academy-Maker-Space

Gift Certificates Available

Contact Laura Schaid at 620-205-9288, lauras@ibrcenter.org, for more information and/or a tour.

 Equipment & Possibilities

Our Maker Space is equipped with professional-grade technology to support makers, creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. From 3D printing and laser engraving and cutting to wide-format printing and sewing, there are tools for prototyping, production, and creative exploration. These tools can help entrepreneurs promote and grow their businesses. See what you can do: https://ibrcenter.org/LSA-Equipment

 Youth Entrepreneur Challenge (YEC) and Trade Show February 24, 2026

Each year, the Montgomery County Youth Entrepreneur Challenge brings together young innovators to pitch business concepts, showcase ideas, and build confidence. The annual trade show and competition are open to the public and offer sponsorship opportunities to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Top prize is $1,000; 2^nd, $750; 3^rd, $500 and 4^th, $250. Products and services will be for sale at the trade show. Details & sponsorships: https://ibrcenter.org/YEC

We offer complimentary access to the Maker Space to help participants prepare.

 $2M Gap Financing Milestone

Since 2013, IBRC has helped local businesses bridge financial gaps with gap financing loans, working alongside banks and conventional lenders. To date, over $2 million in funding has supported area business start-ups and expansions at favorable interest rates. If your business needs capital to grow, we may be able to help.
Learn more: https://ibrcenter.org/E-Community-Gap-Financing

 Donations Are Tax Deductible

Innovative Business Resource Center (dba Life Skills Academy) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Contributions in support of our programs — including the Maker Space, entrepreneurship events, learning programs, and community initiatives — are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Give today: https://ibrcenter.org/Donate/ 

 2026 Tax Credits for Donors

Starting January 1, 2026, we will once again offer 75% Kansas Entrepreneurship Tax Credits on donations for the 2026 tax year. This powerful credit allows you to direct a portion of your state tax liability to directly support entrepreneurial programs in our community.
Find details & plan ahead: https://ibrcenter.org/Entrepreneurship-Tax-Credits

 Print Capabilities Spotlight

We’ve made high-quality printing tools available to members and the public — tools uncommon in our region and powerful for marketing, business needs, and creative expression. Members can print their own work, or for those who prefer, a team of guided young entrepreneurs can manage the process — from quoting to production and delivery.

54 inch Wide-Format Printer w/Cutter

·       Large posters, banners, and signage

·       Decals, stickers, and product labels

·       Full-color marketing graphics

·       Custom shapes and contour-cut designs

·       Short-run and test-run branding materials

·       Event & pop-up support

·       Professional visuals without big print orders

Digital Press w/Cutter

·       High-quality marketing collateral

·       Flyers, brochures, and presentation materials

·       Manuals, workbooks, and training handouts

·       Professional proposal documents

·       Personalized variable-data printing

·       Fast turnaround with no minimums

·       Affordable print solutions for local businesses

Stay Connected

We’re continually expanding programs, tools, and opportunities for learning, creation, and business growth. Your membership, involvement, and support help make all of this — and more — possible.

Thank you for being part of our community!

• December 6, 2024

  For Immediate Release

  Life Skills Academy launched to fill education voids

  A new educational resource in the planning stages for Montgomery County could help fill a critical training gap for individuals struggling to find fulfillment in today’s workplace. Life Skills Academy (LSA), a private educational organization and subsidiary of Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC), is committed to empowering learners of all ages and backgrounds to elevate their skills and confidence through experiential learning and focused tutoring in core curriculum.

   LSA leaders Jim Correll and Laura Schaid bring a combined 40 years of experience in higher education, as well as more than a decade of work in entrepreneurial programming and project-based learning.

  Correll is the executive director of IBRC and retired director of Fab Lab ICC on the campus of Independence Community College, where he oversaw operations of a diverse, public-access maker space with a variety of fabrication equipment and also taught courses in entrepreneurial mindset. Schaid also was employed at ICC, where she worked in various areas of academic administration before joining the Fab Lab staff as program developer in 2017.

  In her new role as LSA director, Schaid combines her expertise in educational programming with a passion for helping others “tap into their creativity” to challenge their capabilities and reach their full potential.

  “Having worked in higher education for so many years, Jim and I have both observed firsthand how long-held norms, societal expectations and institutional practices can sometimes cause frustrating roadblocks for the people we are serving,” Schaid said. “Conversely, we also have witnessed the spark ignited in folks given the opportunity to ‘learn by doing’ through hands-on experimentation and problem solving in an environment such as a maker space. We fully understand that everyone does not fit into a cookie-cutter education mold. We all have different learning styles, and it is so gratifying to help students discover what works best for them.”

  Correll explained the Life Skills Academy concept was born due to glaring voids in traditional education models.

  “For years, I have observed deficiencies in education, training and personal fulfillment,” Correll said. “The situation was further aggravated by the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, and young people, displaced workers and small businesses are still struggling to rebound and find a path to success. There seems to be no formal programming available in Southeast Kansas that combines traditional tutoring with the transformative power of an entrepreneurial mindset and experiential learning. We’re here to change that.”

  Correll explained the vision for LSA calls for a diverse approach, including traditional tutoring in core curriculum like reading, writing, math and science combined with business coaching for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. The physical learning space would be outfitted with updated technology and maker equipment available to students for experimentation and prototyping of innovations and products they can offer for sale.

  Schaid noted that the LSA environment would be a welcoming space that is beneficial for learners of all ages, including:

• ·       young people working to catch up in school, obtain a high school GED or explore career opportunities;
• ·       individuals already in the workforce seeking new skills to advance their career or simply looking for fulfillment outside of their job or small business;
• ·       senior citizens planning for retirement but looking to stay active and/or looking for supplemental income outside of traditional employment.
• ·       veterans adjusting to civilian life, seeking renewed purpose or looking to leverage their military skills in a new entrepreneurial venture.

Correll and Schaid are working with a group of local volunteer advisors to refine the plans for LSA and locate the appropriate facility in Montgomery County to accommodate tutoring services, classroom and meeting space, equipment and modalities, including Computer-Aided Design (CAD); laser engraving; wide media printing; 3D printing; audio/video production; woodworking; metalworking; painting and coating; sewing, embroidery and fabric printing; as well as a commercial incubator kitchen and home kitchen “pods” for classes and meal preparation.

“The facility will be designed to be very flexible so there is room to grow and change as needed to meet the demands of our constituents,” Schaid said, noting the team is actively seeking grant funding and private donations to support the effort.

Correll noted, “We believe that Life Skills Academy, with emphasis on hands-on learning and entrepreneurial thinking, can make a transformative impact and help all individuals take charge of their futures and achieve their dreams.”

More information on Life Skills Academy and ways to support is available by contacting Correll (620-252-5349 /jimc@ibrcenter.org) or Schaid (620-205-9288 / lauras@ibrcenter.org).

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Media Contact:

Joanne Smith, FAB Creative Services LLC

620-330-3006 | fabcreativeservices@gmail.com  

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jim Correll, 620-252-5349, jimc@ibrcenter.org

December 5, 2024

Press Release: Gary Schoeniger Brings Global Book Tour to Independence, KS

Available images: Schoeniger Speaker, Schoeniger with Book, Harvard Book Quote

Join us for an inspiring lunch with Gary Schoeniger, internationally recognized thought leader and author of the newly released "The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage," as part of his international book tour.

• Who: Gary Schoeniger
• What: Lunch and insights from "The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage"
• When: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
• • Lunch begins at 11:30 AM
  • Presentation: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  • Book signing immediately following
• Where: Independence Civic Center, 410 N. Penn Ave., Independence, KS
• Why: To inspire transformative changes in mindset for individuals, organizations, and communities.
• How: Sponsored by Network Kansas, IBRC (Innovative Business Resource Center), Montgomery County E-Community, and Life Skills Academy (See info about newly formed Life Skills Academy at ibrcenter.org/Life-Skills-Academy.) 

• Lunch is provided by Ane Mae’s Coffee and Sandwich Shop.

  Jim Correll, Executive Director of IBRC, expressed his excitement about hosting Schoeniger, saying:
  "For the past 12 years, I’ve facilitated Entrepreneurial Mindset classes using Gary’s groundbreaking Ice House Program. These classes have impacted nearly 175 individuals, with close to 20 sharing how the experience transformed their lives. Being featured in Gary’s book as an example of mindset transformation is a tremendous honor. I encourage everyone to attend and hear how his research can help unlock entrepreneurial potential in people and organizations to thrive in our ever-changing world."

  What You'll Learn:

  • Why entrepreneurial thinking is critical in a world that demands adaptability.
  • The hidden logic behind how entrepreneurs recognize opportunities, mobilize resources, and succeed—regardless of starting point.
  • Practical insights to unlock entrepreneurial potential in your community.

  Gary Schoeniger’s work has influenced global audiences, from higher education institutions to governments and corporations, including the U.S. State Department, Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, and the South African Department of Education.

  This event is an incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights into developing an entrepreneurial mindset—a key to thriving in today’s dynamic environment.

  Reserve Your Spot:
  Register now to secure your seat! Visit ibrcenter.org for details and registration. The registration cost is $10 and, thanks to Network Kansas, each attendee will receive a complimentary copy of “The Entrepreneurial Mindset Advantage.”

For Immediate Release: New Veterans Edition Entrepreneurial Mindset Class Begins January 14

• For Immediate Release

  Contact: Jim Correll, 620-252-5349, jimc@ibrcenter.org

  November 14, 2024

  (Also in attached pdf. Please note Zoom option for distant participants.)

  New Veterans Edition Entrepreneurial Mindset Class Begins January 14

  A new edition of the Entrepreneurial Mindset class, tailored for veterans, will launch on Tuesday, January 14, from 6 PM to 8 PM at Nordic Turbine Service, Independence, KS. This six-week program will run every Tuesday through February 18, offering a unique space for veterans to explore purpose and develop confidence through an entrepreneurial lens. The $150 registration fee includes a light dinner from local caterers and a $50 rebate upon course completion. Participants also engage with video content between sessions, and each meeting features discussions and guest visits from veteran entrepreneurs.

  Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging for many veterans, often with a sudden loss of purpose. This class is designed to help veterans harness an entrepreneurial mindset to see opportunities in problem-solving, a skill they can use to start a business or grow in their community. Jim Correll, a seasoned facilitator, explains, “This class is more like a discussion group where participants gain insights from the real-world experiences of entrepreneurs.”

  Jim Correll, director of IBRC, joins co-facilitator Dan Thorenson, Navy veteran and co-owner of Nordic Turbine Service. Reflecting on his own transition, Thorenson shares, “My military training was invaluable, but adapting to civilian life was a dramatic shift. This class would have been a great asset then, and it has helped me now build my business using those skills.”

  Sponsored by the Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC) with Montgomery County E-Community and Network Kansas, this class is offered as a way to give back to veterans. Having impacted nearly 170 individuals since the inception of this class in 2012, IBRC is proud to subsidize the class as an appreciation for veterans.

  For more information or to register, visit www.ibrcenter.org, or contact Jim Correll at 620-252-5349 or jimc@ibrcenter.org. There is a Zoom option for distant participants.

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