Start:ME Spotlight:

Joe Breedon

Organization

Friends of Refugees

You've been with Start:ME for while. Do you have a favorite memory of the program?

I have so many good memories it's hard to pick only one. I think one memory that sticks with me would be a thank you comment made by one of the entrepreneurs I mentored who told me he couldn't believe someone so different than himself would spend his free time helping someone like him. It just brought home for me how much the my engagement as a mentor in Start:ME meant to the entrepreneurs.

We like to call you CFO Joe. What is something every entrepreneur should think about as they start to tackle their financials?

If they are operating their business already: to keep their personal expenses seperate from their business activities, open a business checking account and use it only for the business, and keep good records. These measures will greatly assist putting your historical financials together. The better the historical information the better the next two years forecasts will be.

Your involved with Start:ME's partner in Clarkston, Friends of Refugees. What draws you to Clarkston and how'd you get involved?

I came to meet with Brian Bollinger the Executive Director of Friends of Refugees after hearing of the work they do in Clarkston at my Church. I was drawn by an emphasis they have on building community through entrepreneurship and job opportunities and felt my business background may be helpfull. My first engagement was serving as a Start:ME mentor 4 years ago, then I began volunteering in the Refugee Career Hub, one of the other 6 programs of Friends of Refugees. I love serving in Clarkston and making new friends with people from all over Atlanta and the world!