Agurbs® that learn how to cultivate entrepreneurs and especially serial entrepreneurs who continually are starting companies are going to take their communities to a completely higher level in this new century. I met one of these captivating serial entrepreneurs in Winfield, Kansas.
Todd Gentry graduated in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State in 1992 and wanted to work in the aircraft industry in Wichita. He moved to Winfield because his grandparents lived there and it was close enough to Wichita to be able to drive to job interviews. He ended up getting a job as an engineer with a local firm and stayed in Winfield. In 1995 he and a friend started a part time business with their meager savings and a $20,000 loan from his grandfather to provide internet service to the town. They sold it for several million dollars in the late 90s.
In 2001 he started Inno-Labs, a product development firm to take new ideas to market. He’s designed heated and cooled sports seats that he is selling to Wal-Mart, Cabelas, Costco, Bass Pro, Budweiser, and others. He’s also producing a product to keep animals out of rooftop plumbing vents that are sold thru Menards, Home Depot, and other home improvement stores.
Todd is a young man on the move, one that many towns would love to have starting new businesses. Today, Winfield is home and as he told me, “I have had the opportunity to work in or at least visit nearly every major MSA in the US. I love to travel, I love the social, cultural, and culinary and entertainment opportunities of the larger cities. I also dearly love coming home.”
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