BOCES Fosters Entrepreneurship in Students, Graduates

ALBANY/SCHOHARIE – Capital Region BOCES is growing the future business owners of the region and beyond. 

From current Career & Technical Education students to alumni, business ownership has become an end result of education delivered at BOCES. It would not be an exaggeration to state that dozens of area businesses are run by graduates and current students of the Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education Center.  

During recent years, several students in the Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation (HERO) program opened their own grading, bull dozing and grinding businesses, including Alex Stapf of Voorheesville, owner of Stapf’s Dirt Work and Grading, who went on to hire classmate Matt Kraft. 

“My grandfather always told me if you want to make money, you have to own your own company and be willing to work hard, and he is right. I looked into how old you had to be to open a business, and on my 17th birthday, I went to Albany City Hall and filed the DBA,” Stapf said. “That allows me to get insurance, take out loans and do other things.”  

Class of 2017 Diesel Tech graduate Victoria Carl opened Carl's Advanced Automotive & Truck Repair Center in Voorheesville in 2020 after earning two college degrees and working in an area business. 

“BOCES is where I really found my passion. I always worked on cars, but BOCES is where I got into trucks and gained knowledge and really solidified what I wanted to do,” said Carl. 

Current CTE students have similar aspirations.

Among those walking the halls of the Career and Technical Education Center Schoharie and Albany campuses are students who plan to own their own electrical firms, welding operations, bakeries and preschools.

“I am going to either SUNY Cobleskill or Delhi to further my education in culinary. In the future, I plan to own my own bakery,” said Shianne Calitri, a Middleburgh senior enrolled in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Technology program.

HERO senior Santino DeLorenzo has already taken steps to achieve his entrepreneurship aspiration.

“I have my own landscaping and hardscaping business with my father, DeLorenzos. I am taking it over when I graduate,” the Schalmont student said.

Isabella Valenti plans to open a salon in the future.

“I have always wanted to work in hair. I am really into beauty and I want to open my own business,” the Shaker High School senior said.

Cobleskill-Richmondville senior Brodie Merwin is planning to open a garage.

“I want to go to work for an independent [auto shop] when I get out of school and then eventually open my own shop. Who doesn’t want to work for themselves?” he said. 

BOCES administrators, faculty and staff said the same goal-driven aspirations that bring students to BOCES is what fuels their entrepreneurship. 

Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle said those traits are often synonymous with BOCES students. 

“Our students often know exactly what they want from their futures and are driven at a young age to learn the skills to make those goals happen,” she said.