Junior Achievement Director Looks to Classes for Leaders

Geoff Wilson wants to reach all those future businesspeople who are sitting today in Orange County classrooms. As executive director of Junior Achievement in Orange County and the Inland Empire, Wilson is pursuing the nonprofit organization’s aggressive plan to grow rapidly and prepare youngsters for living and working in a complex economy.

Founded in 1919, the national group for years ran after-school programs that focused on helping students create products and start businesses. But in recent years Junior Achievement has pushed into the classroom, helping establish business and economics as vital parts of the regular curriculum.

From his Irvine office, Wilson presides over a rapidly expanding program that last year reached 20,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This year, he says he’s on track to reach his goal of growing by 50%, to 30,000 students. The national organization, based in Colorado Springs, hopes to reach 20% of the country’s schoolkids by 2005.

A key factor behind the growth, Wilson said, is the increasing participation of companies that provide financial support and businesspeople who serve as classroom volunteers. “Businesses used to say, ‘We’ll donate some old 486 computers to your school.’ It was more material involvement. Now, what we’re offering is having people go into schools and teach business.”

Among the local companies supporting Junior Achievement are Fluor Corp., Rockwell International Corp., Disneyland, and local offices of Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ernst & Young and KPMG Peat Marwick.

Training at participating schools begins in kindergarten with basic concepts such as distinguishing between needs and wants. Later on, students are taught about issues of personal finance, such as saving and credit. Older students learn about principles of entrepreneurship and running businesses.

One program designed for students considered at risk of dropping out focuses on the lifestyle and economic opportunities they can expect without a high school diploma. “We don’t paint a very good picture for them,” Wilson said.

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Patrice Apodaca covers economic issues for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5979 and at patrice.apodaca@latimes.com