Young Entrepreneurs Flourishing in Central New York – Oswego County Business Magazine

by Tim Nekritz  |  nekritz@gmail.com

While Upstate New York has long been concerned about the outward migration of young professionals and entrepreneurs, a new generation of business owners continues to emerge.

And while Sarah Welkley, Maddie Leszczynski, Cait Devin and Kelly Holbrook have started and run very different businesses, they all have found ways to turn their passions into success.

They also buck nationwide entrepreneurship trends.

Only 6 percent of entrepreneurs are under 30, according to an April 2024 report by Zippia, a company that provides online recruitment services nationwide. The vast majority (64 percent) are 40 or older.

They also stand out in a field where, nationally, men comprise around 58.5 percent of entrepreneurs.

For Welkley, who owns and operates Sweets by Sarah Bakery on Main Street in Fair Haven, baking is in her family’s DNA.

“My great grandparents and great great grandparents owned two restaurants, one in Seneca Falls and one in Newark,” Welkley said. “Growing up, my whole family baked, and we would spend days baking with my grandmother around the holidays. I always enjoyed baking and watching simple ingredients like flour, sugar, butter, etc. turn into an amazing dessert!”

A 2018 graduate from North Rose-Wolcott, Welkley would earn an associate’s degree from Finger Lakes Community College’s culinary school. She started with a roadside pop-up and order-taking business and, living with her fiance near the Red Creek-Wolcott line, “was looking for the perfect spot to open the bakery of my dreams,” she recalled. “Fair Haven is such a beautiful and friendly town, I saw the building up for sale and figured it would be perfect for a bakery.”

Welkey was just 20 years old when she looked at the building and 21 when the establishment — in a building that had been many things, most recently a pizzeria — on the eastern edge of Fair Haven’s business district opened in 2021. She earned recognition quickly for her quality products and one-pound cinnamon roll.

Welkley quickly earned a following and recognition including the Best and Sweetest New Business in Cayuga County Award in 2022 from the Cayuga County Office of Tourism.

Across town and on the western shores of Little Sodus Bay, an even younger entrepreneur saw an idea that connects with Fair Haven’s substantial tourism trade.

Leszczynski opened her business, Fair Haven Water Bike Rental, on the docks of Turtle Cove Resort and Marina in spring 2022. The 16-year-old has just wrapped up 10th grade but is in her third year of running the business.

She recalled seeing water bikes during a visit to Buffalo in summer 2021, and wanted to bring the experience to her local community. The business launched in spring 2022.

Strong family role models played a part in this as well. Her parents are Mike Leszczynski, an entrepreneur himself and president of MTC Developments, and Jamie Leszczynski, senior vice president of communications and chief brand officer for Oswego Health.

“Both my mom and dad work very hard and their dedication and persistence made me excited to start my own business,” Leszczynski said.

Her passion and poise at a young age are evident to customers as well as winning the November 2023 Wayne County Economic Development Corp. Kick Start Business Pitch Event.

“I try my best and always make it my goal to give the customer a great overall experience in hopes they will come back,” Leszczynski said.

The 22-year-old Devin is a multifaceted entrepreneur, performing as a singer-songwriter, managing Cait’s Character Corner, writing for Guitar Weekly and hosting a recurring talk show called “Communicait” with other musicians on Instagram Live.

“I frequently play live music around Central and Upstate New York, sometimes out of state,” Devin said. “I book all of my own shows and operate independently, so it’s never not a hustle, but it’s a hustle that I’m privileged and lucky to have.”

Cait’s Character Corner, about a year and a half old, came when Devin “found that there was a niche within the Utica – Rome area catering to family events with character meet and greets,” which for her company features Devin and others playing characters popular with children.

“Many of the venues I work with have never had character entertainment before and have found it very beneficial, so that is so rewarding to know I’m also helping fellow businesses out in the process of doing what I love,” Devin said. “I’ve always had an immense admiration for working with children, and getting to implement acting and music along with that has been a dream.”

In addition, Devin will take her performance skills into film acting, with a role in an independent film starting production in August. “It was great timing, because I was just starting to send out self tapes and scope out nearby opportunities,” Devin said. “I plan to do a lot more. I used to make films and skits with my friends in middle school, so it feels full circle to be pursuing it.”

Devin accomplishes all this despite living with chronic pain because of a condition called trigeminal neuralgia; she has shared her story on this condition to help others.

“I just seem to have an inner compass leading the way, no matter what obstacles present themselves,” Devin said. “Creation has always been a part of me and it’s fallen hand in hand with business management. Gary Vaynerchuck is someone who I find to be inspirational in the world of entrepreneurship as I follow him online.”

Holbrook, now 25, was returning from maternity leave in 2022 when she realized she wanted more control over her work and priorities. The result was the jump to opening Mindful Aesthetic Studio in Salina in July 2023.

“I decided to open this business because I wanted a perfectly curated spot to treat my clients that is a warm, inviting space but also provides clinical results,” Holbrook said. The studio is “a salon specializing in aesthetic services,” and while she specializes in facials and treatments for acne, other staff work in such areas as makeup artistry, lash extensions and lifts, eyebrow waxing and other services.

“Working under someone limits how much you can be in control of,” Holbrook noted. “My time in the treatment room became more limited after having my son and I felt I needed to use all of my time to its full advantage.”

Like some others interviewed for the story, a family role model helped inspire her. “My dad owns a restaurant in Phoenix, N.Y. [RFH Hideaway], and I’ve always admired the hard work that he puts into his business,” Holbrook explained. “He taught me that if you want something you’re the only person that can make it happen for yourself.”

Challenges and rewards

Being an entrepreneur, especially at a young age, takes a lot of work and versatility.

“One thing people may not realize with the bakery is for the most part I am a one-woman show,” Welkley explained. “I do all of the photography, baking, wedding tastings, planning, desserts, cakes, special occasion cakes, online orders, all of the online posts, emails and much more by myself. I do have a few high school helpers on the weekends and in the summer, my parents and husband help me on the weekends, but other than that it’s just me!”

Devin said “willpower” is what keeps her on the road to success. “It takes all of you,” she said of entrepreneurship. “There’s a certain kind of finesse when it comes to balancing your mental health and various business endeavors. I’m still mastering that.”

“It’s hard to get your scheduling right and handle everything so young,” Leszczynski said.

Holbrook noted that many parts of the job are unseen to clients. “For example, not only am I an esthetician seeing clients, I am also the social media manager, doing all the laundry, cleaning lady, bookkeeper and so on,” she said. “Being a business owner doesn’t mean you get to kick your feet up and watch everyone do the work for you. Your business is only as successful as you personally are.”

However “a great support system and schedules” really help business operations as a young mother.

“I time-block everything in my day to exactly what needs to be done in order to stay on top,” Holbrook explained. “This even includes creating content for social media and when to post it. Time is so valuable and during my work hours I try to not waste any of it.”

But for all the challenges of being a young entrepreneur, those interviewed said the positives far outweigh everything.

“My favorite part about running my own business is coming up with an idea and being able to go do it right then and there!” Welkley said. “I love talking and getting to know my customers, I enjoy going to events and meeting new people, telling my story and growing my business.”

“My favorite part of running a business is allowing myself to take full creative control,” Holbrook said. “With also being a mom, I am able to create a schedule that supports me and my family during this season of life.”

“My favorite part is being able to pick when I can work and being able to pay myself and be in charge,” Leszczynski noted.

With Cait’s Character Corner, Devin’s favorite part is “easily getting to provide families with memories that will last a lifetime. The world is tough, so to preserve magic where it can be preserved is really important to me.”

The work provides additional satisfaction to Devin as well. “I also get to relive my childhood through going to various birthday party events,” she said. “Having chronic illness — pain as well, I didn’t think I would ever get to feel those feelings again, but I was luckily very wrong. It’s moved me to tears seeing so many children excited and in the present. For my music endeavors such as live gigs, it’s just an honor to explore the music scene and be included amongst such talent in our area.”

For anybody, of any age who wants to start a business, Welkley encourages exploring options.

“My advice for others would be pursue your dreams.” Welkley said. “No matter how challenging or hard it seems, you really can do anything you put your mind to. I went from baking for friends and family out of my parents’ house, to a small roadside stand, to my now brick-and-mortar bakery in Fair Haven. I am so glad I decided to pursue my dreams.“

TIM NEKRITZ is director of news and media for SUNY Oswego, where he spearheads telling the stories of the campus community.