Dreamers to doers, young entrepreneurs building big ideas

Lori Kaye Lodes

Contributor

May 4, 2026

GREEN BAY – Amid the Wednesday night farmers’ market rush in downtown Green Bay, something small – but impactful – is happening in Red Sculpture Park. 

For the past few years, On Broadway’s Mini Boss program has helped kids 15 and younger turn their big ideas into early business ventures – showcasing the future of small business in action. 

“In an effort to continue [our] mission of supporting small businesses, the thought came to why not foster that next generation of business owners,” Mary Rhode, vice president of marketing and communications with On Broadway, Inc., said.

Now entering its fourth year in 2026, Rhode said the Mini Boss program has grown from a simple idea into an eight-week entrepreneurial experience.

Running June 17 through Aug. 5, she said the program places young vendors directly into one of Wisconsin’s largest farmers’ markets, offering them an opportunity to learn about running a business firsthand.

At its core, Rhode said the Mini Boss program reflects the broader mission of a nationally accredited Main Street community organization: to cultivate small business growth from the ground up.

“So much of that starts with a business owner or individual having an idea, and it’s [about] ‘how do they get that idea off the ground?’” she said. “And eventually, the big dream of moving into a brick-and-mortar.”

Rhode said that progression is something On Broadway supports every day through its work with adult entrepreneurs.

Mini Boss, she said, aims to plant those same seeds even earlier.

“There are so many amazing kids, and we have seen so many come through the [Mini Boss program] who take things to a whole other level,” she said. “They put their passion into whatever product they’re selling – you just see that raw passion oozing out of them.”

In 2024, Rhode said the program expanded from six to eight weeks, now offering eight vendor spots each week, a change designed to increase access and opportunity.

She said 64 young entrepreneurs participated in the Mini Boss program in 2025.

A hands-on opportunity

Though the booths may be small, Rhode said the expectations are not.

Mini Bosses, she said, are given creative freedom to run their businesses as they and their families see fit – designing signage, managing inventory, setting pricing and tracking profits.

At the end of their experience, Rhode said many document everything from expenses to ideal customers.

She said there’s even a growing conversation within On Broadway about evolving the program into something more formal.

“We’re having discussions of how we can take this program and make it like a little incubator,” she said.

Rhode said support comes in multiple forms.

On Broadway, she said, provides booth structures built by volunteers, whiteboard signage and a dedicated marketing push.

Rhode said Capital Credit Union returns as the Mini Boss program’s presenting sponsor, bringing an emphasis on financial literacy.

“They have such a passion for the financial literacy that comes with being a business owner,” she said.

Rhode said the experience also extends beyond the market itself.

Some participants, such as Lauren Clover, she said, have stepped into unexpected opportunities, including live television appearances.

“Some of that promotional stuff comes with being a business owner,” she said. “Those are really cool and valuable lessons.”

For Clover – a seventh grader at Bay View Middle School – Rhode said Mini Boss has been both a creative outlet and a growth opportunity.

Clover said YouTube videos from various creators first sparked her interest in making bracelets.

“I thought it looked [fun] and thought I would try it,” she said. “I liked making bracelets, and it became a hobby. I was looking for a way to sell them and thought [about creating] either an online business or starting something in real life, and found the [Mini Boss] program.”

Clover said her business, LC’s Accessories, features handmade bracelets using clay beads, glass beads and Rainbow Loom designs.

Since first participating in the program in 2023, she said she has expanded her participation from one market date to multiple appearances each summer.

Beyond sales, Clover said the experience has built something less tangible but just as valuable.

“Having a stand helped me build communication, leadership and responsibility skills, because you learn different ways to communicate with people to maximize your sales and connect with them,” she said.

Her mother, Leah, said she has watched that growth firsthand.

“She was very quiet and reserved, and this [program] has helped her come out of her shell and encourage people to look at the stuff she’s making,” Leah said.

Clover said she’s gaining real business skills – from monitoring inventory to understanding customers and promoting her brand on social media.

“One thing [I’ve learned] is you have to follow the trends and [find out] what’s popular to maximize your sales,” she said.

Clover said the experience is also teaching her financial discipline – from covering supply costs to saving what she earns.

“This program has helped her savings account grow for college,” Leah said.

Ten-year-old Jocelyn Forward said the Mini Boss experience started with a simple idea: a better lemonade stand.

She said what started at a family rummage sale – with a stand built from pallets – quickly sparked an interest in something more.

“I thought having my own little business would be fun,” she said.  

Forward said her business, Jocelyn’s Sunny Sips, serves fresh-squeezed lemonade using a recipe she finessed through trial, error and experimentation.

Her mother, Cassandra Cornelius, said they experimented to find the right mix of sugar, lemon and water.

Forward said her approach has evolved each year – from hand-squeezing lemons to preparing batches on-site and even using technology to enhance customer service and sales.

“She has an app on her phone now,” she said. “People can tap their phones and pay through Square. That has increased [sales] a lot, too.”

Forward said the experience has taught her everything from handling cash and planning to managing inventory and connecting with customers through samples and product tweaks.

“I like the experience, [as well as] making my lemonade, selling it and meeting new people,” she said.

Beyond business

Lauren said the program not only helps build businesses but also creates a sense of community among participants.

“When we’re there and not as busy sometimes, I walk around the area and see if there is anything I can do to support other Mini Bosses – buy something from their stand and show my support,” she said.

Rhode said that collaborative spirit carries into partnerships, with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin returning in 2026 to pair mentors and youth in shared vendor spaces during a featured week.

At this July 15 event, Rhode said Bigs and their Littles will be taking up Mini Boss booth spaces and teaming up to promote their individual business ventures.

“This was a huge hit during last year’s program series, and we are delighted they are returning,” she said. 

Rhode said more details on this special feature will be released as the date approaches.

Beyond its summer opportunities, Rhode said On Broadway has expanded the program, with Mini Boss vendors set to appear at the Christkindl Market on Broadway this holiday season – providing another chance for budding entrepreneurs to build their brands and confidence.

Collectively, Rhode said Mini Boss and the additional opportunity at Christkindl are about more than a few hours in a market booth.

Leah said it’s about equipping young people with skills, confidence and a real understanding of what it takes to run a business.

“It’s a lot of work,” she said. “But that’s what Mini Boss is all about – for these kids to realize this is how much it costs for product and then [what it takes to] make a profit.”

Rhode said for some, that may lead to future businesses.

For others, she said, it simply builds life skills.

“I know the skills I built from this experience will help me in the future,” Clover said.

And for On Broadway, Rhode said that outcome is exactly the point.

“There’s something special about the energy these young entrepreneurs pour into their products,” she said. “To offer area kids the chance to live out their entrepreneurial dream is such a joy, and as an organization whose mission is to support small businesses, it is always a goal to support that next generation of business owners.”

The 2026 On Broadway Farmers’ Market kicks off May 20, with the Mini Boss program starting June 17.