GenerationDrive Appoints Mark Jimenez as First Managing Director in Washington D.C.

GenDrive's New Managing Director, Mark Jimenez- Washington, D.C.

November 6, 2011, Washington, D.C.--GenerationDrive Entrepreneur's Network (GenDrive) appointed its first National Managing Director this week, Mr. Mark Jimenez, in its continued efforts to grow and organize the millions of Generational Millenials who seek professional and personal development in these uncertain economic times. GenerationDrive continues to represent the voices of the 67 million young Americans who would like to address a myriad of social, political and economic issues that will shape the future of the largest generation in our nation's history.


The Managing Director of GenDrive functions as the Chief Operating Officer. As Managing Director, Mr. Jimenez will be responsible for running the day-to-day operations at the national headquarters in Washington, D.C, supervising progress on the various initiatives of the organization, as well as overseeing departmental operations of GenDrive committees, sponsorships, memberships and events.


Mark Jimenez, California-native and community activist, has particularly devoted his life to advancing the political and economic empowerment of minority and immigrant communities. At age four, he and his family emigrated from the Philippines to the U.S. and was raised in Sacramento, CA.


 He graduated from UCLA with a BA in International Development Studies. In college, he was active on and off campus serving on the Samahang Pilipino board where he managed an outreach program that served two high schools in downtown Los Angeles; he coordinated its successful expansion to a local community college. He was elected Chair of the Student Initiated Access Committee, a funding board for community programs, and successfully campaigned the University to secure funding for student programs amidst budget cuts and tuition increases. As a participant of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) fellowship, he explored the role of policy development in addressing community needs and now plans to complete a Masters in Public Policy. 


Since moving to D.C., Jimenez has interned for the U.S. Congress, the Democratic National Committee, and the Alliance for Excellent Education, before recently joining the Dewey Square Group, which is one of the leading public strategies firms in the country. 




To contact Mr. Jimenez, please email: mark.jimenez@generationdrive.net

Want to Be Your Own Boss? Tips On How To Begin the Process

By: David Lee, New York City Chapter President

There is no better time than now to start your business.  If you are the entrepreneurial type, I don’t have to tell you that timing is everything when it comes to business, so this blog is more for the people who are thinking about starting a business but need that extra push. 

If you are employed and working more than 40 hours a week, you can still start your business.  Young entrepreneurs are at their prime. If you are working within an established company to satisfy your cashflow but would like to start a business in the future, you should really consider starting the basic necessary items now without conflicting with your current employment.

What is the value proposition? Well, this new business can be your extra income per year or your option out of your current position, or in case you lose your position or the job market changes.  If you were to invest in yourself, besides IRAs and 401Ks, try a business which has the possibilities to return the most for your investment.  I have started a business with minimal investment, and this was when I was in school and working part time.  Within the first year, I was able to earn back my initial investment and now every client I have is pretty much profit. 

Here is what you need to start your own business when you are not at your job (Your job pays you to work not plan your escape):

- Set aside some time in your day or week to focus primarily on the foundation of your business.  What is the foundation of your business?  Well, business registration and filing with your state and federal taxes is one thing, but not something you should do right away.  First, you need a plan and structure to follow so that you don’t go off in a tangent thinking about all the possibilities of your business. They honestly will organically come to fruition, but you need a plan.

-It is important to figure out what benefits you reap from your business and the process of getting to the profits.  You need to set a timeline for yourself, from the time you start to the point where you want to leave your job and start your business full-time.  Depending on how much time you have allotted to planning out your business, you can start your business either in a month or a year.

-A simple way to set a plan for yourself is to see what your schedule is like now and see where you can fit in time for business planning.  Before you start the technical side of your business which is the filing and taxes part, figure out what type of business you are looking to get into.  What product or service will you provide?  Are you good at what you do?  How will customers get to your store or business?

Simple questions like those will guide you through your process much easier if you just set up shop and then worry about everything else later.  It is okay and typical for new entrepreneurs to start selling their goods to the public prior to establishing your business (depending on the goods and which state).  Once you find out there is a good flow of customers, that is the time you should file your business and register with the state and federal taxes.

Two key things to remember: 1. Set time aside for your business planning 2. Ask the right questions and your planning will go much smoother. 


I hope you have great success in your ventures, and keep in mind business is more than just about money--it could be an act of social responsibility to help build our economy in the recovery.