Class moms unite to perpetuate Lenepe Valley student business

NEWTON — Sandra Pregno and Sue Fenimore met when their sons were in pre-school together. Though their boys took different paths growing up, they both landed on the Lenape Valley Regional High School football team, and again, the women were reunited as football moms. Now, the friendship has taken on a new meaning through Job Seekers — a program designed to teach students to start and run a business.

Pregno
Pregno has been part of the Lenape Valley family as an instructor for the past eight years, and this year was given the position as Job Coach. Her main objective is to help students explore career options that are available to them post-high school rather than taking the college track.

"Not everyone wants to go to college," Pregno said. "And there are lots of opportunities to work right out of high school."

Her students include both those looking to work upon graduation and those in a program at Lenape for kids up to age 21. In addition to job coaching, Lenape Valley created a program called Job Seekers this year to give students the opportunity to start and run a business.

Pregno had the idea to have her students reconstruct jewelry and donate all the profits to a non-profit organization. The students would make the jewelry, sell it on E-Bay and the profits would go to a local animal rescue organization, 11th Hour Rescue.

But there was a vital piece to the puzzle that was missing: someone to teach the kids how to take old jewelry and make new, creative, sell-able pieces out of it.

Fenimore
Sue Fenimore worked at St. Marys for 10 years. Among other things, she taught art. It was time for her to change careers, one thing led to another and she ended up renting a small store in Stanhope and created a store specializing in art.

A few years ago, a store front became available on Main Street, in Netcong, and Fenimore jumped at the better location to open Designs by Susie Q.

"My kids used to tease me that I create old art," she said.

She takes ordinary items and teaches kids of all ages how to make them into extraordinary things. Through Fenimore's creative eyes, a simple light bulb becomes a Leprechaun, dried flowers become a work of art and a bowling ball is transformed into a lady bug lawn ornament. One of her specialties is jewelry making and she loves to teach.

Mom Power
Utilizing Fenimore's talents, business savvy and love for Lenape Valley Regional High School and Pregno asked her if she'd mind instructing her students in jewelry making.

On Monday, Jan. 13, Fenimore dedicated hours of time and lots of materials.

"It was my pleasure to donate materials I had and I asked fellow Netcong business owners too," Fenimore said.

She now has a drop box at her store where people can drop off old jewelry to be revamped into something new by the students.

"Her patience is fantastic and she really has taught the students a lot," Pregno said.

In addition to creating the product, Fenimore also shared her wisdom about running a business with the students.

The Business
The E-Bay online jewelry store is called Jewels4Drools, and for the students includes merchandising, daily monitoring of the account and general office duties such as packaging, weighting, postage and general business accounting.

Since Pregno is an animal lover and knew about 11th Hour Rescue, they selected that non-profit as the beneficiary of the jewelry sales.

"We're thrilled to be a part of such a great project," said Stacey Cudnik, of Succasunna, from 11th Hour Rescue.

Jewelry can be found for sale on E-Bay at Jewels4Drools. For further information, e-mail Pregno at spregno@lvhs.org or call her at 973-347-7600, ext 140.

Designs by Susie-Q is located at 39 Main Street in Netcong and features a host of art classes for kids of all ages including scouts and specials for birthday parties. Call 973-978-9402 for information.

11th Hour Rescue is a volunteer based, non-profit 501c3 organization that saves dogs and cats from death row. They have adoption events most Saturdays at the Parsippany Petco. For further information, visit www.ehrdogs.org.