For young entrepreneurs Brett Podgorniak and Derek Riley and their company, BDK Beverages, the future is now.
The "Marilynn Smith," a non-alcoholic drink that they promoted during the inaugural 2019 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at the Midland Country Club, will make its first public appearance at the second Dow GLBI next week.
It all started with the "Fore Our Future" marketing competition, sponsored by Ally, that Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan debuted at the 2019 Dow GLBI and that will continue at next week's event.
"We kind of took an idea turned it into a reality and created a beverage," Podgorniak said of himself, Riley and Kennedi Lachcik, all Standish-Sterling Central High School graduates and current Northwood University students who founded BDK Beverages based on their three first names. (Lachcik has since left the company.)
The Marilynn Smith, described by Podgorniak as a "strawberry-raspberry lemonade tea," is named after a co-founder of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), who died in April 2019, just three months before the inaugural Dow GLBI.
The Marilynn Smith was one of five products marketed at the 2019 Dow GLBI by teams of JA students who had been selected from the Fore Our Future Challenge.
The drink is produced by two of Smith's relatives, and BDK Beverages is contracted to sell it in Michigan.
Mike Rush, President/CEO of Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan, said it's been a joy to see the young marketers succeed with their product.
"When we first went out there (two years ago during Fore Our Future), they were relatively shy," Rush said. "We pushed them out there and they started talking to people and gave samples out. (LPGA golfer) Suzann Pettersen came through and took a drink while she was golfing. It was really cool for the kids to get that exposure."
Rush added that the title sponsor of the tournament, Dow, and its CEO, Jim Fitterling, have been very supportive of Fore Our Future.
"Jim Fitterling is a pretty big fan of entrepreneurship," Rush said.
Likewise, Dow GLBI Tournament Director Wendy Traschen is enthused to be able to offer the Marilynn Smith throughout the event next week.
"I was very impressed with (BDK Beverages) in 2019," Traschen said. "What a great experience for those young folks, and for that business now."
The Dow GLBI has purchased a large quantity of Marilyn Smith cans and will be serving them in all of the hospitality suites.
"We felt very strongly we needed to support them," Traschen said.
Podgorniak feels optimistic about the Marilynn Smith but isn't sure whether BDK Beverages will be marketing any additional products in the future.
"I can't say what the future is going to hold. It's been a long process with production. This is our first real roll-out in Michigan," Podgorniak explained.
He said anyone who is interested in selling the Marilynn Smith at their establishment can email him at brettpodgorniak20@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, this year's Fore Our Future brings four new marketing teams offering four new products, each of them featured on the golf course for one day of the tournament.
Wednesday, July 14, will feature popcorn sold by the "Par-3" team, which includes Bay City Western's Skylar Burless, Meridian's Alexandra Dodman and Chesaning's Caitlyn Gasper, who are mentored by Sharon Miller, owner and president of ITH Staffing.
Thursday, July 15, will feature flavored shaved ice sold by the "Golf Tee Freeze" team, which includes Frankenmuth's Garrett Reinbold, Hemlock's Quinn Seeger and home-school student Andrew Reder, who are mentored by Mike Zimmerman, partner, Yeo and Yeo CPAs, retired.
Friday, July 16, will feature hydrating lemonade sold by the "Hydro Lemonade" team of Midland High's Paige McCollister, Dow High's Isabella McDaniel and Swan Valley's Brooke Krieger, who are mentored by Mike Williams, Midland market president, Isabella Bank.
And Saturday, July 17, will feature popsicle punch sold by "The Juice Company" team of Dow High's Simran Kalra, mentored by Mike Rush, owner and president of Rush Print 'n Pack.
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