This week I got the chance to sit down with Jennifer Cleaton, owner of Fredericksburg Ballet Centre. I was able to ask Mrs. Cleaton a lot of interesting questions about her roles and her experiences within FBC.
Sam: First off, what is your name, title, and business
Jen: Jennifer Cleaton, President, Zunic Incorporated which operates under the name Fredericksburg Ballet Centre
S: When did you start Fredericksburg Ballet Centre?
J: October 31, 1997, I took over the company from the previous owner, Fran Taylor
S: What sort of education or training did you have in dance or business prior to opening your own business?
J: I went to VCU and received a minor in dance, my major was History. Owning a dance studio wasn't in the plans at the time. I worked under Fran and gained a lot of on the job experience that way. I was a teacher, I worked in the office, and I did stage management.
S: Who were some of your earliest mentors when you got into the dance business?
J: Fran Taylor, who was the previous owner. Amy Holland, who was a fellow Jazz teacher. And Rosi Whitescarver.
S: What were some of the toughest obstacles in your first few years of business?
J: Learning the calendar was a big one. I had things that I had do get done on time, and this time, they really HAD to be done. Also taxes. Woah, learning taxes was hard, and I do all of my own. So those two things were the main obstacles I had to overcome.
S: Since you opened FBC, what has been one of the most gratifying projects you've been a part of?
J: The creation of the spring ballet, because that was my vision. A lot of things were in place when I took over, so that was neat. I was also able to expand the studio in order to offer more disciplines. It was very gratifying to see the company grow.
S: Has being an entrepreneur opened other doors in your life, outside of the business world.
J: I have been fortunate enough to share my love and passion of dance with different organizations across the community. Such as the Hope House, the Jaycee Christmas Parade, and shows at Nursing homes in the area. I have also been able to give to organizations such as Goodwill and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
S: Currently, how many people do you have working at FBC? What kind of roles do they play in the day to day operations?
J: 16. Rob, my husband, does all of the website stuff. He is also responsible for logos and videos. I have teachers who instruct and choreograph, I have an office staff which deals with student accounts and maintaining our store, and I have a costumer.
S: If you could change anything about the business, what would it be?
J: I go back and forth on this a lot. But probably the name. People think that all we offer is ballet, when we have so many more offerings than that. I wanted to change it to Fredericksburg Dance Centre. If you asked me this ten years ago, I would have said nothing, but looking back, the name is something I would probably change.
S: What advice do you have for young professionals who want to start their own business?
J: Owning a business is more than an idea. It's a full time job and you have to realize that beforehand. I teach, I do taxes, I unclog toilets. There is a lot of work that goes in, that not a lot of people see. You also have to realize that the business is what pays the bills, not necessarily your passion. It's nice to have a partner at first, not only for moral support, but also financially. You need to use your resources to the best of your advantage, and be creative. You don't need to spend money to make money, you need to use your resources effectively to make money.
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| Fredericksburg Ballet Centre Logo/Facebook.com |
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