“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
April, 2016—New Jersey isn’t noted to be the friendliest state to start a new business. In an article by Jeff Goldman of NJ Advance Media’s,it is stated that New Jersey is a “terrible place for small businesses.” The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council recently released rankings of how friendly each state is for small business growth and the most positive and negative policy environments for entrepreneurs. Not surprisingly, the Garden State fared poorly. In fact, only California finished with a worse score in the rankings. New Jersey earned its 49th place finish because, as the report said, “the state’s negatives are overwhelming.” It cited high New Jersey taxes in six areas: income, individual capital gains, corporate income, corporate capital gains, property, and unemployment.
After 2 years of establishing herself as a teacher, owner and “Jack of all Trades” Nina Vukovic developed her JEI Learning Center in Hamiliton Township, New Jersey as a flourishing entity in the community successfully making a profit contrary to the negative findings.
Nina Vukovic bought into a JEI Learning Center 2 years ago, knowing the climate for the small business community wasn’t positive. She leased a center with 1,500 square feet to educate students from kindergarten to ninth grade by supplementing their education after school. Her dream was to develop a profitable business economically as well as to assist children in areas that need help or to enhance a child’s current ability.
Mrs. Vukovic’s dream came true and now her business thrives going from 10 kids in 2014 when she opened her doors, to over 60 currently attending the after school and weekend programs she sets up for them. “I am so excited that the children enjoy coming to the center, because I spent an enormous amount of time, care and money developing the center into a place where kids could come and learn in a fun and happy environment,” she expressed with a smile. She gets such satisfaction seeing the kids learn and care for what they are doing and she is actually making money now which makes the entire concept a success. “It took me over a year to get out of the red and to make the business a success and with the JEI name and strategies and my business skills, I was able to succeed and for that I am happy,” she continued.
How did the business take off? The JEI name and marketing strategies have been a great help to growing business. “I have taken all the companies concepts and programs and put them into play which helped me gain more students by word of mouth,” JEI’s Vukovic said. Vukovic hired and hires qualified teachers that are good with the kids as well as handling a lot of the teaching herself. “I have teachers lined up for the kids, but find that I can also implement the JEI strategies of teaching in a productive way for the kids,” she added. She felt it gave her a unique understanding of her students by her teaching as well as saving on salaries which added to the growth of her business monetary wise.
One of the Mom’s named Jen wrote this about the JEI Center “My Three children have been going to JEI since it has opened. This Center really stands out from others. All the staff are experienced teachers and the owner has been amazing with accommodating us when needed. My children are enjoying the curriculum and have excelled tremendously over the year. This will definitely give them a head start when they start the new school year. I recommend this center to anyone who wants their children to excel. You will love the owner. She loves the children and wants them to succeed.”
At the facility there are 3 classrooms set up and in each there are up to 5 kids involved hourly. This small teacher to student ratio gives the children a better experience. Parents come from several different school districts to bring their kids to learn at the center, but not only learn…become one big happy family. “The reason why the center is a success is that we are welcoming and kind to the kids, by providing them with a nurturing way of learning and a family atmosphere so they want to come back,” Vukovic said. Last month a parent of one of the students, Tara (who’s only 5), called to tell Nina that she taped her daughter saying that she learned what a noun is at the center, which was very rewarding.
“I am so excited to actually have the center up and running and making a profit. I look forward to continued success with the kids, parents and the program,” Vukovic said. In 2 years Vukovic made the center sustainable and something the students have grown to love.
The Garden State may not be the best state to start a business, but JEI in Hamilton beat the odds of small business development by churning out a cost effective service that people pay to use. “The mind is a great thing to develop and I am fortunate that I can expand my business to do so.,” Vukovic smiled and stated.
JEI Learning Center
For Immediate Release
3800 Quakerbridge Rd.
Hamilton Township, NJ 08619
Proprietor: Nina Vukovic