1. YOUR Future

2. YOU… have choice Take control of your future Find something you enjoy Take a chance Don’t settle Understand that the world is CHANGING

3. Decisions…

4. DID YOU KNOW? Facebook was recently valued at $15 Billion when Microsoft made a $240 million investment. The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is only 23 yrs old. The video game industry is worth a whopping $7 Billion a year in the U.S. which is more than the motion picture industry. Bill Gates was only 17 years old when he started Microsoft Donald Trump has been bankrupt twice which proves that sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed.

5. CAREERS in Information Technology GIS Technician Graphic Designer Network Administrator Computer Games Programmer Web Designer Web Writer/ Editor

6. GIS Technician… GOOGLE EARTH COMMUNITY PORTAL

7. Computer Games Programmer…

8. Web Designer…

9. YOU the entrepreneur

10. An Entrepreneur… A person who organizes resources to create a business that satisfies a need YOU + IDEA NEED BUSINESS

11. Characteristics of Entrepreneurs Innovative Competitive Conceptual Willing to take risks Aggressive Self-confident

12. Community SUPPORT Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) Business Incubator, support services, 2 youth programs science enterprise Algoma (seA) Opportunities in natural resources and life sciences Upper Lakes Environmental Research Network (ULERN) Youth Science Forum; creates jobs for youth Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie Essential Start-up Information Summer Company $3,000 to start a summer business NOHFC Young Entrepreneurs Program $25,000 (grant) Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) $15,000 (loan)

13. SSMIC Focus Areas Technology Incubator SME Support Services Market Development Projects

14. Technology Incubator Technology Incubator Helping IT start-ups succeed! State-of-the-art facility Guidance and mentoring Access to funding opportunities

15. SME Support Services IT Business Guidance Bid Monitoring Networking Events Workshops Funding Access IT Community Connection SME Support Services Helping Small to Medium Size IT Enterprises Succeed!

16. YOU + CHOICES = SUCCESS

17. Current and Future IT Market Trends Average salary in IT? $59,507 or over $1100/week (Workopolis.com Salary Wizard, January 2007) Most positions are FULL TIME While the vast majority of IT positions involve a standard 35- 40 hour work week, salaries can vary significantly.

18. Current and Future IT Market Trends Technology will continue to set the pace for jobs. As technology becomes a greater part of doing business, more computer-related jobs will be created. Employers will seek and pay a premium for people who not only have technical skills, but also have the ability to: listen solve problems interact with co-workers

19. Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre Thank you