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Taking Care of Business
The Enquirer-Journal, Monroe NC
January 1, 2000

By Pat Kimbrough
Staff Photo by Rusty Burroughs

(Left) Lance Jenkinson works on his computers in his room.  The Waxhaw 15-year-old has his own business.

Teen puts his computer knowledge to work

WAXHAW, NC - Like many other teen-agers these days, 15-year-old Lance Jenkinson spends a lot of time working with his computer.

But unlike most of his peers, the Parkwood High School 10th-grader doesn't browse the Web or gossip about the latest fads in chat rooms.

"I do use the Web some to listen to music," he conceded.

Then, without a touch of irony, he added, "I use it for research. I've learned a lot for my business from it, but I don't browse it recreationally."

Yes, the high school sophomore runs his own business, LDJ Computers, out of his bedroom on Sadler Road. A one-man show that offers Web site development, upgrades and other computer consulting work, the fledgling company has already won praise for its work. Among the Web sites Jenkinson has developed is that of the town of Mineral Springs.

"Lance approached me about doing a site and I thought that took some initiative," said Mineral Springs Mayor Rick Becker. "It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't taken the initiative."

The original idea was to provide a medium through which Mineral Springs businesses could advertise.

Becker suggested adding information about the town government and other items. But first, Jenkinson had to convince town council members that they could entrust him with the project.

"What impressed me most was, I told him he would have to come before the town council and make a formal presentation, and he didn't bad an eye," Becker recalled. "He came and made a really dynamite, professional and well laid-out presentation. He answered a lot of questions very well."

Becker hopes that the site (www.mineralspringsnc.com) which should be up and running in the next few weeks, will serve as something as a de facto town hall.  It will have meeting agendas, planning and zoning information, links to businesses and churches and e-mail links for the mayor and council members.

"Bill Gates better watch out," said Jenkinson's mother, Dawn Saxman, "For whatever reason, he definitely has the bug. We have to yell at him to do his homework."

One doubts the veracity of this last statement. An honor student who is also active in service clubs at Parkwood, Jenkinson has no illusions of parlaying his early business successes into anything greater without first completing his education. On weekdays, he spends no more than an hour or two dealing with business-related concerns.

"School is definitely the priority right now, though the business is much more fun," he said. "I plan on going on to college and getting a computer science degree. After that, I'd like to be in business, running a company of some sort. Whether it's this one or not, I don't know."

Jenkinson said he first got interested in computers in the sixth grade. He began tinkering with spare computer parts and quickly discovered that he had an aptitude for the machines. He credits his stepfather and especially an uncle, Martin Schell, with providing him crucial tutoring and advice.

"My uncle works for the government, the National Security Agency, but we don't know what he does, specifically," he explained, only half-jokingly. "Without him, I would not have a company. He's helped me out in so many ways."

By the time he was in the ninth grade, Jenkinson had his first client, a neighbor whose system he helped upgrade. Soon thereafter, a referral led to another job, this one for an attorney in Charlotte.  He has also designed other Web sites, including one for his mother's business, Carpet Art Studio.

"I'd like a few more local clients," he said. "I can do Web page design for anyone anywhere. Somebody in California can call me and I can do all the work right here.  My rates are much more competitive than the average computer store.  They typically charge around $60 an hour, and I charge about one-third of that."

Though Jenkinson is certainly sure of himself  ̶   "Everyone at school knows I run my business; I'm not a very quiet guy," he says  ̶   he does not come across as arrogant. He readily offers computer-related help to students and teachers alike.

He bemoans his school's lack of computer resources and sometimes takes his laptop with him to class.

"Parkwood does not have many computers. A teacher is lucky if they have one in their classroom. So taking my own is an advantage. It's been useful for chemistry projects and I've done a lot of PowerPoint [presentations] with it," he said.

Perhaps most significantly, Jenkinson seems free of the awkwardness that often plagues similarly talented adolescents.  His poise and communication skills may wind up helping him the most.

"Lance is obviously gifted, but he also seems mature beyond his years," Becker said.  "I was very impressed with his professionalism and his demeanor."

[The Enquirer-Journal newspaper can be reached at (704) 289-1541 (www.enquirerjournal.com)]

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