Family First - Young Business

Too often, the younger generation is accused of being spoiled and unmotivated. So we want to profile some young people who define the best of their generation. In this weeks family first, we have the story of a 22 year-old woman who left college not only to join the family business, but to put her unique "monogram" on it. When hurricane Ivan shut down her college in the Florida panhandle in 2004, Katie Proctor came back to Evansville and not only did she join her mother in the ownership of a yarn shop, she added a stationary store called Pen Pals. "For me going to college and following the typical path wasnt for me and so I think a lot of my generation just doesnt follow the conventional mold, but thats not to say theyre not going to be wonderful at what they do." Katie wants pen pals to be wonderful at personalized stationary and gifts, particularly for the arrival of a new baby or a bride. "A lot of really personalized gifts that really mean a lot to people when they get them as gifts." Katie is not going it alone. She has the backing of her parents who are experienced at building businesses. Katies mother says if the younger generation is lazy, maybe its because our generation gave them everything. "But I feel that this generations got a lot more to give and a lot more technology ability so I feel like theyll do good at what they do and in Katies case, shes done really well because shes had the drive and the desire to do it." So dont think success is being handed to Katie on a silver platter. Shes earned it through hard work and sacrifice. "So many of my friends still are in college. They say you can stay out late, you dont have to go in in the morning. Its definitely not like that. I work 89-90 hours a week and during the holidays I pretty much live here." And when Katies not at Pen Pals, you can find her at the Boys and Girls Club were shes taken over for her mother on the board of directors. If youd like to check out Katies store, its on Bellemeade Avenue, east of Green River Road.