During the summer, students of all ages take part in sports camps, dance camps, adventure camps. Todd Drowlette ‘03 always wondered: Why is no one offering a business camp?
Drowlette, managing director of the Albany-based TITAN Commercial Realty Group LLC and member of Siena’s Board of Advisors, decided to address the lack of opportunity. He created and beta-tested the Titans of Tomorrow Business Camp, held at Siena on June 26-27. Campers took home more than just certificates: over $100,000 in cash prizes and Siena Business Excellence scholarships were awarded.
Thirteen area high school students met for the free camp where they learned about cold calling, personal selling, credit scores, income and expense statements, and a host of other business topics. They then split into four teams to test their new skills by setting up stands in separate locations to sell food and beverage items.
“I’ve been thinking of doing this for about 10 years,” said Drowlette. “All these summer camps and not one to teach kids important business skills.”
Drowlette connected with Tom Amell ’89, Pioneer Bank president/CEO and Siena trustee, to discuss particulars. The two-day camp they beta tested this summer was such a success they plan to promote it statewide for July 2026 with the goal of recruiting up to 200 campers and 50 business leaders as coaches.
“The kids who attended this year were just ecstatic about the learning process and the scholarships,” said Drowlette. “We asked them at the end of the camp if they would consider attending Siena in the future and they all said yes.”
About that field project: the students had to choose a sales site that considered traffic counts and demographics, create a budget plan, select and purchase a product, then market their event and location. Their only parameters were that the items had to be consumable, they had to finish up in less than four hours, and stay within a mere $200 budget. The winner beat out the second-place finisher by a mere $8 of profit – the runner up had slightly more revenue, but had spent more on their product. It’s all about that bottom line, and despite their rookie status, the teams produced returns on investment exceeding 600 percent. The winning team brought in almost $1,200 in four hours.
Each member of the winning team took home a $500 cash prize as well as a $2,000 annual scholarship from Siena University. Every student participant received a $250 cash prize as well as the same Business Excellence Scholarship from Siena College.
Local business property owners offered their location for the competition. Teams sold at Pioneer Bank, Newton Plaza, and Peter Harris Plaza in Latham, and Robinson’s Hardware in Guilderland. Teams were coached by Amell; Derek Dunbar ’04, senior vice president for managed care, ArchCare; Mark Grant ’03, vice president of CBRE, Inc.; Tyler Terpening, president, The Heritage Group; Emily Jansz ’21, Mars, Inc.; Chris Farrell ’08, associate broker, Vanguard-Fine LLC; Quinton Gardner ’18, The Real Estate Commission; Brandon Bellamy, associate real estate broker, Christine Haupt, director of asset management, and Christopher Hamblet, executive assistant at TITAN.
“Entrepreneurship is a mindset and a skill set and the students at the Titans of Tomorrow proved they’re already on their way,” said Jansz. “As a Siena alum, it was incredible to return to campus and coach future CEOs on forming LLCs, building partnerships, and selling with confidence. Watching them explore Siena for the first time and envision themselves as Saints was truly invigorating.”
As if the scholarships weren’t enough of a reward, the camp participants will appear on national TV this fall on an episode of “The Real Estate Commission,” an A&E Network program that follows Drowlette and the TITAN Commercial Realty Group as they broker commercial real estate deals around the country. The show also features Jansz, Christopher Hamblet ’25, and Quinton Gardner ’18.
Gardner said he was “ecstatic” to serve as a coach at the first Titans of Tomorrow Business camp.
“I was ecstatic to pass along building blocks that lead people to their goals, and happy to do so because Todd has consistently provided me lessons and opportunities,” he said.
Hamblet added that as a mentee to Drowlette, and one who is close in age to the students, he had a unique perspective as a coach.
“I saw myself in many of them—ambitious, curious, and eager to learn,” he said. “It was rewarding to offer the kind of insight I wish I had at that stage, and to help build confidence in the next generation of business leaders.”
