BitWise Fellows

BitWise Fellows in the News!

Josh Cunningham's eyes are bigger than his stomach - at least when it comes to breakfast. He recently left most of two giant pancakes on his plate.

But the 16-year-old's appetite for business is boundless, and the newly minted president of BitWise Fellows is nowhere near full.

Last week he hired a software developer and a marketing/salesperson - both teenagers. They've signed on at minimum wage for 10 to 15 hours a week.

Now the real work begins: developing Web pages for small companies and not-for-profits. They have a service to sell, a budget to meet and experience to gain.

Cunningham's business is the latest brainstorm from tireless entrepreneur Ron Brumbarger, who founded Web developer BitWise Solutions 16 years ago.

It pained Brumbarger to tell small business and nonprofits his company was too big to help them out. At the same time, he wanted to get younger people involved because he's always struggling to find qualified employees.

He found the answer to both problems in BitWise Fellows and Josh Cunningham. The tack-sharp kid with a firm handshake eagerly took the gig.

Between lessons in math and history, he composed a mission statement and job descriptions. After science, he scheduled interviews. This week he hopes to hire a second software developer from the dozen resumes he received from high school students in Marion and Hamilton counties.

Then he'll be at full strength.

Ellen Dunnigan can't wait.

It has been a couple years since she updated her "pedestrian" Web site. She can't afford to have BitWise add audio and video to it.

But she has known Brumbarger for years. If he says this kids can do good, affordable work, she's willing to make her eight-year-old www.AccentOnBusiness.net a client.

"It would be great to see other companies do what Ron's doing," Dunnigan said. "It's a great opportunity for me and for these kids."

If all goes according to plan, Josh's successor at BitWise Fellows will be in place by this time next year.

And Josh will be well on his way to being a member of the clean-plate club.