Ellee Crawford first found her entrepreneurial spirit in the pain of losing her rabbit, Ashen. At the Emerging Entrepreneur Mentorship Program pitch contest last Thursday, that spirit took her all the way to a $1,000 first prize at a “Shark Tank”-style competition at the College of DuPage.

Crawford sewed together fleece for the bottom of Aspen’s cage when he got really sick in an attempt to do prevent him from dying. This was the prototype for a small company she owns and operates called Small Pets and Company.

The Wheaton resident walked out like a business executive and handed custom and premade cage liners to judges and spoke for just five minutes. That was enough for her to take home a whopping $1,000 cash prize.

Crawford is a second semester, early admissions student here at the College of DuPage. She’s on the way to pursuing a degree in business. And she’s only 16. Her business, Small Pets & Company, earned the winner’s prize that will allow her to produce more liners. Her company isn’t just interested in making liners and trying to maximize profits. Crawford is dedicated to environmentally-friendly business practices.

Crawford makes these fleece cage liners to help owners of guinea pigs and rabbits save money on disposal beddings. Her product also has that absorbent layer that owners of guinea pigs and rabbits like. Cage liners are designed to wick the animal’s urine into the absorbent layer to keep the animal dry and keep the cage from smelling.

Barely old enough to drive, Crawford already oversees five employees. Like many evolving entrepreneurs, jumpstarting her own business has been something she was passionate about since she began her business at the age of 14.

Like many manufacturers who produce handmade or vintage items and supplies, Etsy has become a major e-commerce forum for her. Crawford started by spending hours exploring how successful her business will be using Etsy.

“In May 2016, it really took off,” said Crawford. “It grew to the point where I was working 40 hours a week just trying to keep up with orders. I knew that I would not be able to handle this workload as a full-time student. With the help of my dad, I started interviewing seamstresses to sew for Small Pets & Company. After just hiring my fifth employee, I am excited to be working on plans to expand to Amazon and selling my cage liners on Amazon Prime.”

After her win at the competition, Crawford credited the opportunities provided here at COD for fueling her success.

“I am so grateful and honored to win first place at COD’s business pitch contest,” Crawford continued. “It was such an amazing experience, and I enjoyed listening to the other contestant’s business plans, as well as meeting the judges. I absolutely love being an entrepreneur, and every minute I spend working on Small Pets & Company is so fun for me. I truly found my passion as an entrepreneur, and I love working with a topic so close to my heart, animals, specifically rabbits. I would like to thank Peter James and the College of DuPage for this amazing opportunity.”

The second place prize and $500 went to Stephen Schroeder from Device Fixer, a mobile iPhone repair company that seeks to fix the problems of slow repairs and a long wait list.

Will Storm of Sharpening Service came in third and won $250 for a company that prioritizes quality sharpening and repairs of knives, garden tools and scissors.

Citing the importance of the Emerging Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program, Peter James, a professor of Business and Marketing, pointed out that there are other educational opportunities available at COD that should be of interest to students and community members who want to become an entrepreneur.

“In the Business, Marketing, and Management Program here at COD, you will learn the skills to start or advance your career in the world of business,” said James. “As these topics touch every single industry in some form or fashion, career opportunities are endless, and you can apply business, marketing and management knowledge to whatever industry you are most passionate about. Or, you can start your own business or venture through the knowledge you gain from the Entrepreneurship Certificate, the Entrepreneurship Club, Emerging Entrepreneurs or The Center for Entrepreneurship. ”

The Emerging Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program here at COD is open to students who have the zest to become an entrepreneur regardless of a student’s program of study. Students leaving this program will have great resources required for a business. A mentorship program is also a part of the pack and is slated to begin next semester.