901 Education

Brandon Ballard’s, owner of , passion for his craft as a photographer and his genuine commitment to giving back is clear from the minute you meet him.

During our most recent Professional Networking Event, he showed how he can read a room, capturing real moments of connection between our rising young professionals and business leaders across Philadelphia.

Brandon generously gave his time to photograph the event, shared his professional journey with students and brought one of 901’s goals to life by providing professional headshots for students preparing for next steps after graduation. Beyond the photos, he captured the confidence and potential of the junior and senior Business: Marketing & Entrepreneurship students at Mercy Tech.

That impact showed up in how students experienced the day:

🌟 “I really enjoyed talking with Brandon and Louise. They helped get rid of all my nerves before the interviews, which helped me stay confident throughout the entire event. They were very welcoming and funny, which I really appreciated.”
— Mercy Career & Technical High School Business student

Brandon, we’re grateful for the time, care and energy you brought to this experience. It was wonderful to partner with you, and the impact will last well beyond the event!

What can happen when industry leaders and students spend just three hours together?

Connections are made.
Confidence grows.
New possibilities begin to take shape.

Through the generous sponsorship by Johnson & Johnson, 901 Education hosted a Professional Networking Event for students in the Business: Marketing & Entrepreneurship program at Mercy Career & Technical High School.

Students had the opportunity to connect with professionals while practicing real-world skills through:

🤝 Career conversations
🎯 Professional Bingo to spark networking
💬 Practice interviews
📸 LinkedIn headshots
🧩 Team activities supporting RMHC Philly

Thank you to Loren Pierson for believing in our mission and helping initiate this partnership with Johnson & Johnson. Opportunities like this help students see new possibilities for their future and align with their commitment to investing in the next generation.

The event also highlights the work of Whitley Kels and Mercy Tech’s Business program, where students are developing the communication, professionalism and problem-solving skills that support future pathways.

One student shared:

“My interview with Michelle will be very memorable because she made me feel proud of myself for all that I accomplished. She seemed impressed with me which made me feel good.” -Mercy Tech Junior

✨ 100% of students said they would recommend this experience to their peers.

We are so grateful to the members of the 901 Network who volunteered their time to meet with students and share their experiences including: Kim AvantBabb, Reggie Barrett, Janice Maiden, Louise McShane, Jovace Nelson, Breana Pettiford, Ryan Thompson, Michelle Torres, Eric Turner and Jessica Watson. .co

📸 Special thanks to for generously donating his photography services and providing LinkedIn headshots for students.

Additional thanks to for supporting this event.

When industry leaders engage with students, the impact goes far beyond a single afternoon.

It builds confidence, connections and pathways for the future!

Laser Printing with !

The incredibly talented Cathy DeCampli and Andrea Elson recently visited the 8th grade entrepreneurs at to share their expertise in laser printing and design.

For the past four years, Andrea and Cathy have generously supported our program by bringing creative inspiration and technical know-how to our students. As teams begin developing their Welcome Kit prototypes for , they help guide students through the process by sharing design applications at our Maker Fairs, helping troubleshoot before final prints and supporting teams at key project milestones.

We’re so grateful for the role you both play in this experience. Your support helps our young entrepreneurs build confidence while applying their skills to real-world challenges that benefit the community.

Another classroom star to celebrate-Donna Bridy! ⭐

Mrs. Bridy joined us for a special lesson using the Silhouette machine to create items for the Welcome Kits designed by our 8th grade Entrepreneurs to benefit

For the past four years, Donna has generously shared her time and talents with our students, creating beautifully designed items that inspire them to see what’s possible creatively during our Maker Fair and hands-on lessons.

During this session, students practiced critical thinking, attention to detail, teamwork and time management as they completed their designs. It was wonderful to watch their cooperation and focus throughout the process.

Thank you, Donna, for continuing to inspire our students and support their entrepreneurial journey!

Another classroom star to celebrate-Donna Bridy! ⭐

Mrs. Bridy joined us for a special lesson using the Silhouette machine to create items for the Welcome Kits designed by our 8th grade Entrepreneurs to benefit

For the past four years, Donna has generously shared her time and talents with our students, creating beautifully designed items that inspire them to see what’s possible creatively during our Maker Fair and hands-on lessons.

During this session, students practiced critical thinking, attention to detail, teamwork and time management as they completed their designs. It was wonderful to watch their cooperation and focus throughout the process.

Thank you, Donna, for continuing to inspire our students and support their entrepreneurial journey!

“You might need to bring a bigger car!” 😊

I met Michelle Torres when she was 15 in my Business Education class at Mercy Career & Technical High School.

Today, she’s thriving at CORE Insurance Group as the same driven, kind, action-oriented leader she’s always been.

As we reached out to our network for support for the Styled for Success Pop Up Shop in partnership with Mercy Tech, Michelle helped spark incredible generosity. She was right-I needed the truck!

A big thank you to Len Anderson, Jon Anderson and Nick Anderson for supporting this initiative.

All donations support Mercy Business Education’s student-led pop-up shop, promoting fashion sustainability while strengthening customer service, communication, event planning and marketing skills. Students from the entire school can access professional clothing at no cost and learn about tips to dress for success as they prepare for co-ops, interviews and career opportunities.

It has been amazing to watch Michelle continue to exceed expectations while giving back to others along the way.

Michelle was once a student.
Now she’s the 💙💛

Students are seeing firsthand how strong communication skills and marketing concepts turn into real-world momentum. 📢⏩

As the 8th graders at Saint Mary Interparochial School kick off fundraising efforts for their Welcome Kits benefiting RMHC Philly, they’re already seeing the impact of their commercials and professionally written emails.

We were fortunate to welcome more wonderful guests into the classroom once again. Betty Montgomery, Advancement Specialist at St. Mary Interparochial School, shared how she engages her school community and connects with prospective families through strategic communication.

Halina Haciski also joined us, sharing her experience as a Group Sales Intern with the Philadelphia Flyers and Heyday Athletic, where she focuses on marketing and community engagement. She is currently studying at Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management.

We’re so grateful to Betty and Halina for joining us. The career connections you are highlighting for students are invaluable as they continue developing their Welcome Kit prototypes for RMHC Philly.

We’re grateful to Mid Penn Bank for sponsoring MPB Classroom and helping expand access to financial literacy for our students. Through this partnership, students can build real skills around budgeting, saving, credit and financial decision-making that will serve them long after graduation.

Thank you to Ryan Thompson for helping make these opportunities possible!

Students can explore courses here: https://901education.banzai.org/wellness

A connected classroom is an engaged classroom 🌟

Last week, Carl Fleshman, Lead Brand Designer at VisualizThis, joined the 8th graders at St. Mary Interparochial School as students prepared their Welcome Kit packaging designs for RMHC Philly. In addition to joining us for their Project Plan Review, Carl offered real-time feedback, design insight and encouragement as teams refined their concepts and applied their graphic design skills using Adobe Spark for this lesson.

We can’t wait to see the final results in May!

Our 901 Network is powered by incredible professional partners and we are so grateful for the continued support of Michael Lucas and the team at

Throughout the school year, students have the opportunity to learn directly from their team, strengthening creativity, critical thinking and branding skills through real-world experiences to benefit . From supporting our Maker Fair, to providing project plan feedback, to helping students refine their commercials and celebrate their work at the Final Showcase, All That’s Good Production Co. consistently shows up for our students in meaningful ways.

We truly appreciate the time, energy and expertise you share to help prepare students for their future success. &collegereadiness

Community 🏡

We meet our students where they are today to equip them to lead tomorrow. Our programs are intentionally designed to engage with the community in order to strengthen it as a whole through service, entrepreneurship and technology.

We are so grateful for our generous donors and volunteers. The 901 Network makes this work possible through their time, talent and resources, empowering students to use their skills with purpose.

Thank you for helping us close out 2025 strong by considering to make a donation to help us reach our goal of raising $901 to continue to work with even more students! 🔗 https://givebutter.com/Xvbc3w

Such a great night reconnecting with former students, board members, volunteers and meeting new faces at our 1st Friendraiser Happy Hour! We love our 901 Network and appreciate all of the support you provide to our students! Big thanks to for the perfect space and delicious food/drinks. We had the best time and can’t wait for the next one!