Students with the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy received a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a busy home improvement business.

Peter Layne, store manager with The Home Depot in Valdosta,  shared his advice on how to become a successful business person, steps in overcoming challenges, and the skills required to keep a business growing.

“Entrepreneurship is a journey with an end goal of developing a successful business,” Layne said. “Throughout this journey, make your decisions and choices based on whether or not your actions will move you closer to your goals.”

Layne invited the YEA! students to visit the store as part of The Home Depot’s mission to educate youth and support entrepreneurship.

This year’s YEA! program has 11 students that will be introduced to a variety of businesses through field trips, as well as presentations from business leaders. The field trips provide the students with a real-world understanding of the skills and knowledge needed to be a business owner.