Josh Gonzalez ’00: Young Entrepreneur
Josh Gonzalez doesn’t care for the spotlight, but thinks that helping others get there is just as good.
He is a facilitator who likes helping others achieve their goals. A recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business ('08), Josh is a part of a new business venture that helps homeowners avoid foreclosure.
What do you do now?
Currently I’m helping to start up a debt management company in Jersey City that focuses on helping homeowners secure loan modifications. Many people were put into bad mortgages during the housing boom and now face foreclosure. The banks do not have the staff to find ways for homeowners to keep their home, which is often in the best interest of both the homeowner and the bank. My company acts as an intermediary between the banks and the homeowner. We look at the income level of the homeowner, do some calculations and try to find a loan modification that works for both the bank and the homeowner.
There are a lot of businesses that are springing up and taking advantage of people who have been hurt by the economy and the real estate crash. I like being a part of bringing integrity back into the solution and helping people recover.
How did you get here?
After Mustard Seed School, I attended the Hudson School (’04) and then University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business (’08). I read a lot about businesses and studied them at Wharton. Working on a start-up is particularly exciting because it allows me to put theory into action and learn a lot in the process.
What lessons did you learn at Mustard Seed School that you use today?
Of course, like everybody else, I learned all of the foundational academic components: reading, writing, math, science and social studies. I put a lot of work into everything that I did there. One project that stays with me is Pizza Day. Eighth Grade students organize pizza and juice for students in the school who order in advance. The proceeds go to a sister school in Nicaragua. I really enjoyed the operational aspect: figuring out how much pizza to buy, making sure that someone picked up the pizza and distributed the right amount to each classroom. I majored in operations at business school and I can trace the roots of it to Pizza Day.
Mustard Seed did a great job of preparing me for high school and college, especially my writing. When I entered Ninth Grade, I had a teacher comment on how strong my writing was. I remember English class and all of the writing that we did, including very structured writing. It taught us how to be orderly in making arguments and it got me on the right track. One of my college professors has kept some of my writing to show to future students.
What did you like about Mustard Seed School?
Mustard Seed is a supportive environment and because it is a small school, you can get help when you need it. The staff is excellent. I remember the name of every single teacher that I had from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade. They all made an impression.
What are your hopes and dreams?
After I get more work experience, I hope to go back to school for my MBA. I’d like to start my own consulting business that helps people start up new businesses. I am a facilitator and I like a challenge. I also hope to get more involved in a service organization so that I can give back to the community.