The Academy for Creating Enterprise Story

In June of 1993 Steve Gibson sold his Denver, Colorado-based home healthcare business since Steve and his wife Bette felt to do more important things other than concentrate on earning a living. On an occassion, Steve meditated on a talk by Warner Woodworth, a BYU professor who spoke about an organization that made Micro Credit loans in the Philippines. Steve found that he could meet several of his goals by volunteering with this organization, so he accompanied the founder and former Baguio mission president, Menlo Smith to the Philippines.

During his first visit to Cebu, Steve was so excited that he could not sleep. During the wee hours of the morning, he encountered a chapter in a book he was reading entitled "Even Eagles Need a Push," which contained a story about a Starfish Thrower. It relates the story of a young boy in a beach throwing starfish back into the water while a grown up commenting that the boy's efforts was futile since there were tens of thousands washed ashore. The young boy, picking up one of the starfish and throwing it back into the water responded, "It will make a difference to this one, and this one." as he throwed back another starfish. The impact of this story on Steve has led them to a unique mission call that will impact the lives of many Filipinos.

In November of 1999, armed with boxes of training materials, they made the move from Provo to Cebu and distributed 1300 applications in a CES Countrywide conference. A friend of theirs- Ed Siady found them a large home in a compound which was to be the ACE Training headquarters, helped them set up a bank account and hire a secretary.

The applications were slow at first and Steve and Bette would travel to the post office every day to check if there were submissions. One day came 1, then two then 11 at a time. Tears streamed their eyes after receiving 75 applications for the first batch of 25 students.

After 19 months of setting up the Academy for Creating Enterprise, the Gibsons returned to Provo in May of 2001. They have returned several times since then. Their love and prayers continue for the Filipino people as they pass the Operations to a very capable all-Filipino staff.

In his own words, "I still remember the story of the Star Thrower. I know we can't make a difference in the lives of every Filipino Returned Missionary, but I do feel that we have made a difference in the lives of nearly 1,375 so far and I truly feel that we have just began," Brother Gibson said.

The legacy of the Academy for Creating Enterprise continues as it starts to reap the success of their graduates in their individual fields of businesses. The recently concluded Entrepreneur Academy Awards held last October 11, 2008 as co-sponsored by the Yamagata Foundation was a startling phenomenon as each finalist was evaluated and paneled by judges from the Community, Business leaders and the Academe. The finalists have proven that the formula for success lies in business and financial education.

Follow us as we recount to you the various successes of ACE graduates.