Member Since November 2012
Skills
About
After graduating from Babson College in 2008, Charles Bogoian teamed with another graduate, Phil Tepfer, to launch SailProud, a nautical sportswear company focused on transitional clothing able to be worn “both on and off the boat.” Before joining SailProud, Mr. Bogoian worked in the Finance Department for Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines in East Hartford, CT, as well as for the New Business Development Team at Madico, Inc., a window-film manufacturing company in Woburn, MA. Using the experiences of his advisory board as well as his own research, Charles began developing a green logistics network that he felt would be in line with the company’s mission and vision. His efforts were recognized when SailProud was recognized as one of the “Top 10 Greenest Businesses of 2009” by Startup Nation, a well-known entrepreneurial media outlet. Similar to Mr. Tepfer, Charles received numerous awards in 2010, including acceptance into the MassChallenge Incubator Program, as well as also being named one of the “Top 25 US Entrepreneurs Under 25” by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. During 2011, Charles was included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Brilliant Businesses, and was named one of the “Visionary Entrepreneurs of the Year” by AMD. In November of that year, Charles was recognized by HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs) through the Business Launch award, given to one new business in CT that demonstrates strong growth potential and the opportunity to flourish. Recently, Charles’ work at Kenai Sports earned him recognition as one of reSET Social Enterprise’s “Social Entrepreneurs of the Year” within the state of CT. Kenai Sports was simultaneously given the “Technology Trailblazer” distinction by CT Innovations, awarded to one young company throughout CT displaying a unique and innovative business model.
Charles Bogoian
Published content
expert panel
As the demand for eco-friendly products and services—as well as consumers' interest in protecting the planet—grows, more and more businesses are looking to reduce their carbon footprints and adopt more eco-friendly business practices. However, many companies may not know where to start, and certain efforts may come off as disingenuous if not handled properly. To help, eight members of Young Entrepreneur Council recommend several ways companies can start going green and discuss the impact doing so can have on a company’s overall success.
expert panel
One of your most basic responsibilities as a leader is to provide your team with constructive feedback. Without feedback, employees don’t have a solid direction for moving forward, which can result in repeat mistakes and even low morale. As with any difficult conversation, the key to communicating feedback is ensuring your message and guidance are clearly understood while also being empathetic to the receiver. To that end, 10 members of Young Entrepreneur Council share how to effectively provide feedback.
expert panel
Every successful entrepreneur has one special "something" that has made a unique, lasting contribution to their achievements, be it a former mentor, a previous role they held or an event that impacted their life. Our lived experiences help define who we are as individuals and hone our perspectives throughout life. As we advance as professionals, these experiences take shape as new traits, resources and accomplishments that help drive our ongoing maturity and achievement. Whether it’s in their personal or professional lives, Young Entrepreneur Council members have been influenced by many milestone moments and memories. Below, nine of them describe the most important things they've gained as they've advanced in their careers and how these additions benefit them in the roles they play now.
expert panel
Chief operating officers (COOs) are important assets to every organization. This critical C-level role oversees the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the business they serve, as well as manages departmental leaders under their areas of purview. When it comes to hiring the right person for the role of COO, you may need to think beyond your normal hiring processes. To help, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council shared 10 tactical steps all companies should take to ensure they hire the best COO for their team.
expert panel
When you are interviewing job applicants, there are certain “soft skills”—that is, non-technical skills that relate more to how you work with others and solve problems—that you should be on the lookout for, as these attributes are not usually spelled out on a candidate’s resume. Here, members from Young Entrepreneur Council share 13 underrated but important soft skills they look for when they are hiring new employees.
expert panel
As a business leader, you may already possess ideal traits, such as assertiveness, adaptability and conscientiousness. But perhaps you've noticed that you're lacking in other areas in which you could become a better leader. The first step is to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Below, eight members of Young Entrepreneur Council share their best tips on how to step outside your comfort zone.
Company details
Kenai Sports
Company bio
Kenai Sports is a unique and innovative sportswear brand that makes clothing out of trash - yes, trash - pulled from landfills across the country. Every day, we take tons of plastic bottles, cell phone cases, keyboards, and organic waste like coconut shells, corn husks, soybean shells, and more, and turn it into the world's best sportswear, here in North America - building jobs, supporting a weak economy, and strengthening our future. Our customers are college and university athletic programs, corporations, non-profits, and government offices, where we custom design performance sportswear for their teams, clubs, and employees. With product capabilities that range from simple t-shirts to sustainable jerseys, jackets, shorts, vests, and polos, Kenai is a one stop solution for quality, proven performance sportswear.