Hanson named Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Patricia Brown-Dixon, Re-gional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Admini-stration-Kansas City, recently announced Jeffrey Owen Hanson, LLC, as the winner of the Small Business Admini-stration Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Region 7 (Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska). Only 10 national winners up to age 30 won this award.
Originally, Hanson had no intention of starting an official business with his glorified lemonade stand, Jeff's Bistro. Instead, the visually impaired artist sold watercolor note cards and his mom's baked goods to raise money for neurofibromatosis research. After completing chemotherapy and radiation for an optic nerve tumor, he was left with severe vision loss. Yet his watercolor note cards evolved into original acrylics on canvas.
Popularity soared and Hanson began selling his art for profit, as well as charity. In 2008, at age 14, he set up a studio in his basement, created a website and hired an accountant. With increasing demand for his original paintings, he formed Jeffrey Owen Hanson, LLC, and trademarked his signature. He then turned to the SBA’s Small Business Devel-opment Center in Overland Park, Kan., to help write a strategic business plan.
Now 18, Hanson's donations to charity through the sale of his paintings on live charitable auctions exceed $500,000 and “for profit” sales for Jeffrey Owen Hanson, LLC, in 2011 were $144,000.
“Every act of kindness helps create kinder communities, more compassionate nations and a better world for all ... even one painting at a time,” Hanson said.
His art is owned by celebrities such as Elton John, Warren Buffet and many others. Hanson inspires both young and old and encourages them to overcome adversity by responding positively.
Following high school graduation in May, Hanson plans to pursue his art career full-time and “Changing the World Through Art ... A Unique Story of Philanthropy, Art & Entrepreneurship,” will launch this fall as a presentation at corporate events throughout the nation.
Locally, Hanson gifted a series of five canvases titled “Erin’s Garden,” to the Red Oak Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in honor of Erin S. Boylan.
Hanson is the son of Dr. Hal Hanson, who formerly practiced in Red Oak, and Julie, who was born and raised in Red Oak and graduated with the Red Oak High School class of 1982. His grandparents are Darold and Beverly Swanson, of Red Oak.