R.I. teacher, entrepreneur to be honored at 2014 NFTE gala

JODIE WOODRUFF (left), a teacher at The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center in Providence, and Angela Ivana Greene (right), founder and CEO of Angela Ivana & Bridal by Ivana, will be recognized at the 2014 Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Gala. / COURTESY NETWORK FOR TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
JODIE WOODRUFF (left), a teacher at The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center in Providence, and Angela Ivana Greene (right), founder and CEO of Angela Ivana & Bridal by Ivana, will be recognized at the 2014 Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Gala. / COURTESY NETWORK FOR TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

PROVIDENCE – Two Rhode Islanders will be honored among more than 50 Global Enterprising Educators and Global Young Entrepreneurs receiving awards at the 2014 Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Gala.

Jodie Woodruff has taught the NFTE course in her classroom at The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center in Providence to more than 200 students over the last seven years and established a 3,600-square-foot Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the school.

In addition to her role at the center, Woodruff creates hands-on opportunities for her students, including setting up internships for her students and bringing in two entrepreneurs from the community on a weekly basis, NFTE said in a news release.

Woodruff is among more than 5,000 teachers worldwide who have received NFTE training, which aims to inspire students to stay in school, recognize business opportunities and plan for successful futures. Woodruff will receive NFTE’s Global Enterprising Educators Award at the 2014 gala, the only Rhode Island teacher and one of only two teachers in the New England region receiving the award, which will be presented to 24 educators who teach NFTE programs across the United States as well as in Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East.

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NFTE will also honor 34 recent program participants with the Global Young Entrepreneur Award, which recognizes young people who embrace the entrepreneurial mindset and display an exceptional commitment to their own business ventures.

Angela Ivana Greene, founder and CEO of Angela Ivana & Bridal by Ivana in Providence, is one of two NFTE New England graduates receiving the Global Young Entrepreneur Award. Greene graduated from an NFTE high school program in 2005 and went on to earn a degree in finance from Northeastern University.

During the recession, Greene was laid off at her finance job, but continued working at a spa on weekends and realized her potential as a makeup artist. She launched her own company, Angela Ivana & Bridal by Ivana, which offers makeup, hair and wig services for private and commercial clients including Givenchy, Reebok, MTV and more, NFTE said.

Angela Ivana & Bridal by Ivana will also be showcased at the NFTE Gala’s global marketplace alongside the other top young entrepreneurs’ businesses and products.

“This year’s gala is particularly special as it’s a time where we can celebrate and recognize Angela Ivana Greene and Jodie Woodruff as our global ambassadors and a true testament to NFTE New England,” said Jennifer Green, executive director of NFTE New England. “NFTE has proven for [more than] 25 years that the entrepreneurial mindset is a powerful tool that can be taught and this year’s local honorees exemplify these strides.”

For more information about the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship or to purchase tickets for the event, visit www.daretodreamdc.org.

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