Ashley Bennett and Seth Nygren

Vitals: Ashley Bennett, 24, and Seth Nygren, 24, are the owners of Bevinco of Lake County in Illinois. They provide profit control and revenue enhancement service for bars and restaurants through the use of their proprietary software, which analyzes liquor, beer and wine inventory activity. Nygren is from Rockton, Ill., and graduated from Hononegah High School. Bennett is from Wadsworth, Ill., and graduated from Warren Township High School. Both attended Southern Illinois University, and earned degrees in aviation and flight management before becoming Bevinco franchisees.

1. If you could choose any elected official - local, state or national - to speak with one-on-one, who would it be, and what would you say? Nygren: I’d speak with Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen (R), and I’d ask him what he has planned to attract small business to the area and help them grow in the future. Bennett: I’d speak with President Barack Obama (D), and I’d ask him how he was able to get to where he is so quickly.

2. What three things have you missed most since moving away from the Rockford area? Nygren: My family, Happy Wok, and On the Waterfront. Bennett: I’ve never lived in the Rockford area. Seth says it’s great.

3. What obstacles did you face during your job hunt after graduation, and how did that influence your decision to become Bevinco franchisees? Nygren: The cost of living, plus the amount I was paying on my student loans, and the low pay for entry-level jobs. I felt like starting my own business would allow me to control how well I did. The more effort I put in, the more success I’d have. I wanted to control my own future. Bennett: Jobs just weren’t available for me, and the tools for finding jobs - Monster, CareerBuilder - just didn’t fit my needs. I saw there were really no opportunities, and I wanted to make my own opportunity. Bevinco gave me just that.

4. What is the future growth potential for Bevinco, and how are you equipped to react to the changing economic climate? Nygren: It seems like Bevinco is just starting to tap into the market. We’ve been around for 20 years, and will continue to grow as long as business owners are concerned about profit margins. Bennett: Our growth potential is limitless. We currently have a 2 percent market share, with just over 2,000 clients nationally. We’ve just scratched the surface. Nowadays, all business owners are looking for ways to conserve and improve their bottom line, and the services we offer do just that.

“This week in The Times” is a weekly survey of people selected by The Rock River Times staff. The column does not accept unsolicited submissions.