YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Maeson Green learned core values early. “I just knew that I wanted to work very hard in whatever I did,” he says.
Green is a sophomore at Youngstown State University and an entrepreneur – the owner of MBG Restoring LLC – whose start in business came when he was in eighth grade.
“I was at the lunch table wanting to restore kicks for my guys on the football team so I could have some money for extras,” he says. “I loved to eat. I would go make those couple bucks, and I’d take them to the lunch line. I’d get some more extras.”
“Kicks” is street slang for shoes, and in eighth grade, that initially meant sneakers. Today Green owns and operates the Relaced store, which recently opened at 3622 Belmont Ave. in Liberty Township.
“Now we’re here doing all types of restorations from boots, shoes, hats and designer bags, as well as reselling street-wear vintage clothing, low-end and high-end sneakers.”
Green says he learned leadership from his mother, “a two-time cancer survivor,” who was in and out of the hospital since he was a young boy.
“I had to mature early,” he says.
“Seeing my mom beat that and continue to take care of business … That’s how I knew no matter what you’re going through, you’ve got to take care of business.”
His mother died in April. Green was interviewed by Jeff Herrmann, CEO of the Youngstown Publishing Co., as part of the Brain Gain Leadership Podcast series.
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Pictured: Maeson Green was awarded the John Burgan Entrepreneurship Prize of $2,400 to support expansion of his business.