December 1, 1999

Entrepreneurs Hoping To Do Good,
Make Money
By Lynn Schnaiberg

Following is an excerpt. For the entire article:
http://www.kqventures.com/press/12199.html

The Businessman

J.C. Huizenga readily admits that he's a businessman, not an educator. The 48-year-old has turned a hefty family inheritance and some savvy investments of his own into a small empire of manufacturing and financial businesses.

In 1995, Mr. Huizenga expanded into education by founding National Heritage Academies, one of the nation's largest for-profit education management companies operating charter schools.

"It wasn't until my son was born that the motivation really came into play," he said of 5-year-old David.

He and his wife, formerly a teacher at a Christian school, discussed the options for their son: public school, private school, or home schooling.

"I said, wouldn't it be neat if we could come up with the best of all worlds," said Mr. Huizenga, who recalls with fondness the tight-knit community and disciplined environment of his own education in private Christian schools. "And out of that came the thought of, 'Gee, we'll apply for a charter and see what happens.' "

What's happened is that in the four years since its inception, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company has grown from one charter school with fewer than 200 students to 22 charter schools with 7,900 students in Michigan and North Carolina. National Heritage Academies plans to add roughly 15 more schools over the next two years and is eyeing other states, such as New York.

Mr. Huizenga hired education experts to write National Heritage's curriculum and oversee the schools, but he played a role in setting the broad mission of the schools, all of which, he says, offer a back-to-basics education with a heavy dose of "moral-character development."

"People used to pour their lives into their students, and I think to a certain degree when the government gets involved in things, they get more impersonal and institutionalized," Mr. Huizenga said. "Our desire was to bring back that intimacy of education. Not only do the teachers care, the parents care, and the students start to care."

Some parents and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, however, have accused National Heritage Academies of crossing a line. A lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids accuses one of Mr. Huizenga's charter schoolsówhich are publicly fundedóof promoting religion. He denies the charge, saying "there's nothing remotely religious" about his company's program.

Mr. Huizenga's own $40 million investment in National Heritage, plus $50 million raised from well-to-do friends and family members, have fueled the company's expansion. (One cousin is billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, the chairman of the auto-retail giant AutoNation Inc. and the owner of the Miami Dolphins football team.)

Mr. Huizenga ticks off several factors influencing his decision to launch an education company: The chance to offer a private-school-quality education for free. A deep belief in the power of the free market. A desire to bring customer service and choice to education. And, of course, the potential to create a profitable company.

"The bottom line is, we see a huge market here," Mr. Huizenga said. "We see a certain amount of dissatisfaction with some ways education has been delivered. And that translates into a high probability for success."