NCCS Academy of Business

ALUMNUS | Finley Ross, class of 2023

COLLEGE | Current Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance major at the University of Georgia

CAREER | Owner of Finn’s Auto Detailing

Q. How did your time in the Academy of Business help you discover your passion?

A. I realized I wanted to pursue business/finance once I took Intro to Finance and Entrepreneurship during my senior year in the Academy. Walking through each stage of creating a business alongside my classmates sparked a passion for entrepreneurship and a love for starting businesses. Not only did I get to see my own business go through the stages of idea creation, vision planning, gaining first sales, etc., but I was able to see friends’ and classmates’ businesses do the same. That really created a fun competition and an incredible learning environment. 
 
Q. What were the greatest takeaways for you from your time in the Business Academy?

A. My favorite part of being in the Business Academy at NCCS was taking Entrepreneurship during my senior year. During that course, I launched Finn’s Auto Detailing, which I still run as a student at the University of Georgia, now servicing over 20 cities in Athens and Cobb County with many corporate contracts with dealerships, business fleets, and schools. Ryan Moore and the wonderful learning platforms and curriculum within the course provided support and guidance for us to start our own businesses from scratch. Mr. Moore helped us walk through idea creation, marketing strategy and campaigns, budgeting, planning, and scaling. I actually walked through the whole process twice, because my first business was a flop. That experience had a hugely positive impact, because it taught me not to fear failure. I learned grit and perseverance, and how to use failure to better pursue my next business venture that has now brought me great success. Not only was Mr. Moore a great instructor, but he was also a business and life mentor to me during those stages, and still is even today. 

Q. How do you feel your time in the Business Academy helped equip you for your college major?
A. My time in the NCCS Business Academy provided me with a wide array of background knowledge stepping into the rigorous business courses at the Terry Business College at UGA. I was well prepared, having already developed an understanding of foundational business terms and language, as well as concepts in law, marketing, accounting, and other areas of the business world. I felt I was a step ahead of my classmates, and a lot of course material was just review of what I had already mastered within the Academy. Being so prepared, and honestly so far ahead of the material, allowed me to dive deeper into Terry clubs and organizations and continue to focus on running my business.

Q. Do you think the hands-on experience and the content of the classes correlated to your current career responsibilities and tasks?
A. With my current career path, there is nothing better that could have prepared me than the hands-on learning, content, instruction, support, and guidance given by Ryan Moore during my time in the Academy. The content I learned in the classroom quickly translated to my time in the field running my business, as well as my time behind the computer filing tax forms, hiring employees, creating financial reports, and more for my own business today. The conversations and phone calls with Mr. Moore before and after class, and even after graduation, have helped me navigate this challenging field, and made me realize I cannot pursue this alone if I want to be successful. He has freely poured his knowledge, wisdom, and real-world business experience into me and has molded me into a better business owner -- and ultimately, man of God.