Northern Educate

[ez2bcheesy]

Not sure if this was posted or not...

STILLWATER, MN – January 10, 2014 - - Northern Educate, and Achiever Academy, a unique leadership academy that pairs academics with athletics, has been acquired by new ownership that ensures their future.

Local Stillwater businessmen Greg Gartner and Tom Forsythe teamed up to rescue the school from imminent closure. While the school’s education and athletic programs were thriving, rapid expansion and accompanying debt led to a situation where the school’s future was in jeopardy.

With a son attending the school, Gartner became aware of the situation. Seeking the advice of their counsel, Greg and Tom explored a way to form a new company that would carry forward the vision of the original program, keep the students and employees together, and avoid a permanent shutdown.

Their newly formed Ability Academic and Athletic LLC, acquired certain assets of the school’s former owner and operator No Limits Academic and Athletic Development, Inc., and several of it's subsidiary LLC's, without assuming prior liabilities.

According to Greg Gartner, “We felt that this was an amazing concept that lost its core focus along the way. It was obvious the school couldn’t survive with the current debt load, so we were able to negotiate a way to structure the purchase to create the stability needed to grow the program into the future.”

Tom Forsythe added, “It was incredibly rewarding to be able to transition ownership in a way that did not disrupt the staff, the students, or the activities of the current school year.”

The company currently operates locations at the Vadnais Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota; Eden Prairie Community Center in Eden Prairie, Minnesota; and Bill Grays Regional Iceplex in Rochester, New York, where they lease space for both classroom and athletic training.

And while former No Limits owners had previously explored purchasing the Vadnais Sports Center, current owners with the Ability team are not pursuing such a purchase. According to Gartner, “We’re here on site everyday, and if future owners of the center would like to explore having us manage the property, we would be very open to such a proposal. But our main goal is running an exceptional school, and we want to focus on that.”

Northern Educate Sports Academy is the undisputed leader in preparing young people for excellence in sports and academics. Their programs serve students age 5 to 18, in grades K-12 who have a passion for hockey, lacrosse or soccer. They operate two tandem programs, which work together to provide an interactive academic environment, distinctive from traditional schools.

Northern Educate is a premier sports training program that also provides daily, one-on-one and small group tutoring to all students in its athletic facilities. Students enroll separately in one of several online fully accredited public charter schools, and receive an unmatched level of individual attention from live instructors that hold teaching licenses, Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees.

Achiever Academy is an elite prep school, featuring a blended curriculum that strives for high academic and athletic standards. Students at Achiever Academy are eligible to compete in select Minnesota State High School League sports.

With business ownership in the printing and graphic arts industry, Tom Forsythe also served as founder of a K-8 charter school in the Florida Keys. He has served on multiple boards, and anchored a community focused summer hockey program for residents in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Prominent in the area hockey community as a youth coach in the Stillwater Area Hockey Association, Greg Garter is partner in the Lumberyard Hockey and Sports Center in Stillwater, Minnesota. His companies are a title sponsor of the Stillwater Rink, and have partnered with the City of Woodbury to operate a 250-seat restaurant in the Bielenberg Sports Center, scheduled to open in 2014. He is also CEO of Gartner Studios, a Stillwater-based global leader in the stationery, greeting card, licensed digital design, party goods, and specialty food industries, with divisions including boutique retailer MARA-MI, and upscale office products retailer russell+hazel.

[PuckRanger]

Northern Educate Sports Academy is the undisputed leader in preparing young people for excellence in sports and academics...

Northern Educate is a premier sports training program...

Achiever Academy is an elite prep school...

Sounds more like a paid advertisement than an impartially written article. I'd dispute all three of those remarks, which were written as if they were fact. While that may be their goal in the future, they certainly are no where near that right now.

[Ref22]

Northern Educate Sports Academy is the undisputed leader in preparing young people for excellence in sports and academics...

Northern Educate is a premier sports training program...

Achiever Academy is an elite prep school...

Sounds more like a paid advertisement than an impartially written article. I'd dispute all three of those remarks, which were written as if they were fact. While that may be their goal in the future, they certainly are no where near that right now.

Agreed those distinctions go to IMG Academy in Florida

[Deep Breath]

If you want to read an article, and not a press release, here is what the Pioneer Press did with it:

http://www.twincities.com/education/ci_ ... ing-school

[observer]

"The odds are not in favor of every athlete going on to play professional sports," Gartner said.

Should read,

The odds are not in favor of any athlete going on to play professional sports.

[BluehawkHockey]

Their newly formed Ability Academic and Athletic LLC, acquired certain assets of the school’s former owner and operator No Limits Academic and Athletic Development, Inc., and several of it's subsidiary LLC's, without assuming prior liabilities.

I think a key part here is "without assuming prior liabilities." Seems like this was just an easy end around to get out of some debt. I know they signed a 5 year contract with Superrink and probably had some sort of long term contract with Eagan as well. One of the first articles about them closing the two sites mentioned that Superrink was expecting them to honor their contract.

This new owner likely left those debts behind. The old ownership will now probably file for bankruptcy to get rid of the debts left behind.

Seems like kind of a slimy way to run a school/company. Certainly not being a good example to the students. If you screw up and get in trouble, just run away.

[goaliedad31]

Isn't Tom Forsythe also on the Board for Minnesota's failed health insurance exchange, MNSure?

[Sats81]

Best of luck to them. Obviously good businessmen. Hopefully it works out.

[47BNJ]

Isn't Tom Forsythe also on the Board for Minnesota's failed health insurance exchange, MNSure?

Different Tom Forsythe, I know this Tom personally.

[Slipped in the crease]

Looks like they're gonna try and get tier 1 by suing MN Hockey? Anybody else heard of this? This could get interesting!




Dear Revolution families,Hope this note finds everyone well and enjoying their hockey season. Tom and I wanted to update you on the status of our initiatives to develop Tier 1 Hockey in the State of Minnesota. After lengthy strategy sessions, we decided to take a parallel approach focusing on team structure while utilizing legal resources to help guide us through the Tier 1 process with the State. We will be fielding teams for the 2014-2015 season for 00-05 birth years. Open tryout information will be communicated very soon.

[DrGaf]

Looks like they're gonna try and get tier 1 by suing MN Hockey? Anybody else heard of this? This could get interesting!




Dear Revolution families,Hope this note finds everyone well and enjoying their hockey season. Tom and I wanted to update you on the status of our initiatives to develop Tier 1 Hockey in the State of Minnesota. After lengthy strategy sessions, we decided to take a parallel approach focusing on team structure while utilizing legal resources to help guide us through the Tier 1 process with the State. We will be fielding teams for the 2014-2015 season for 00-05 birth years. Open tryout information will be communicated very soon.

Please educate me ... Northern Educate and Revolution are related???

[old goalie85]

They [NE] used to claim they were separate. Most people knew they were tied at the hip. Sounds like they have more problems.[see girls forum] For being around such a short amount of time this "school" has really gotten alot of bad press. I think it is more than just folks being haters. Now they are caught cheating. Good luck going up vs Mn hockey.

[gowild5555]

Interesting. I am guessing the don't stand a chance against MN hockey.

So, do they already have coaches lined up for this Tier 1 program? I have heard the Rev. Tier 1 teams --- go to low caliber hockey tourneys just to win.

[Slipped in the crease]

Got it forwarded to me a few days ago. It appears to be the same group that went public as the new owners of NE.



Dear Revolution families,

Hope this note finds everyone well and enjoying their hockey season. Tom and I wanted to update you on the status of our initiatives to develop Tier 1 Hockey in the State of Minnesota. After lengthy strategy sessions, we decided to take a parallel approach focusing on team structure while utilizing legal resources to help guide us through the Tier 1 process with the State. We will be fielding teams for the 2014-2015 season for 00-05 birth years. Open tryout information will be communicated very soon.

In addition to the Tier 1 update, we are excited to announce Tony Gruba as the newly appointed Executive Director of the Revolution Program. Tony will be leading the path to solidifying our Tier 1 program in MN and providing the most professional hockey playing experience for our players and families. He will be communicating with you all very soon. Enclosed below is a bio on Tony. Join Tom and I as we welcome him into the program.

Tony Gruba’s love for hockey began while playing as a youth on St. Paul’s East Side. He went on to play high school hockey for the Hill-Murray Pioneers where he earned a scholarship to St. Cloud State University. Tony spent 4 years at St. Cloud State while scoring over 100 points and finishing his career as the team’s Captain. Tony was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL and played minor league hockey for both the Adirondack Red Wings (AHL) and Dayton Bombers (ECHL). He has spent the last several years coaching youth hockey and developing the curriculum for the Hockey iQ Academy which focuses on helping players develop the mental aspects of the game to complement their physical skills. Tony currently resides in Lake Elmo, MN with his wife Jodie and children Grace and Leo.

Thank you for your time and commitment to this program. We are equally committed to all of you as well and are looking forward to a great season.

Greg Gartner and Tom Forsythe

[lilgretzky99]

Looks like they're gonna try and get tier 1 by suing MN Hockey? Anybody else heard of this? This could get interesting!




Dear Revolution families,Hope this note finds everyone well and enjoying their hockey season. Tom and I wanted to update you on the status of our initiatives to develop Tier 1 Hockey in the State of Minnesota. After lengthy strategy sessions, we decided to take a parallel approach focusing on team structure while utilizing legal resources to help guide us through the Tier 1 process with the State. We will be fielding teams for the 2014-2015 season for 00-05 birth years. Open tryout information will be communicated very soon.

Please educate me ... Northern Educate and Revolution are related???

The owner of Northern Educate bought Tier I Revolution team in Iowa. Long story short. NE is trying to so hard to get Tier I hockey to Minnesota.
The end of the story.............................
Revolution is a terrible team / Parents pay lots of money to live their dream.
Achiever Academy is having all sorts of problems and issues.
I feel bad for all the parents that actually bought into the owners and instructors telling the parents false lies.

[Slipped in the crease]

Please educate me ... Northern Educate and Revolution are related???


The owner of Northern Educate bought Tier I Revolution team in Iowa. Long story short. NE is trying to so hard to get Tier I hockey to Minnesota.
The end of the story.............................
Revolution is a terrible team / Parents pay lots of money to live their dream.
Achiever Academy is having all sorts of problems and issues.
I feel bad for all the parents that actually bought into the owners and instructors telling the parents false lies.


Actually, Des Moines Youth Hockey has the Tier 1 charter for the Revolution. The charter has stipulations and quotas for the affiliate players to be included. Making it a Minnesota based entity has voided the charter altogether. They bought the Revolution name along with the rest of the Northern Edge LLC's. They will be seeking a charter through Minnesota but we know there are some significant obstacles.
It appears to me they are hoping to ressurrect the "Fire" model. Good luck to them!

[Bluelightspecial]

Old goalie, now that this program no longer works for your friend the pilot, you're on here bashing every chance you get. Kind of fake if you ask me. Just my opinion.

[imlisteningtothefnsong]

Hey Bluelight, I resemble that remark!! Just remember OG wears his heart on his sleeve after a couple of beers!! The program did what it needed to do for my boys. We left with out hard feelings.

[funhockey]

ligretxky 99 wrote:




The owner of Northern Educate bought Tier I Revolution team in Iowa. Long story short. NE is trying to so hard to get Tier I hockey to Minnesota.
The end of the story.............................
Revolution is a terrible team / Parents pay lots of money to live their dream.
Achiever Academy is having all sorts of problems and issues.
I feel bad for all the parents that actually bought into the owners and instructors telling the parents false lies.[/quote]

please let me know how you have made this observation.. The 2000 team is ranked 27th in the country and the 2004 team is ranked 7th in the country not the state , so as usual I find myself questioning ones thought process or motives! did not look at any of the other teams but again i would believe that information would prove that the Revolution is a terrible team may be a preposterous statement. Just saying...

[old goalie85]

Bluelight- my friend wasn't a cheater now was he ? Fake seems to be what is going on w/"the program" not me. Just my opinion. If it was Edina/Hill/East that got caught cheating people would be fired. Bashing ??

[SammyOB]

imlisteningtothefnsong, good to hear your boys left on good terms...would like to here where are they playing next year? I image your '99 will draw a lot of interest.