Mrs. McClendon has been an entrepreneur her whole adult life and is the proud owner of Crystal's Christian Care, CM Fine Chocolates, and currently, along with her husband David McClendon, DD's Chick and Cat Shack LLC a mobile event catering company.

Mrs. McClendon has always known the significance of ownership and the importance of knowing that your own business can be successful with the right tools, resources, and encouragement. She successfully ran a young entrepreneurship program through the Boys & Girls Club of America gaining both classroom and hands on experience with participants who were able to employ their skills at the world-famous Rose Bowl during a vendor event.

With their own children, Mr. and Mrs. McClendon encourage entrepreneurship as a fundamental priority. All four of their children have either developed or are in the developing stages of their own business enterprises.

Mrs. McClendon is extremely proud to be one of the original founders and the CEO of Young and Hungry Now, Inc. and their continued efforts to encourage and incubate the next generation of entrepreneurs.

 

 

Mr. McClendon was an entrepreneur before he even knew that was a word. He grew up watching his dad provide for the family as he ran his own business and wanted to be just like him for as long as he could remember. Mr. McClendon has owned and managed several businesses to follow his dad's footsteps including a Janitorial & Carpet Cleaning Company. He currently owns in partnership with his wife a Catering Company known as DD's Chick & Cat Shack, for the last 18 years which serves Authentic Southern Fried Chicken & Catfish, has a food truck, and on-site Event Catering. 

Married to Crystal for 23 years, they have 4 amazing talented children 22, 20, 18, and 11 years old who are all entrepreneurial orientated. 

Mr. McClendon’s vision for Young & Hungry Now Inc. is to present, simplify, and assist the next generation of young minds with choices that can lead them to being successful entrepreneurs and by helping them clearly understand there is more than one way to be successful in life!

 In 2019, Kory McClendon, approached his parents with the difficult decision that he did not want to attend college. Kory had been diagnosed with a learning difference throughout his education and, despite doing well in school, he still struggled and was exhausted from the constant battle. He did not want to continue that struggle through college and his father, understanding his son’s struggles, was accepting of his decision. However, he also stressed the importance of Kory having a plan for his future.

Kory, who was already skilled in running his family’s small business, had a natural aptitude for business as a whole. It was then that the idea for Young and Hungry Now was born.

Currently Kory is a 20-year-old High School graduate who is essential in running the family business along with being the co-owner of KZ Ragzs and owner of KO Beats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maerice Simpson is a Youth and Young Adult Advocate that has been active in the youth mentorship arena for more than 23 years. Maerice was Teen Director for 15 years at the Pasadena Boys & Girls Club leading an internship program designed for teens. In partnership with DD’s Chick & Cat Shack  Maerice spearheaded a summer enrichment camp for youth called "Inter and Outer Beauty," and developed an Entrepreneurship Program for teens who wanted to turn their passion into profit. Maerice earned a Certificate of Leadership in 2018 for Leadership of America and has since started their own mobile cafe called May'z Spot. Maerice also is committed for the past 16 years to the community dance groups they founded called "God Squad" and "Appointed 2 Dance".

 

Maerice’s personal mission is to ‘inspire, motivate, and empower those who are within my reach’!

Ms. Felton currently works for the University of California and has been blessed with two beautiful daughters and two wonderful grandsons. She is the Founder and CEO of ‘There Is Hope Financial Services’  in Monrovia, California where the company offers tax preparation, tax planning, bookkeeping and budget counseling services. Ms. Felton credits her father for her love of managing money.  His motto was “If you don’t have the cash to purchase an item, wait until you do.” He felt it was easy to stay out of debt if you paid cash for everything.  “Owe no man anything! Be the lender and not the borrower.”  Her dad’s philosophy coupled with the incorporation of biblical principles took Ms. Felton down a path of successfully stewarding her own finances and eventually contracting with individuals and businesses to help them do the same. 

Felicia Felton is passionate about what she does and loves working with youth in their creative capacities. Ms. Felton uses her gifts to instill the principles she mastered into young entrepreneurs desiring to have a responsible and abundant financial future!