We recently connected with Jerome McQueen, PE and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerome, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I had been a mentor for almost 2 decades and I noticed that there were limited awareness of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers for our young people. Even though they were so smart, there were little to steer them to STEM careers. I had always wanted to merge mentorship into STEM awareness, there was something missing. I had to make learning about STEM engaging and fun. So I mulled over my dilemma for years. Then during the pandemic, I had time to research and I discovered STEM kits. Then I thought, I can use these hands-on STEM kits to make learning STEM fun and engaging. While they assemble the STEM kits, I could introduce them to the amazing careers of STEM and all the wondrous opportunities that are out there for them to aspire to. Behold, STEM-based academics: AcaSTEMics!!!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Close to 3 decades of engineering experience that began as a NASA Graduate Fellow studying air pollution control of jet engine test cells, I have always had a thirst to learn something new. Especially in areas I did not know about. As chronicled in my Tedx Talk speech, I come from rural America where opportunities are limited and no role models to lead and guide your way to what you dream to be. I want to make sure that no matter where a child comes from, no matter what resources they do not have, that they know about what they can be in STEM. I developed AcaSTEMics to reach every child in a fun and engaging technique. There are over 2 million STEM jobs that will go unfulfilled if we do identify and develop talent to fill these positions. I thank Forbes Magazine for recognizing me as a STEM influencer helping to bridge the gap for the underrepresented STEM population of America.

At AcaSTEMics we primarily provide STEM kits such as airplanes, boats, cars, bubblemakers, etc. to peak our yound people’s interest while they assemble their own STEM kit. Then we use that STEM kit as the centerpiece to teach them how to read and follow directions, to think for themselves, and to complete what they start. At AcaSTEMics, we believe if you learn those core skills that any dream is possible for our young people. While assembling our kits, they are learning critical thinking, innovation skills, and collaboration skills and the other 21st Century Skills.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Since I was six years old, I said I wanted to be an engineer. However, after my first semester of college, I had 1.4 grade point average. My dreams of becoming an engineer was seriously in doubt. I was facing expulsion from the engineering department. I had engineering professors that had more faith in me and my ability that I did. There had come a point in my life that I had to have faith in me. I was allowed to go another semester to gauge how I would perform. My performance the next semester was slightly better and then the next semester was slightly better than the last. Then my confidence got stronger and stronger, with the last four semesters of undergraduate work, I had 4.0 GPA, propelling me to graduate with honors and being recruited by NASA to fund my graduate work in engineering.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

I had been in business for 4 months and I had had only one client: my wife! I was talking to a random forklift driver at the manufacturing plant I am employed at. I was telling him about the initiative I started and my vision of what I wanted to do by exposing kids to STEM. He happened to know the superintendent of schools in the neighboring county. He told me to email the superintendent and tell him my vision. I did not take much stock in it and I did not figure anything would come from it, but I was desperate. I sent the email and I didn’t hear anything for weeks. Then I get a call from the Asst. Superintendent saying he wants to meet with me tomorrow! So, within 24 hours I put together an hour-long sales pitch. During the sales pitch, I am demonstrating how the four STEM kits are working. I had a lamp, boat, airplane, and wind turbine. Within 20 minutes, the Asst. Superintendent says, “I have 2 after-school programs with 100 students, I want to order each student each of the 4 kits!” I had my first big order!! Then he says, “I need for to come and lead the students in assembling the kits and then I want to order more for second semester!” They saw my vision within 20 minutes and almost a half-decade later this school system is still my biggest client. They have expanded my services to include developing STEM curriculum to serve pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.acastemics.com
• Instagram: acastemics
• Facebook: acastemics
• Linkedin: Jerome D. McQueen, PE
• Youtube: AcaSTEMIcsTV