NORMAN — Amber LaValley, 21, is the recent recipient of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, presented at the 2012 Business Excellence Forum. La Valley opened Vision Martial Arts Academy in 2009 with one vision in mind— training people of all ages in the art of Taekwondo.
ActionCOACH presented the award at the Business Excellence Awards, a black-tie banquet in Memphis, Tenn. on Jan. 14. LaValley was recognized over hundreds of applicants across the U.S. and Canada.
“It’s such a great honor to receive Young Entrepreneur of the Year,” LaValley said. “I couldn’t have done it without my mother and my students.”
LaValley began running Vision Martial Arts Academy at 18 with her mother, Lynne, and just under 20 paying students. Now with well over 100 students, LaValley strives to help students train their minds as well as training their bodies.
“I make sure each student leaves with more than just physical skill,” LaValley said. “They leave with life skills as well.”
LaValley instituted Verbal Judo Anti-Bullying curriculum. She employs two full-time black belt instructors with plans to hire another by the end of the year. Based on the strong student growth, she plans to expand her facility by two or three thousand square feet in the next year, she said.
For more information about LaValley or the Vision Martial Arts Academy and its programs, call 405-321-8474 or visit the website at www.amaiworld.com.
