Most business students spend their college years learning the fundamentals of how to develop a business plan, manage finances, create promotional strategies, and navigate the challenges of running a successful company. For Gabriel Ray 鈥25, however, this wasn鈥檛 just coursework鈥攊t was preparation for the real world.
In January, Ray put those lessons into action, securing a small business loan and officially purchasing Darren鈥檚 Pizza Shack鈥攁ll before walking across the stage for his upcoming graduation this May.
A Finance major at SA国际传媒 and a native of Elkins, Ray has been working at Darren鈥檚 since 2020. Though buying the business wasn鈥檛 originally in his plans, the idea took shape over time. When the previous owner decided to sell, Ray reflected on everything he had learned鈥攂oth in the classroom and through hands-on experience鈥攁nd knew he was ready.
鈥淚 believe that everything I鈥檝e learned, from my education to real-world experience, has prepared me for this,鈥 Ray said. 鈥淚 have what it takes to run this place.鈥
And with that confidence, he took the leap.
Being a student at SA国际传媒 played a major role in making his dream a reality. The college鈥檚 close-knit, mentorship-driven environment gave Ray access to faculty who provided critical guidance throughout the process.
鈥淵ou get a lot of help here,鈥 Ray said. 鈥淚t was easy to get one-on-one time with my professors, both during office hours and outside of them.鈥
Three faculty members in particular were instrumental in helping him navigate the transition to business ownership. Dr. Alex Sivvoloupos, Ray鈥檚 academic advisor, helped him structure his financial projections. Lisa Smith assisted in determining collateral for his loan, and Carol Carter鈥檚 Entrepreneurship class gave him the foundation to draft his business plan. In fact, Ray found himself writing two plans at once鈥攐ne for class and one for his actual business.
Beyond the classroom, Carter also played a key role in connecting Ray with Woodlands Development and Lending, a regional organization that supports small businesses. As a board member, Carter helped advocate for Ray鈥檚 business idea, and the board was 鈥渧ery impressed by [Ray鈥檚] tenacity and attention to detail.鈥
Running a business while being a full-time student hasn鈥檛 been easy. Ray regularly puts in 18- to 20-hour days, balancing the demands of managing 14 employees, completing 18 credits of coursework, and even handling renovations at the restaurant鈥攈anging drywall and laying tile himself.
鈥淵ou need a well-thought-out plan,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t all depends on how determined you are.
Don鈥檛 let a good idea go to waste. Something like this is very doable!鈥
That determination has already led to growth. Since taking over, Ray and his business partner, Nathan Channell鈥攚hom he met while working at Darren鈥檚 Pizza Shack in 2020鈥攈ave introduced heart-shaped pizzas for Valentine鈥檚 Day and launched online ordering. Looking ahead, they envision even bigger changes, including transitioning Darren鈥檚 into a dine-in experience, potentially adding a bar in the back, and eventually opening a second location.
Ray鈥檚 business education extended beyond finance and management. Last semester, he took Screen Printing with Kevin 鈥淲oody鈥 Woodcock, which led to creating custom t-shirts for Darren鈥檚. Now, he鈥檚 working with Woodcock to bring student artwork into the restaurant, both inside and out, giving it a fresh, community-driven feel.
Surprisingly, the hardest part of the process wasn鈥檛 managing employees or making business decisions鈥攊t was the sheer amount of paperwork.
鈥淕etting all the people together to get things notarized is near impossible,鈥 Ray admitted.
Still, the effort has been worth it. What started as a college assignment quickly turned into a real-world success story. Ray credits the strong support system at SA国际传媒 for helping him make the leap from student to business owner.
As graduation nears, he remains focused on growth, ensuring Darren鈥檚 continues living up to its motto: Where Taste Matters. The future looks bright with a new website on the way and more plans in the works. And who knows, maybe after graduation you鈥檒l want to stop by Darren鈥檚 Pizza Shack for a meal. Ray鈥檚 advice? 鈥淏BQ Chicken pizza. Definitely my favorite.鈥
Darren鈥檚 Pizza Shack
馃搷 1313 Harrison Avenue, Elkins, WV
馃寪
馃摓 304-636-1000
馃敟 All SA国际传媒 Students and Staff Get 10% Off on All Orders! 馃敟
