Self-interested? Not really

Costa Mesa High School senior Ivan Martinez is not the type of guy who would usually win academic awards, which is a large part of what made him such a fitting candidate to win the Paul E. Snyder Leadership Award from the Coastline Regional Occupational Program on Friday.

Martinez, who moved with his parents to the United States when he was young from a small village in Mexico, is not particularly motivated in math or science. He describes himself as an average student.

But when he gets to the virtual enterprise class he has been taking for three years, he’s a whole different person.

In the class’ token exercise, all of the students become employees of a virtual company that Martinez was chosen to lead.

The company has to form a business plan, keep its books, market its product or service and do all of the other things a real company would have to in order to be profitable.

Martinez wants to take the exercise further, though. When he graduates in a couple of months, he plans to start a small maid service for the mother of a good friend, help her get the permits through City Hall, buy insurance and market the services, then eventually turn it over to her.

To get the capital to start it up, he plans on selling the 1997 Cadillac his parents bought him as a graduation present.

Hearing him talk about the process, it’s obvious that he understands — at least on a basic level — the complexity of running a business.

“Hopefully within two or three years she’s willing to take the business over,” he said.

Martinez is headed to OCC next year, and while he’s there he wants to start several similar businesses for those around him. The old proverb “give a man a fish, and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime” inspires his philosophy.

It also inspired Paul Snyder, who, three years ago, began underwriting the award that Martinez received.

“I was really impressed with the fact that he’s not looking to make a lot of money for himself, but to help others be self-sufficient,” Snyder said.

The donor sat in the front row and watched Martinez receive the award.

Reporter ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.