Stephanie Treto grew up dreaming of being a business owner herself. That dream became a reality before Stephanie even graduated high school. Her congregation – St. Paul’s Catholic Parish – was willing to partner with Stephanie and The Imaginarium to reach their neighborhoods, and expand her business. This has allowed Stephanie to see how churches and businesses can come together to help communities thrive.
In 2022, she began wondering how she might start a business in high school, and have her career ready for her when she graduated. Thinking about how ice cream brings people together – and seeing a market opportunity, Stephanie used her savings to start Neveria Tropical – an ice cream shop in her hometown. She started designing the shop in January 2023 with the ideas of her favorite colors, pink and green, and later that summer, her business was open.
Figuring out everything from organizational structure to community-based marketing was a big task for a high schooler, but her network helped her find the resources she needed to bring a good business plan to life; and her work-study school structure allowed her to be hands-on with both her classes and her business. Stephanie’s family has always supported her entrepreneurial efforts, and she shared that her dad has been a great mentor for her. As for help with the shop, she hired four employees. One of her favorite things about running a business is figuring it out with a team. She explains that there’s joy in learning how to ideate ways to make things easier together.
One major accomplishment to improve the business was the purchase of an ice cream machine, which was made possible through the business’s success, and grant partnerships with the Imaginarium at Indiana Wesleyan University and her congregation, St. Paul’s Catholic Parish.
“We inquired about whether Stephanie had any connection with a local church,” recalled Amanda Drury. “When she heard the question, her eyes lit up and she immediately responded: ‘Oh yes, I’m really connected with St. Paul’s Catholic Parish.’ When we asked if there was any connection between her business and her church she was perplexed and intrigued.”
After a series of emails and meetings, St. Paul’s and Stephanie decided to partner with one another to see if Neveria Tropical could have a more missional presence in our community. The Imaginarium awarded St. Paul’s a $15,000 grant—they in turn partnered with Neveria Tropical to host pop-up events that connect St. Paul’s to the local neighborhoods. The grant provided seed money so Neveria Tropical could have their own ice cream machine. Prior to that investment, Stephanie or one of her employees was taking a 3-hour round trip every few days to purchase ice cream from another supplier.
Stephanie explains that she feels blessed to be considered a successful, young entrepreneur. When asked how she overcame any doubt or skepticism about the venture, her heart for Christ shined through. She shared, “I trust God and believe that any success comes from following Him.”