Holistic Organic Wellness in Boca Raton expands to a new location, bringing new wellness options to the community!

BOCA RATON, FL – 11 Apr, 2017 – Residents and visitors in Boca Raton now have an ideal place to go for relaxation, detoxification, skin care, and other wellness essentials. Holistic Organic Wellness (HOW) has expanded and moved to a new location in the center of the Boca Plaza on Federal Highway.

The HOW center opened three years ago to bring healing modalities and natural products to those looking for an alternative or complement to conventional medicine, and to those wanting to enhance their mind and body wellness practices.

The unique HOW center is an oasis for finding peace and healing. They offer a range of holistic services and products for women and men of all ages.

The HOW center is hosting a wellness fair on Saturday, May 6th from 1–7pm. Demonstrations, educational talks, healthy food, and organic wine samples will be offered, as well as deeply discounted services available exclusively to attendees.

“We like to show people HOW to change their lifestyles one variable at a time,” explains Adriana Guardia, co-owner of the center. “Our clients come to us for high-quality, effective products. Others come to find relief from the stress of the daily grind and relax for thirty minutes in a footbath. From our customized facials and skin care products to seasonal cleanses and homeopathic sprays, our clients choose us because we provide a variety of tools without being overwhelming.”

Visitors to the HOW Center are greeted, and often surprised with the welcoming, comfortable environment not found in many high-end spas today. Customers view the HOW Center as a home away from home, and their own personal sanctuary regularly commenting that they feel relaxed just upon arriving to Boca Plaza.

Stephanie Cimino, a second generation certified Aromatherapist and Esthetician, co-owns the center with Guardia. Cimino has a wealth of knowledge on the topics of skin care, energy healing, personal empowerment, and whole-body wellness. Both she and Guardia are extremely passionate about holistic health and self-care, and they are equally passionate about educating others on integrating these practices in an achievable way.

“We combine science with spirituality,” Cimino shares. “By using expertise and intuition we are able to address individuals on a holistic level: physically, spiritually, emotionally, and energetically.”

The Holistic Organic Wellness center is a true retreat for those looking to detoxify, beautify, purify, and pamper. Services include ionic foot baths, customized facials, energy & chakra balancing, nutritional guidance, aromatherapy workshops, yoga classes, and so much more.

The center is now offering TEN DOLLAR THURSDAYS as the perfect opportunity for new clients to “meet the HOW girls”, sample services, and learn about Holistic Organic Wellness.

Media Contact
Company Name: Holistic Organic Wellness
Contact Person: MARIA GUARDIA
Email: maguardia@holisticorganicwellness.com
Phone: 5619550099
Country: United States

Chris Salamone

Florida High School Students Start Lunch Club So No One Eats Alone: ‘Relationships Are Built From Across the Table’

From left: Gerald (member), Denis Estimon (founder), Allie Sealy (founder), Alycia (member)
Oscar David James

Denis Estimon never felt more lonely than when he was surrounded by noisy classmates in his elementary school lunchroom, afraid to join in on their spirited conversations and draw attention to his broken English and Haitian accent.

Feeling alone in a crowd was the worst emotion imaginable for a 6-year-old boy, he says today. That’s why he was inspired to start the “We Dine Together” club with several friends at his high school last year, hoping that none of his classmates would have to eat lunch in isolation.

“Long-lasting relationships are built from across the table,” Denis, now 18 and a senior at Boca Raton Community High School in Florida, tells PEOPLE. “We want to get kids to come out of their comfort zones and realize that they have a lot in common, no matter where they’re born, what they’re background is, or whether they speak with an accent. In one way or another, we’re all alike.”

Founder Denis Estimon with club members
Oscar David James

At Denis’ high school, where there are nearly 3,400 students, “it’s hard to get to know each other sometimes,” he says, “but imagine what would happen if you had lunch with somebody new every day. It’s a wonderful thing to watch people come out of their shells and make new friendships.”

More than 60 teens are now members of “We Dine Together,” using their lunchtime each day to search the school’s cafeteria and courtyard for students who are eating alone.

“I know what it’s like to feel shy and by myself,” one of the club’s co-founders, Kinsley Soorestal, 17, also from Haiti, tells PEOPLE. “When my family moved here nine years ago, I was always the kid lunching alone. Now that I’m making a difference, it feels good to say, ‘Hey, I gotcha, man. What’s your name? How are you doing?’ “

“You can tell they really appreciate it,” he says. “Maybe for the first time, they feel like they belong.”

Kinsley, along with Denis and two other students, Allie Sealy and Jean Max Meradie, came up with the idea for the club while taking summer classes last year at Propel, a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged teens to get a step ahead in school.

When one of their teachers, Greg Francis, asked what single thing they would most like to change about their high school experience, the students agreed that lunchtime could use some improvements.

“I told him, ‘On one side of the cafeteria, you have the white kids, the popular kids and the well-off kids, and on the other side, the new kids, the kids without money, the kids with disabilities and the non-white kids,’” says Denis. “A lot of those kids felt like they didn’t have a friend and were eating alone.”

With students from more than 70 countries attending the mostly-white school, “Denis and his friends decided to become true agents of change,” Greg Francis, now an after-school instructor at the high school, tells PEOPLE. “They’ve reached out with compassion and extended a hand, ensuring that every student at Boca Raton is accepted. I feel like a proud parent to all of them.”

Over pizza or sack lunches, club members aim to spend their lunch period with a different student every day, “letting them know they have a friend,” says Jean Max, 19.

“Everyone has something they’re dealing with,” he says, “and sometimes all they need is somebody to listen. Probably the best thing is how many new friendships we’ve made doing this. I’m no longer the quiet kid, afraid to speak out. Every single day now, I’m meeting somebody new and sharing ideas.”

One of those new friends is Nathaniel Hopwood, 18, who often dined alone until he shared pizza one day with a couple of club members. Now a group member, he seeks out others who remind him of how he felt when he was a new student.

“The club has introduced me to so many different people that I didn’t know before,” he tells PEOPLE. “I’ve definitely gained so much doing this — it’s cool to have such a diverse group coming together to share lunch and stories about their lives.”

With other schools now interested in starting their own “We Dine Together” clubs, Denis Estimon says that Boca Raton students are now hoping to take their idea to the next level and hold a National High School Dining Day on May 22.

“From coast to coast, we want every high school across the country to share our message of unity and acceptance,” he says. “Even for 30 or 45 minutes, imagine what a difference that could make in lunchrooms across America.”

Chris Salamone

Run From The Rays event set to raise money for skin cancer fight

From left, Hannah Speer, Sandy Friedman and Fran Nachlas, co-founders of SafeSun, Inc. and Run From The Rays 5K, promote their cause. (Fran Nachlas/Courtesy)

In just four years, more than $140,000 has been raised and donated to local charities through the annual Run From The Rays 5K run and 1-mile walk, this year slated for the Spanish River Athletic Complex in Boca Raton on Sunday, April 23.

Nearly 800 local runners are expected to participate in this year’s event. The 5K run begins at 7 a.m., while the 1-mile run starts at 8 a.m. A free Kid’s Run (under-8) begins at 8:15 a.m. The event attracted 824 runners last year.

“We are acutely aware of the statistics regarding the dangers of the sun’s rays, and wanted to get our family involved in somehow making a difference,” said Boca Raton’s Fran Nachlas, co-founder and director of the event. Nachlas, a surgical nurse, runs the SafeSun charity to help raise funds for the prevention and treatment of melanoma and other skin cancers.

“Since all of us like to run, a 5K seemed the logical choice as a fundraiser,” Nachlas said. “The funds we’ve donated [support] everything from life-saving melanoma research, treatment for those who cannot afford it, and education for school-age children about sun safety.”

Nachlas said her family chose the charities to support because they wanted to make sure where the funds were going to be used and develop relationships with the charities, and they wanted to make a difference in their own community.

SafeSun was started by Nachlas and her husband Nathan, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Boca Raton who has had to help patients overcome the devastating effects of the removal of their skin cancer. Nathan’s uncle died of melanoma at age 50. The Nachlases’ children, Jake Nachlas and Hannah Speer, and friends Charlie Luciano and Justin Friedman all help stage the event.

“We installed our first SafeSun Inc. free sunscreen dispenser at South Inlet Park in Boca Raton,” Nachlas said. “That was done in conjunction with the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation. We also plan on having dermatologists on hand at Run From The Rays to perform free limited-area skin checks.”

People can register for the 5K, 1-mile or the newly added Virtual Run option online atrunsignup.com/Race/FL/BocaRaton/RunFromTheRays5KRunWalk, or in person at Runner’s Edge in Boca Raton.

Once again this year, the first 750 preregistered runners/walkers will receive custom-made medals and T-shirts.

There will be awards for the top overall male and female participants as well as top three in each age 5-year age group — from 10 and under to an 80-plus male/female division. The cost for the 5K run is $30 through April 17 and $35 after that. For the mile run, the cost is $20 for age 17 and over and $15 for age 16 and under. Those who can’t be at the event can still take part with the Virtual Run for $30.

“The Virtual Run,” Nachlas said, “is for people who love our event and want to be a part of it, but can’t make it to Boca on race day. They can run their mile or 5K wherever they are and still earn the medal and T-shirt!”

The kids’ race, for ages 8 and under, consists of distances from 50 to 200 meters depending on age. Ribbons will be awarded for the free event.

Chris Salamone

Masked Owl Vigilante Makes a Return to Boca

After being noticeably absent for the past year, the masked vigilante known to Boca Raton residents as “Owl Man,” has reportedly resurfaced.

A Florida Atlantic University freshman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was walking to his dorm at 2 a.m. this morning when two men approached him from behind, demanding his possessions. Unknowing of what to do, he shouted for help.

The student told police a large man emerged from the shadows and rendered the men unconscious.

“It was the strangest thing I ever saw,” he said. “I thought it was Owlsley at first but this guy was a lot more fit. It felt like something straight out of a movie. Before I could even get a good look at him he was gone.”

He was able to give a vague description to police however, and explained that he had a beard under an owl mask, with what looked like wings coming from his back.

Police instantly recognized the description of the vigilante and turned to the Boca Raton Tribune, whose top sketch artist was able to create an image of him when he was first spotted last April.

It was previously concluded that he was an FAU student, as his heroic acts have only been spotted on campus. Students who attended FAU last year recalled the last sighting of Owl Man and were surprised to hear of his return.

“It was my second year here when I saw him,” one student said. “I was in GPT (Glades Park Towers) at the time and was playing some video games with my boys. Heard a girl screaming and looked out the window to see some owl dude beating some guys up. Can’t believe he’s back. It’s good to know that he’s here to help.”

His friend believes that he may know the reason Owl Man has not been seen since last year.

“I bet he took a semester off. That’s why he hasn’t been around,” he said. “I thought that maybe he graduated or something, but now that he’s back, that’s got to be it.”

Last April, a Facebook page was created called “Who is Owl Man,” which quickly gained thousands of likes in hopes of finding information regarding the vigilante’s identity. The page has since been deleted, however a new one has been created. Not everyone actually wants to know his identity though.

“I don’t really want to find out,” another student said. “It’s cool that it’s sort of a mystery. Just let the dude do his thing.

CHRIS SALAMONE

Boca Raton’s Lexi Thompson loses LPGA Major after email from TV viewer

RANCHO MIRAGE, Ca — RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Lexi Thompson had no idea why LPGA Tour rules official Sue Witters was approaching her on the way to the 13th tee at the ANA Inspiration.

When she found out, Thompson still couldn’t believe it.

A television viewer’s email had alerted officials to a day-old rules violation by Thompson for improper ball placement. Her three-shot lead had just been wiped out by a four-shot penalty.

“Is this a joke?” Thompson asked Witters.

After being assured it wasn’t, she responded: “This is ridiculous.”

Thompson survived the shock, and she forced a playoff with three gutsy birdies that had the Dinah Shore Course crowd on its feet.

But So Yeon Ryu managed to take advantage of the break created by Thompson’s extraordinary penalty.

Ryu birdied the playoff hole to win the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year Sunday after Thompson was blindsided for an infraction she had accidentally committed 24 hours earlier.

Thompson, the 22-year-old U.S. Olympian who won here in 2014, was left stunned by the decision that stopped her from cruising to an easy victory.

“Every day is a learning process,” Thompson said. “I wasn’t expecting what happened today, but … it happens, and I’ll learn from it and hopefully do better.”

The fateful email arrived during Sunday’s final round, alerting officials to the violation committed Saturday. Thompson marked a 1-foot putt with a coin on the 17th green during her third round, but she replaced the ball perhaps 1 inch out of position.

After an extensive video review, Thompson was penalized two strokes for an incorrect ball placement and two strokes for an incorrect scorecard. Witters regretfully explained the penalty to Thompson.

“I can’t go to bed tonight knowing I let a rule slide,” Witters said. “It’s a hard thing to do, and it made me sick, to be honest with you.”

Thompson fought back tears after getting the news, but she incredibly birdied the 13th hole. She battled back into a five-way tie for the lead, making three birdies and a bogey on the final six holes of regulation at Mission Hills Country Club.

“It’s unfortunate what happened,” Thompson said. “I did not mean that at all. I didn’t realize I did that. I felt strong through the finish, and it was great to see the fans behind me.”

Golf fans on the course and the internet reacted with bewilderment and outrage when the LPGA’s decision became understood. Tiger Woods immediately came to Thompson’s defense on Twitter.

“Viewers at home should not be officials wearing stripes,” Woods wrote . “Let’s go @Lexi, win this thing anyway.”

As awkward as the situation was, it could have been worse: If golf officials hadn’t made a rule change before last year, Thompson would have been disqualified entirely.

Ryu birdied the 18th hole in regulation and again in the playoff, but she didn’t find out she was in serious contention to win until officials informed her of Thompson’s penalty on the 16th tee.

“I just cannot believe the situation,” Ryu said. “I didn’t even check the leaderboard. I thought Lexi played really, really well. I didn’t expect what happened to Lexi.

“It’s a very unfortunate situation. I didn’t expect it. I thought I’m well behind, so all I wanted to do was play my game.”

They both finished regulation at 14-under 274, but Thompson still nearly won it in regulation after crushing her approach shot on the 18th.

With emotions visible on her face amid loud chants of her name, Thompson gathered herself — and left a 15-foot winning eagle putt inches short.

Ryu, who also won the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open in a playoff, claimed her second major title with an excellent playoff hole after her final-round 68, burying a 5-foot birdie putt.

Although she cried with joy on the green for what she said was the first time in a U.S. tournament, her celebration was a bit muted because of the bizarre circumstances — at least until she made the traditional leap into Poppie’s Pond with her caddie and friends.

“It definitely feels a bit weird,” said Ryu, who is expected to move to No. 2 in the world. “It was kind of a weird atmosphere, even after I won the tournament.

“But I think the most important thing is no matter what happened during the round, we ended up going to a playoff. Then I was able to handle the tough situation well.”

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen barely missed a birdie putt on the 18th to force a three-way playoff. She finished tied for third with Inbee Park and Minjee Lee.

DIVOTS: Michelle Wie shot a final-round 69 and finished three shots off the lead in sixth place, her best finish in a major since she won the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. … Cristie Kerr finished seventh for her best performance in a major since the 2014 event here, when the tournament was known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship. … World No. 1 Lydia Ko finished in a tie for 11th at 7-under 281.

From Failure to a Five-Star Review

Matt’s chest tightened as he listened to the voicemail from Roger, an unsatisfied client. What he was hearing was something no businessperson wants to hear: “Matt, we will not be needing your services any longer. Your company dropped the ball on this project.”

Initially, his reaction ranged from disappointment to feeling disheartened. Instead of making excuses or begging for a second chance, however, Matt responded out of conviction that he needed to do the right thing. He called the client, offering a 100 percent refund on the fee that had already been paid, as well as his personal guarantee to correct the problem.

Somewhat surprised that Matt did not respond in a defensive manner, the frustration and disappointment of his client, Roger, suddenly softened. Encouraged by the professional and caring manner by which Matt handled the situation, the client responded with a 5-star online review of Matt’s company. In addition, this turned apparent disaster into an opportunity to continue and even expand their business relationship.

Because Matt had been quick to acknowledge his company’s poor performance, potential failure turned into a stellar, 5-star review and recommendation.

Too often we are tempted to offer excuses when things go wrong, or shift blame elsewhere, rather than recognizing our personal and corporate shortcomings. However, as the Bible’s Old Testament book of wisdom points out, “He who conceals his sin does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

This is not a guarantee that admission of unsatisfactory service will always result in retaining customers, but it is a good principle to follow for these reasons:

Wronging a customer is also wronging God. “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them” (1 Kings8:35).

Righting a wrong through restitution restores the relationship. “Speak to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the Lord, and that person is guilty, and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged&rsq uo;”(Numbers 5:6-7).

Acknowledging a wrong brings healing for ourselves. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” .

These principles offer powerful motivation for recognizing and making amends for doing wrong or failing to live up to our commitments in business. By taking ownership of our mistakes and admitting our failures can become an opportunity to showcase your heart. God, and others, will honor.

CHRIS SALAMONE

Police: Boca Raton Jewel Thief Locked Into Vault After Bungled Heist

BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) – A 46-year-old woman who tried to trick a Boca Raton jewelry store owner so she could walk away with more than $6 million in jewels was arrested after the owner locked her inside the store’s vault room, police said.

Fatima Milanovic was arrested March 18th on charges of organized scheme to defraud and grand theft, according to WPEC.

Boca Raton police said Milanovic tried to dupe ECJ Luxe Collection store owner Vladislav “Bobby” Yampolsky into taking a replica package with fake stones in it so that she could walk away with 11 jewels worth $6.77 million and change.

According to a Boca Raton police report, Milanovic went to the Mizner Park store on behalf of a third-party business associate who had spent the past two months negotiating a purchase with Yampolsky via email.

“Bobby stated that from the time Fatima had arrived, her behavior was very suspicious,” the police report said. “She had attempted to distract him on several occasion(s) while the jewelry was on the table.”

Yampolsky said she was nervous and shaky.

“She told us she was very sick,” he told Local 10 News.

After she was shown all the stones, Milanovic asked to put them in a box that she brought and sealed it with industrial tape, the report said.

Yampolsky reluctantly agreed and told her that he would keep the package in the vault until he received the wire transfer, but Milanovic insisted on holding it and put it in her purse, the report said.

After arguing back and forth about who should hold the pricey package, Milanovic pulled a package out of her purse and gave it to Yampolsky, who knew right away that it was a replica, the report said.

Yampolsky locked Milanovic in the vault room while he called the police. The arresting officer wrote in the report that surveillance video from the vault showed Milanovic rip up the pre-made package that was already in her purse while she was locked inside.

“This one takes the cake,” Yampolsky said. “I’m just glad no one got hurt, and I’m glad we got a thief off the streets.”

Milanovic, who doesn’t speak any English, was released on bond.

Yampoksky said the woman is a French national who might be involved in an international crime ring that targets high-end jewelry stores.

CHRIS SALAMONE

Multiple crashes prompt FDOT to make Boca Raton overpass safer

BOCA RATON, Fla. – We’ve learned exclusive new information to a story WPTV followed all morning long on Wednesday.

The driver of a tractor trailer lost control and crashed on the Congress Avenue overpass in Boca Raton, marking the fourth crash in less than a year in that spot.

Police don’t think drivers realize they need to turn right at the top of the exit ramp. It’s become such a concern that the Florida Department of Transportation is going to make some changes.

Sharon Taylor, who runs the Eagle Dry Cleaning shop near the overpass, has a front row seat to the chaos on Congress.

“Obviously it jams up 95 in both directions so signage would be a great thing,” she said. “The state should take action, let’s save lives. We’re not driving around trying to hurt one another so the state should do something about it.”

Wednesday morning’s crash blocked traffic for hours, but no one was seriously injured. In November, a minor crash was reported at the exit. In August, Chopper 5 captured dramatic video of an 18-wheeler dangling off the bridge. The driver was confused and drove straight ahead after exiting, not realizing there was a median and a wall there.

“I’ve seen trucks almost run over the bridge in car crashes,” said Eddyson Jean Jacques, who also works nearby. “I think it’s just because the curve it’s kind of too tight, they just need to make it a little bigger and wider.”

Last May, a man was arrested after negligent driving sent his car off the overpass, paralyzing his passenger.

State police believe it’s the drivers that are the issue, not necessarily the ramp.

“Whenever they’re driving the big rigs and they have loads on them, they need to adjust their speed if they’re going to exit the ramp just like anybody else,” said Mark Wysocky, a trooper for Florida Highway Patrol. “Exiting interstate from 65 or 70 miles an hour, obviously they need to slow down. When you’re out there driving, you need to pay attention.”

Either way, the crashes have prompted FDOT to do something about it.

“Following the one in August, we did a review of all the signage that’s in that area to see if we needed to upgrade anything and that’s what we’re going to be doing,” said FDOT spokesperson Chuck McGinness. “We feel it’s properly marked right now but to avoid any confusion we are going to add some additional signs on the interstate. Anything that we can do to make the roads safer we will certainly consider.”

Crews will install “Exit Only” signs on the road leading up to the ramp, which is a part of the interstate that narrows from five lanes to four lanes. As drivers exit, they will see two large signs indicating a traffic signal.

“Right here in the median on the curb, we’re going to be painting that yellow, 65 feet of curb,” said McGinnes, pointing to the renditions of the new signs. “So when people are coming down that exit ramp, their lights will hit it.”

FDOT will also install a large right turn sign, showing a 5 mile per hour speed limit. The signs will be large, reflective and yellow, so that drivers can easily see that they cannot go straight and must turn right.

“We’re adding three signs here,” said McGinness, pointing to the median that trucks have plowed through. “These reflective yellow signs and then the sign showing the right turn only.”

While FDOT hopes the signs will help, McGinness says it’s now up to the people behind the wheel.

“The onus is going to be on the drivers. They need to pay attention to the signs, put down the cell phone. Pay attention to the road,” he said.

FDOT hopes to have the signs up by the beginning of the summer. They will begin installing the new signs in the next 60 days.

CHRIS SALAMONE

Executive Education

Women rank higher in leadership qualities in most areas

Women are better suited to leadership than their male counterparts in most areas, but definitely not all, according to Professor Øyvind L. Martinsen, head of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the BI Norwegian Business School.

Martinsen and colleague, Professor Lars Glasø, surveyed the personality traits of more than 2,900 managers – more than 900 women, more than 900 in senior management and nearly 900 from the public sector – and found that female leaders score higher than men in four of the five categories measured.

Women rank higher in initiative and clear communication, openness and ability to innovate, sociability and supportiveness as well as methodical management and goal setting.

Martinsen says: “Businesses must always seek to attract customers and clients and to increase productivity and profits. Our results indicate that women naturally rank higher, in general, than men in their abilities to innovate and lead with clarity and impact. These findings pose a legitimate question about the construction of management hierarchy and the current dispensation of women in these roles.”

However, the research did indicate that women fell behind men in emotional stability and ability to withstand job-related pressure and stress.

Glasø says: “The survey suggests that female leaders may falter through their stronger tendency to worry – or lower emotional stability. However, this does not negate the fact that they are decidedly more suited to management positions than their male counterparts. If decision-makers ignore this truth, they could effectively be employing less qualified leaders and impairing productivity.”

Why Millennials Choose To Join Corporate America Over Becoming Entrepreneurs

Millennials have a reputation for ditching their nine-to-fives for entrepreneurship. But in terms of young people actually going out to start their own businesses, this perception is very different from reality.

Why? According to a study by the Small Business Administration, in 2014, less than 2% of millennials were self-employed. This compares with 7.6% of Generation X and 8.3% of Baby Boomers. Another study, conducted by the Kaufman Foundation, found that young people (age 20-34) accounted for only 22.7% of entrepreneurs in 2013, compared to 34.8% in 1996. Further, John Lettieri, the cofounder of the Economic Innovation Group, stated in a U.S. Senate Committee Hearing on Small Business and Entrepreneurship that millennials are likely going to be the “least entrepreneurial generation in recent history”.

The reality is that many millennials are choosing corporate jobs over entrepreneurship. More so than previous generations. A combination of factors is driving this shift, including debt, lack of savings, job security, and risk aversion.

1. Debt

Millennials are opting for careers that can accommodate their growing debt. According to Student Loan Hero, the average student will graduate with $37,172 in student loan debt in 2016 (up 6% from last year). As of 2012, 71% of students graduated with some amount of student loan debt. The Pew Research Center reported that millennials are more burdened by financial hardships than previous generations.

With more debt than their predecessors, millennials are focusing on paying off their student loans, which means making a steady income and minimizing expenses. As an entrepreneur, paychecks aren’t always steady and starting the business itself requires, at a minimum, an initial investment. With student loan debt on the rise, millennials are pursuing corporate careers because of the pressure they feel to pay down their student loan debt.

2. Lack of savings

Millennials are also choosing office jobs because they lack the savings to support entrepreneurship. While millennials may be saving money in retirement funds, more than half of millennials have less than $1,000 in liquid savings, according to Market Watch.

Entrepreneurship requires some level of savings (and the more the better) and inherent in starting a business is the need for liquid savings. Not only do entrepreneurs need cash to live on until the business makes enough of a profit, but they also need money to start their businesses. Without adequate savings to live on or to use to fund a new business, millennials don’t have the cash to support their entrepreneurial dreams.

3. Job security

Millennials value job security more than previous generations, according to the Pew Research Center. In a 2013 study, 40% of millennials reportedly valued job security as “extremely important” compared to a lower 31% of Baby Boomers.

If millennials have higher student loan debt and lack cash savings, it makes sense that they would prioritize job security more than their predecessors. Millennials need a steady job to make their debt payments and meet their standard of living expectations.

4. Risk aversion

According to an Economic Innovation Group study, millennials are risk averse compared to previous generations. Millennials perceive corporate jobs as being less risky than entrepreneurship.

With various financial pressures and a need for job security, millennials are feeling more risk averse than ever before. Without the capacity or tolerance for taking risk, millennials are not pursuing entrepreneurship which inherently is a risky business.

Millennials can’t afford to be entrepreneurs

Millennials have insufficient financial means to pursue entrepreneurship compared to prior generations. Add to this, the fact that millennials entered the workforce during (or shortly after) The Great Recession, and it is not hard to see why millennials are financially strapped and not pursuing entrepreneurship like their predecessors.