Ena's Driving School, Richmond Hill

Although Rajendra Hariprashad was in the Marines, his most trusted weapon—the one that launched him into private enterprise as a business owner—was not a rifle, but a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse. During his four years of service, he taught students behind the wheel of his own compact sports car. When he was discharged and went back to New York, he shelved law-enforcement career ambitions and opened Ena's Driving School.

Today, the school teaches road safety to new and seasoned drivers alike. Along with prelicensing and defensive-driving classes, instructors lead motorcycle, CDL truck, and CDL bus lessons. Rajendra's business savvy and entrepreneurial acumen have won him press in Forbes, Fox Business, USA Today, and other media outlets. He even partnered with truTV's Impractical Jokers to prank students who were behind the wheel for the first time. Afterward, several neighbors and new customers called to inquire about classes and how to fit a spring-rigged banana-cream pie into the glove compartment.

Rajendra's law-enforcement career continues to remain on hold. "I'm lucky," he says about his driving school and other business ventures. "This is fun. I want to be in the open road."