Venture Pitch Competition Winners Announced

Haire, a senior majoring in business administration and with concentration in entrepreneurship, won for his plan for Phoenix Truck Bodies, a truck body manufacturing company that will provide services through a hub and spoke business model. It aims to provide a consolidated approach to the truck body manufacturing and related services industry.

Second place went to Jim Crawford, also a senior in business administration, for his business plan for EXEC, a membership-based barbershop and urban lounge.

Third place went to Alex Fogleman, a senior in business administration, for Sing: Redemption, a nonprofit organization that will provide mentoring for disadvantaged young through participation in music lessons and performance.

The judges deliberated for nearly an hour after the final presentations, which included an extensive question/answer session on details of the students’ business plans as well as feedback on their presentations.

Among those attending the final round presentations and awaiting the judges’ decisions was Joyce Stephens, career development coordinator and teacher at the Centennial Campus Middle School. Several of the semifinalists were among the college’s entrepreneurship students who served as mentors for her middle school students who are exploring entrepreneurship as a career path. The College of Management entrepreneurship students also will be serving as judges when the middle school students hold a competition of their own later this spring.

The three finalists advanced from the six semi-finalists selected out of more than 50 entries submitted for the competition. The other three semifinalists are:

Brandon Scroggs, a senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship, for his business concept, Ecliptuene, a music website that includes a social community, with information for artists, performance schedules and other information, as well as an online store for music and merchandise, and a search engine to help users locate shows and venues by zip code.

Ashley Rix, a senior in business administration, for her business plan for Silkees by ATR, a unique and versatile product targeted for the rapidly growing ‘tween and teen market.

Jonathan Gregory, a junior majoring in business administration, for his business plan for couponbook.com, a digital coupon site designed for use with smart phones.

Lewis Sheats, entrepreneurship instructor in the college’s Department of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, coordinated the competition. He thanked the judges and other members of the entrepreneurial community in the Research Triangle Park who have helped the entrepreneurship students through mentorship and by providing “a real world perspective.”

Photo

Finalists in the Venture Pitch Competition are, left to right, Jonathan Gregory, Drew Haire, Jim Crawford, Alex Fogleman, and Brandon Scroggs. Not available for the photo was Ashley Rix.

Semifinalists’ hometown information:

Jim Crawford is originally from Raleigh, N.C., and graduated from Leesville Road High School. His parents are Betty and Jim Crawford Sr.

Drew Haire is originally from Thomasville, N.C., and graduated from East Davidson High School in 2006. His parents are Rita and Darrell Haire.

Alex Fogleman is originally from Raleigh, N.C., and graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in 2004. His parents are Mary Edna and Jim Fogleman.

Jonathan Gregory is originally from Winston Salem, N.C., and he graduated from Mt. Tabor High School. His parents are Jeffery and Christine Gregory.

Ashley Rix is originally from Hershey, PA and graduated from Hershey High School. Her parents are Rob and Denise Rix.

Brandon Scroggs is originally from Ashville, N.C., and graduated from Owen High School. His parents are Tanya and Matt Scroggs.