For more information:
Bob Edwards
Public Relations Department Assistant
Glenville State College
Glenville, West Virginia
(304) 462-7361x7610

Glenville, WV—Glenville State College will be well represented at the 2008 West Virginia Statewide Student Business Plan Competition

semi-finals. The competition, sponsored by the West Virginia University Entrepreneurship Center, encourages students to implement their ideas for new businesses in West Virginia. The plan that is judged the best in each of two categories, lifestyles and innovation, will be awarded $10,000 to put their plan into action. Sixty six student plans were submitted for the competition, and that number was trimmed to twenty after the first round of judging. The semi-finals will be held in Bridgeport, West Virginia, on November 7, during the fall meeting of the West Virginia Entrepreneurship initiative. The semi finalists will be given two minutes each to pitch their plan to the general audience, and then they will go through a series of one-on-one interviews with business professionals. Three of the plans advancing to the semi-final round were submitted by Glenville State College Students.

GSC senior Nick Pahoundis, of Coshocton, Ohio is one of the semi-finalists. The Natural Resource Management major was required to develop a business plan for one of his GSC business classes. The plan was so good that GSC Associate Professor of Business, Cheryl McKinney, encouraged Pahoundis to enter it in the competition. Nick’s plan is for Mountaineers Outdoors, a hunting lodge that would offer guided hunts for deer and turkey. Mountaineers Outdoors would be located in Wyoming or Logan County, West Virginia and cater to bow only hunting for youth and handicapped hunters. “I was totally surprised when I was notified that I had been selected for the semi-finals. I have to work to improve my plan if I hope to advance again,” said Pahoundis. Former GSC student Martin Payton, who is now enrolled at West Virginia State University, has teamed up with Pahoundis for the next phase of the competition. The two were roommates at GSC prior to Payton transferring to WVSU.

J-B Adventures is the business plan of GSC students Joshua Meadows and Bryan Bush. Meadows is a sophomore from Charleston, West Virginia, majoring in Business Management and Accounting. Bush is a Junior Math Education major from Roane County, West Virginia. The roommates are both active in the GSC High Adventure Program. Their business plan for J-B Adventures is to construct an indoor rock climbing facility in Charleston, West Virginia. The business would also include an extreme sports equipment store and offer guided rock climbing and kayaking excursions. “Winning the $10,000 would be great, but only a fraction of the financial resources we need. We intend to build J-B Adventures even if we do not win. The contacts we make, and the experience we get from the completion will be invaluable to us,” said Meadows.

Lance J. Hitt of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is a sophomore Business Management major at GSC. His business plan, Gas Pass, is competing in the innovation division. Hitt’s idea is for a method to protect gas stations from customers who drive off without paying for their gas. Details can not be revealed in order to protect Hitt from someone else taking his idea.

Five student business plans will be selected from each category to move on to the competition finals which will take place in Morgantown, West Virginia in April. Each finalist team will receive comprehensive instruction and support in further developing their business plan. Each team will be provided an individual business coach to mentor their team through the final round of the competition. Finalists will also receive a $1,000 stipend to work on their business plan. Teams must submit a 40-page business plan, and make an oral presentation to a panel of finalist judges. Winners of the two $10,000 awarded will be announced on April 12, 2008

Glenville State College has three teams competing in two categories, so it is possible that GSC could have two winners of the 2008 West Virginia Statewide Student Business Plan Competition. “This is another indication of just how well Glenville State College students are educated and prepared to compete with all other colleges and universities in West Virginia, and in today’s business world,” said Cinda Echard, GSC Associate Professor of Business.

For more information about the 2008 West Virginia Statewide Student Business Plan Competition, go online at www.be.wvu.edu, or contact GSC Professor Cinda Echard at (304) 462-7361 ext. 7257