FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2009
For more information:
Bob Edwards
Public Relations Department Assistant
Glenville State College
Glenville, West Virginia
(304) 462-7361x7610
Glenville, WV— For the third consecutive year, Glenville State College will be represented in the semi-finals of the West Virginia Colligate Business Plan Competition (WVCBPC). The statewide competition is organized by the Entrepreneurship Center in WVU’s College of Business and Economics to encourage students across West Virginia to create new businesses for the state. The competition, which is in its fourth year, allows students working as individuals or teams, the opportunity to submit a business idea to be evaluated by a panel of professors, venture capitalists, experienced entrepreneurs, high-tech industry leaders, CPAs, and business lawyers. Entries are divided into two categories: Lifestyles and Innovation. The twenty semi-finalists, ten in each category, were chosen from over ninety entries representing seven West Virginia higher education institutions. The semi-finalists are from West Virginia University, Marshall University, Ohio Valley University, Glenville State College, and the University of Charleston.
Glenville State College students presented three business plans in the first round of the 2009-10 competition, which required a three to five page summary of the student’s business idea. These were scored by a panel of judges using a scoring rubric and ten plans in each category were selected to advance to the semi-final round. Two of the three plans presented by GSC students were chosen for the semi-finals.
 GSC junior Trent Walker |
GSC student Trent Walker of Dawson in Greenbrier County, West Virginia has advanced to the semi-finals in the Innovation Division with his business plan 'Backpack Generator'. He developed his idea for a strap-on portable generator after working construction jobs with his dad. “I think I have a really good idea that would have many applications, but I was shocked to learn that my plan was selected for the semi-finals. Now I am going to do everything I can to advance to the finals,” said Walker. This is the second time that Walker has entered the contest. Last year he presented a plan for a fitness center but did not make it out of the first round of competition. “Professors Cinda Echard and Cheryl McKinney have been fantastic. They provide non-stop support for those of us in the competition,” he said. Walker is a junior majoring in Biology and Business Management. He says he is very comfortable at GSC. “I came to Glenville because I liked the small town atmosphere. It reminds me a lot of
home.” Walker is the son of Johnnie and Jotina
Walker of Dawson.
 GSC freshman Devon Maher |
Freshmen Devon Maher of Winchester, Virginia was selected as a semi-finalist in the Life Styles Category for his business plan ‘Devon’s Dirt Cheap Compost.’ Maher’s plan is to use worms to produce high quality but inexpensive compost. He knows the plan works because as a fifteen year old, he made enough money to purchase his first car by producing and selling compost created through the same process. “I was confident that my plan would have a good chance of moving on in the competition because I have already used it and proved that it works. Now I just have to focus on making a good presentation and sell myself and my plan to the judges,” he said. Maher is a Business major with a minor in Information Media Studies. His career goal is to work in promotions and marketing for the music industry. He also intends to start a compost production business even if he doesn’t win the West Virginia Collegiate Business Plan Competition. Maher is the son of Shelia and Bill Maher of Hampshire County, West Virginia.
The GSC team of sophomore Matthew Thompson of St. Albans and freshman Brittany Williamson of Elizabeth, West Virginia also submitted a business plan for the WVCBPC. Their idea for a Market Place and Café for West Virginia artisans, farmers, and musicians was not selected for the semi-finals.
"All of our students who participated in the Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition exhibited a core characteristic of entrepreneurs; they were risk takers. For Trent and Devon, their reward is being named semi-finalists. Having two GSC students named as semi-finalists indicates the quality of a Glenville State College education,” said Cinda Echard, GSC Associate Professor of Business.
Maher and Walker must now submit a feasibility study for their plans and then will travel to the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Initiative Annual Meeting at the Bridgeport Conference Center in Harrison County, West Virginia on November 18th for the semi-final round of the competition. Each semi-finalist will present a two-minute elevator pitch of their business idea to the conference attendees who will score the ideas. Then each team will participate in a series of interviews with business professionals to discuss their ideas. The top five scoring teams in each category will advance to the final round of the WVCBPC to be held at WVU in April.
All finalists will be provided with comprehensive instruction and support in developing a complete business plan for their idea. They are provided an individual business coach to mentor their team and receive a stipend of $1,000 to work on their business. Each finalist must submit a 40-page business plan to a panel of judges and then makes a final oral presentation to the panel. The final winner in each category is awarded $10,000 to put their business plan into action.
Over a three-year period, GSC students have entered six business plans that have advanced to the semi-finals, and three plans were chosen among the ten finalists. Last year, GSC’s Barbara Blankenship was a finalist with her ‘Prison Literacy’ business plan. Maher and Walker will be hoping to add to the number of GSC finalists in the WVCBPC.
For more information about the 2009-10 West Virginia Statewide Colligate Business Plan Competition, contact GSC Associate Professor of Business Cinda Echard at (304) 462-7361 ext. 6257 or visit www.be.wvu.edu.
