Ivy Tech Community College Northeast has announced the three finalists for its 2016 New Venture Competition. In its sixth year, the competition’s champion will receive $35,000 in start-up capital for presenting the best business plan for his or her small business.
The finalists and their plans are as follows:
- Guadalupe Callejas, The Metro Striping and Stenciling Company—The Metro Striping and Stenciling Company is a line striping company that that also offers the Fort Wayne regional area with commercial and interior painting and stenciling, from handicap stenciling or stenciling a basketball court onto a cement slab. Callejas was a New Venture finalist in 2015, as well.
- Jamal Robinson, DESIAR Eyewear—DESIAR designs, distributes, and manufacturers handcrafted sunglasses and optical eyewear. Its customers are individuals and boutique and international retailers.
- Andrew Smittie, Green E-Waste Miracles, LLC—Green E-Waste Miracles, LLC is a materials recovery company that focuses on environmental waste material that is no longer accepted by trash collection companies or landfills, including all electronic waste, batteries, bulbs, and tires. The material is processed and separated back into its natural components, purified, and then sold as commodities.
The New Venture Competition awards dinner is Sept. 22 on Ivy Tech Northeast’s Coliseum Campus, 3800 N. Anthony Blvd., in Room CC1640. Finalists will present their business plans, and community judges will vote on the New Venture champion at the event.
The competition has partnered with Fort Wayne SCORE, a group that grows successful small businesses across the country. The group, made of volunteer experienced business owners and managers, will be providing mentorship for the finalists.
The New Venture Competition is sponsored by JB Tool, Die & Engineering and owners Dave and Mary Bear; and the Edward M. and Mary McCrea Wilson Foundation. ProFed Credit Union is the event’s dinner sponsor.
The following community members served as judges in determining the finalists:
- Doug Wood, president, PNC Bank
- Mary Bell, president, Wells Fargo
- Steve Piekarski, vice president of Lending, ProFed Federal Credit Union
- Donald Schenkel, former CEO, Tower Bank
- Remound Wright, executive coach, Brightpoint
- Alan Short, adjunct faculty, Ivy Tech Northeast
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