America's SBDC New Jersey Announces Small Business Winners During Its' Internet Marketing Week Pitch Competition
Newark, NJ (PRWEB) December 22, 2014
The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC) networks E-Business Specialty Program announced the winners of the inaugural 2014 New Jersey Small Business Internet Marketing Week Pitch Competition. Eight entrepreneurs of the more than two dozen companies attending the seminar series were selected as finalists. Those small business owners and entrepreneurs attending the three day series gave five-minute elevator pitch presentations to a panel of judges including entrepreneurs, small business lenders, business management consultants and leadership from the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers network.
Internet Marketing Week focused on supporting small businesses including those affected by Hurricane Sandy. According to the events organizer, Sunny Kancherla, NJSBDCs Lead Consultant for the E-Business Specialty Program, this years Entrepreneur Pitch Competition participants were truly outstanding.
We were so impressed with this cohort of entrepreneurs that demonstrated thoughtful, innovative and realistic growth strategies based on what they learned during the conference, said Sunny Kancherla. Choosing the winners was incredibly difficult, but we managed to choose the top three candidates based on the quality of their presentations, their potential for growth and their overall digital strategy.
The expert industry judges who were carefully selected to oversee the winners of the pitch competition included Vincent Vicari (Director of the NJSBDC at Bergen Community College), Kevin Chu (Loan Program Manager at the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation), Cheryl McCants (Principal at Impact Consulting), and Anthony Alvarez (Principal at Anthony Alvarez Photography).
The 2014 New Jersey Small Business Internet Marketing Week Pitch Competition winners are:
--2014 Most Innovative Pitch Winner -- Earlene Cruz of Seton Halls Stillman School of Business received the highest marks for innovation with her growing social entrepreneurship concept KitchenConnection.org Kitchen Connection is a platform that virtually connects individuals by two common interests: Food and cooking. A portion of the funds contributed to the Cheffies for their time goes toward the alleviation of global hunger through our international partner, Action Against Hunger, whose mission is to save lives by eliminating hunger through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations of conflict, war and natural disaster.
Our partners, chefs and culinary schools alike, are all over the world, but Kitchen Connection is not only for the professionals. Its for culinary enthusiasts everywhere. Why not share the meals we share with each other and with the rest of the world? Discover a new recipediscover a new culture. Sign up for free and get cooking today!
--2014 Best Overall Pitch Winner -- Sequoya Jones of Newarks Downtown Halsey Street district for her boutique fashion company Kali Kouture Inc. Jones growing company provides the ultimate trends of fashion at its best. As a passionate entrepreneur, Jones believes that Kali Kouture can satisfy every womans vision for couture fashion for any and every occasion. Kali Kouture promises a merchandise and shopping experience to last a lifetime at both at her cozy Dress Room Boutique and online at Kalikouture.com.
--2014 Best Growth Pitch WinnerLisa Kearney of the newly relocated K & S Tire Service in Hudson County, NJ. K & S is a family-owned business providing professional truck and tire repair services to the transportation industry. K & S Tire Service professionals have over forty years of experience in the trucking industry. The general business is tire repair on tractors, trailers and chassis for small to mid-size transportation companies and owners-operators. Their primary customers come from the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut tri-state area and Canada. In order to better service customers needs, the business offers road services, on-site repair services and fleet maintenance programs.
Continue reading here:
America's SBDC New Jersey Announces Small Business Winners During Its' Internet Marketing Week Pitch Competition