“THE
NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION 2012”
AND
THE WINNERS ARE:
Dr. Anita Enriques - U.O.G. Dean of School of Business & Public Administration
Paul Sablan 3rd Place
Matthew Carpio 1st Place
Alan Cepeda 2nd Place
Frank Toves - SBDC Counselor, Lead Coordinator Competition
By Guam SBDC
As
part of the University of Guam’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, the
School of Business & Public Administration and the Guam SBDC sponsored the
Next Generation of Entrepreneur’s Business Plan Competition for applicants
between the ages of 18 through 30. The
event requiring the development of a viable business plan attracted a total of
26 individuals to include teams of five.
Contestants
were required to complete a four-part series of small business training
seminars facilitated by the business counselors of the Guam SBDC, giving up
their precious Saturdays to do so.
They
then began over three months of effort to research the Market, Target their
Market and develop the narratives and financials for their Business Plan.
Competitors were guided in their efforts with Senior Business Counselor Denise
Mendiola-Hertslick, Business Counselor Fred Castillo and Business Counselor
Frank Toves. The contestants met with their counselors in confidential and free
counseling sessions to review and refine their ideas of starting a business and
turn them into viable business startups via the business plan.
This is what two of the
contestants had to say:
-Matthew Carpio
My experience with the SBDC business plan
competition was as phenomenal as it was grueling. It was a lot of hard work,
but with the help of the staff at the SBDC it made it very fun and enjoyable.
Most importantly with the help of Mrs. Denise Hertslet and in her absence (off-island training) with
Mr. Frank Toves, I received an extraordinary amount of help, especially if I
had any questions or doubts they both made themselves available even at times
of inconvenience (as I would drop-in unannounced and sometimes even while they
were in meetings) to assist me in any problems that needed to be addressed. In
addition to their time, they also provided a very comfortable environment in
which I was able to ask anything about my business plan, and expect genuine
feedback and constructive criticism. One of the most standout attributes was
whenever one of my ideas was over aspirational, Ms. Denise had the ability to
bring me back down to earth, and help me find happy mediums without being
discouraging. She would also point me in the right direction when it came to
parts of the plan that needed research, and had access to a lot of helpful
documents and reports that aided me tremendously with my plan. We had a lot of
fun coming up with creative ideas and ways to implement plans with my lack of
funds and resources, which resulted in creating better ones that worked
beautifully with what I wanted to accomplish with this particular business and
the business plan itself. I strongly suggest anyone who has a strong passion
for operating a business to stop by the Small Business Development Center and
utilize the resources that it provides. The staff is incredibly friendly, and
excited to provide small businesses with the tools and information they need to
build or maintain a successful business. I certainly could never have
accomplished this task if it weren’t for the help of Mrs. Denise Hertslet, Mr.
Frank Toves and the rest of Guam’s Small Business Development Center team.
- Alan Cepeda
I came into the
competition with an idea and left the competition with tangible proof that my
business idea can succeed. The competition, my advisor, and the workshops
guided me through the process of making a business plan and got me to think more
intimately about my business idea.
The most important component of the business plan competition that I appreciated the most was access to the knowledge from advisers at the Pacific Small Business Development Center. My advisor Mr. Frank Toves offered a new prospective on my business plan which enabled me to alter my idea to become more valuable and potentially more successful.
The competition was a great learning experience that helped me to understand the process of making a business plan and the importance of having one made. Even though building my business plan was a very time-consuming and arduous process, my diligence paid off when I finally got to see a concrete projection of my business.
The most important component of the business plan competition that I appreciated the most was access to the knowledge from advisers at the Pacific Small Business Development Center. My advisor Mr. Frank Toves offered a new prospective on my business plan which enabled me to alter my idea to become more valuable and potentially more successful.
The competition was a great learning experience that helped me to understand the process of making a business plan and the importance of having one made. Even though building my business plan was a very time-consuming and arduous process, my diligence paid off when I finally got to see a concrete projection of my business.
Special
thanks to our supporters who donated to the cash prize pool and in kind: SPPC
76 Circle K, GTA, Bank of Guam, Gyoza-Yatai Restaurant, Matson and Stations of
KUAM. Special recognition and thanks to Mr. Carlos Camacho, local business
owner who was so impressed with the competitors, donated cash prizes on the
spot to our Honorable Mentions!
Five
finalists were selected on August 31 and had through the end of September to
prepare their presentation of their business plans in an audio and visual
format.
The
lecture hall was filled with family, friends, students and interested
investors. The public in attendance took part in the judging adding their
scores to the judge’s panel score sheets for the Guam 1st Annual
“The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs Business Plan Competition!” The tension
in the air was palatable as the public, judge’s panel and 5 finalists awaited
the final tabulation.
The
winning Business Plans ran the gamut from a refreshingly unique skateboard
supply store, thinking out of the box recycling-marketing firm to a paradigm
changing technology mortuary equipment & supply concept! Guam, be on the lookout
as these businesses open their doors in the near future:
AND THE WINNERS ARE
1st Place: $4,000.00 MATTHEW CARPIO
2nd Place: $2,000.00 ALAN CEPEDA
3rd Place: $1,000.00 PAUL SABLAN
Honorable Mention - PRETENCIANA TAITAGUE
Honorable Mention - GRACE
MAGILEITIL
The Guam Small Business Development Center at the University
of Guam – School of Business & Public Administration is partially funded by
a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
SBA's funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the
public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
