Kristi Rice
The George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cleveland State Community College recently hosted an Emerging Innovators event that included student and community pitch competitions. The event was also sponsored by the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator (CBBI) and the Small Business Development Center.
Four students competed in the fourth annual Student Pitch Competition. Major Davis won the
competition. A business administration major, he will graduate this summer. With the $2000 prize money, Davis hopes to expand his clothing business, Hope Vanguard.
Seven businesses competed in the third annual Community Pitch Competition. The businesses
are located in Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe or Polk counties and have been in operation for
at least six months but no longer than two years.
Kristi Rice, owner of Trailhead Counseling and Consulting PLLC, won first place. Trailhead
Counseling is located in the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator. The $7500 prize money will
be used to expand the counseling services and furnish a fourth therapy office.
Access to Success Learning Company won the $4000 second place, and Rocky Pops, LLC won
the $1500 third place. Other finalists were Adrienna Varlack, Tess Varlack, Noelle Allgood and
Glynis Allgood with Blended and Branded, Jeremy Higdon with Math IQ, Nichole Vild with Roam Wild LLC, and Bryson Killian and Canaan Bowling with Take Root Studio.
Judges for the Community Pitch Competition were Dr. Corey Campbell, CSCC Vice President for Policy and Strategy, Jim Fairweather, owner of Fairweather Financial in Monroe County, and
Margaret Schenck, founder of United Knitting in Cleveland and an advisory board member of the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Judges for the Student Pitch Competition were Beau Burris, Vice President of SmartBank, Jessica Fields, CBBI Board of Directors President, and Frenise Mann, owner of Mann Financial Consulting and an advisory board member of the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.