Students David Blauvelt and Lisa Albertini, Creators of HexaComb Shelving, Win Top Prize in University’s 2015 Business Concept Competition

(From left) Associate Dean Susan Godar, Students David Blauvelt and Lisa Albertini, and Dean Siamack Shojai

Students David Blauvelt and Lisa Albertini, the creators of HexaComb Shelving, a hexagon-shaped modular shelving system, won first prize in William Paterson University’s fourth annual Business Concept Competition announced on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Blauvelt and Albertini won the top prize of $1,200 in the contest.

Team members Serge Dutko, Driton Pllana, and Anthony Radice won the $1,000 second prize for their business called Freight, featuring limited edition apparel designed for non-profit organizations. In third place, Vanessa Filmonor won the $800 prize for her concept Serene Skin Care, a homemade, organic facial scrub for people who have dry and sensitive skin. All other finalists received $250 for their ventures.

The contest, open to all undergraduate and graduate students in any major at William Paterson, took place in the Valley Road Auditorium, where finalists presented an outline of their business plan. Presentations included a description of the product or service, cash flow and break-even points, marketing and advertising plans, and target market. Sharon Simmons, assistant professor, Marketing and Management, served as coordinator of the event. The William Paterson University Small Business Development Center was recognized for mentoring the teams.

Photo below: First row (L to R):  Sharon Simmons, Robin Gurin '82, and Maria Rollins '91
Second row (L to R) :  James Young '14, Paul Colonna, Siamack Shojai, Chris Petro '86, Kate Muldoon, and Susan Godar

Finalist round judges for the event included:

Robin Gurin ’82, an Emmy-nominated makeup artist and partner in Gotham Music, Inc. whose new entrepreneurial venture PinkCredible, consumer cleaning products, will air on the Home Shopping Network in June.

Kate Muldoon, regional director of the William Paterson University Small Business Development Center.

Christopher Petro ’86, president and chief executive officer of Global Soft Digital Solutions, a global leader in digital marketing services.

Maria Rollins ’91, founding member of KREINCES ROLLINS & SHANKER, Certified Public Accountants and partner. Rollins specializes in developing closely held businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures; one of her clients was a contestant on a recent episode of ABC-TV’s Shark Tank.

Paul Colonna, senior counsel for the North American subsidiary of the Haier Group, the world’s major appliance brand and leader in consumer electronics.

James Young ’14, CEO and founder, JiggyGames LLC, one of the winners in the William Paterson University Business Concept Competition.

William Paterson University’s 2015 Business Concept Competition was sponsored by the University’s Cotsakos College of Business MBA Program in Entrepreneurship.