Tuesday, November 13, 2007
"Green" idea for lawn care is best of Business Idea Competition
|
Bryce Taylor, a junior majoring in finance, is the winner of the Second Annual Business Idea Competition sponsored by the USI College of Business for his idea to start a more environmentally friendly lawn-care business. Tied for second in the competition were Nicole Johnson for her idea for a feminine emergency kit and Faith Wells for proposing a pager system in hospital patient rooms. Johnson is a senior majoring in business administration. Wells is a senior majoring in management. Taylor received a $250 award for his winning idea. His proposed business would use biodiesel fuel and solar-charged batteries for its equipment and employ environmentally friendly practices such as composting. Johnson and Wells received $125 each. Johnson’s idea involved packaging a selection of care products in a zippered pouch. Wells is employed in the gift shop at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. She conceived the idea for a paging system linked to patient rooms after observing visitors in the hospital who were concerned about being in other hospital areas, such as the dining room or gift shop, while a family member was in a hospital room. The paging system would be similar to those used in restaurants. A nurse or other health-care professional caring for the patient would alert a family member via the pager in case of a change in the patient’s status. Wells’ research indicated other paging systems in hospitals, especially for physicians, but none connecting patient rooms to family members. Other finalists in the competition were Jeff Ausenbaugh, Drew Heckert, Sara Longenecker, Amy Meador, and David Swartz. Dr. Gregory B. Murphy, associate dean of the College of Business and associate professor of management, coordinated the Business Idea Competition. He said the competition is consistent with the College of Business mission to promote an entrepreneurial mindset. “We were very pleased with the level of participation as well as the quality of the ideas presented,” he said. Forty-one students submitted 47 different ideas for the competition, which was open to all USI students. Sixteen students entered last year’s competition. Finalists made oral presentations to a panel of judges from the Evansville chapter of SCORE on November 7 during Entrepreneurship Week, which was celebrated November 5-9 throughout the State of Indiana. The week is sponsored by Indiana Economic Development Corporation and TechPoint. Horace M. Lukens III, an adjunct faculty member for the College of Business, coordinated the participation of SCORE members. They reviewed all ideas submitted, chose finalists, and selected winners after hearing oral presentations. SCORE is a group of experienced experts who provide general business advice to existing small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. SCORE judges for this year’s competition were Ron Dame, Gordon Sides, Bob Milne, and Tom Stein. Betty Vawter News and Information Services bvawter@usi.edu |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.