IDEAS Club Launches DSU Shark Tank Competition by Dr
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BUSINESS MATTERS Summer 2018 IDEAS Club Launches DSU Shark Tank Competition by Dr. Tomas D. Craig monies. IDEAS Club president Nick Law ’18 opened the event and introduced the seven On April 14, 2018, the DeSales IDEAS individuals and teams competing in the fnal (Inventing and Developing the Entrepre- round. Te fnalists were allowed up to 7.5 neurial Association of Student) Club hosted minutes to present their ideas, followed by DSU Shark Tank, a competition for aspiring up to 10 minutes of questions and comments entrepreneurs. Te club plans to make this from the judges. an annual competition. Te concepts for new products and services Modeled after the popular ABC network covered a broad spectrum of categories, from TV show, the competition was open to all household appliances and hand-held tools Te winners, from left: Brianna Annunziata (3rd DeSales students with original ideas for to talent locating apps and synthetic rocks. place), Ashley Piszek (1st place), and Matt Hower products or services, with fnalists selected Te judges scored the fnalists’ concepts on (2nd place). from submitted entries by current IDEAS their originality, usefulness, and viability, as Club members. The winning pitch (for the top prize well as the overall quality of the presentation. of $500 cash) was presented by Ashley Tree former presidents of the IDEAS Te judges also considered their likelihood to Piszek ’19, who is pursuing a dual major Club—Dana Yurgosky ’14, Paul Vizza ’16, and invest in a startup business to commercialize Vincent Daily ’13—served as judges, and Dr. each contestant’s product or service. Continues on p. 2 David Gilfoil served as the master of cere- DSU Business Students Help with the Special Olympics by Dr. Sue McGorry doubles, with traditional and Unifed Sports® teams. DeSales student volunteers helped in a DSU business seniors helped in the devel- variety of ways, including serving as ofcials, opment and hosting of the Special Olympics athlete escorts, and award presenters. Bowling 2018 Bowling Sectional. Te project was part Sectional competitions are hosted by Special of the seniors' capstone experience. Olympics Pennsylvania in each of the three More than 320 athletes, 110 coaches, sections of the state (west, central, and east). signifcant event. DSU will host more than and 200 volunteers participated in the event 1,000 athletes and their families from across Zach Kratz ’19 especially enjoyed his in which athletes competed in singles and the region on our campus. time working with the Special Olympics team, saying: “this is Helping non-profts and participating Keep up with the something I can see in community events is not new to DeSales latest division news at myself doing far into business students. Each semester, Dr. Michael the future!" Gallagher and Dr. Sue McGorry work with DESALES.EDU/BUSINESS Jaime Gerhart, director of the Center for Tis fall, DSU will Service and Social Justice at DeSales, to de- host the Fall Sectional velop meaningful service projects that allow on our campus, and students to apply their business skills to civic business students will and non-proft projects in the local communi- again be involved ty. Please e-mail [email protected] if in the planning and you have questions or a project of interest. implementation of this NOTES FROM THE Shark Tank continued DIVISION HEAD in accounting and marketing. Her inven- tion—for which she already has a patent by Christopher R Cocozza, CPA, JD, LL.M and registered trademark—and working I hope you are prototype of the “Miss Swiss,” a folding cos- enjoying your sum- metic carrying case modeled after a Swiss mer! As always we Army knife, amazed the judges. “This is have had a very busy fantastic,” exclaimed Yurgosky, “may I keep academic year. Tis the sample?” newsletter highlights Ashley is still working on refning her the accomplishments sales pitch and revenue projections as she of our faculty, staf, continues to develop her business model students, and alumni. and is discussing her idea with some major Joseph Viviano ’19 describes the concept of torque to Te highlight of my year was the student frms in the cosmetics industry. Interestingly, explain his socket wrench innovation. trip that Dr. Amy Scott led to Hong Kong and innovation and entrepreneurship have deep Tokyo. It was a dream come true as I have al- roots in Ashley’s family: her late grandfather, ed as a new venture in itself grow to have ways wanted to visit Tokyo. Te University’s Edward J. Piszek, founded the Mrs. Paul’s such a vibrant presence on campus,” said international trips are a great experience for Frozen Foods Company in 1946. Yurgosky, the founder and frst president the students involved—for most of them it is Te second place winner (for a $300 cash of the club, “I’m very excited to see where their frst international travel experience. prize), Matt Hower ’18, presented a compel- these students take their next steps and to Te Division of Business is also ex- ling model for a wheelchair lift mechanism see what brilliant minds come forward to tremely fortunate that the Simon Gegg that enhances its users’ vertical mobility. compete in the future.” Scholarship for International Travel has Brianna Annunziata ’20 was selected as the For the graduating president, Nick Law been established by Simon Gegg and sev- third place winner (for a $200 cash prize) for ’18, the event marked yet another milestone in eral of his friends to aid a fnancially needy her novel design of an app that consolidates the evolution of the club. “Te inaugural DSU accounting or fnance student interested in DSU administrative information systems on a Shark Tank was a great frst step, and while I international travel to England or Ireland. social media-style platform. won’t be there to work on next year’s compe- Tis type of scholarship will allow many As rewarding as the frst annual Shark tition, our club is in great hands with the new more DeSales students to experience an Tank competition was for the participants leaders and its members. I’m excited to see international learning experience. If you’re and the audience, it was particularly inspir- how they shape this frst step into a legacy.” interested in donating to the Simon Gegg ing to the judges, who as the former presi- For more information about the IDEAS Scholarship or any other Division of Busi- dents of the IDEAS Club were able to see the Club and the DSU Shark Tank competition, ness scholarship, please contact me directly. growth and advancement of their once-fedg- please contact club president Andrew Peter- Please also feel free to contact me if you ling organization. son ([email protected]) or faculty advisor ever want to reconnect with the University. “It was inspiring to see so many DeSales Dr. Tomas Craig (thomas.craig@desales. I hope you enjoy this edition of Business students with such great ideas. But it was an edu). Matters and I hope you and your family even greater pleasure to see a club that start- have a great fnish to 2018! Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Future Entrepreneur Program by Karla Quintanilla and Rommens provided the business and life marketing, fnance, management, accounting, Dr. Michael J. Gallagher skills presentations and Victoria Gafney and and entrepreneurship, as well as a range of life Erin O’Neill organized the residential part of and professional skills. Te Hispanic Chamber of Commerce the one-week program. sponsored the Future Entrepreneur pro- Te students are then assigned as interns gram at DeSales University from June 18 to Tis 5-week program selects 10th and to local businesses including PPL Corpo- June 22, 2018. Te Chamber launched this 11th grade students and provides an oppor- ration, Olympus, Air Products, and other program in 2009 and has partnered with tunity to reside at DeSales for one week and organizations in the Lehigh Valley. During DeSales to teach business skills to students intern for a local business or corporation for the internship phase, the students immerse in the Allentown School District. one month. themselves in the business world, gain insight into a possible career path, and network with Tis year, 26 students were selected for the At DeSales, students get an introduction many professionals. program. Dr. Michael J. Gallagher and James to various business functions, including 2 Catching Up with Sport Management Society Activities by Dr. Martin Brett Sport Management Society’s (SMS) ofcers, the group As we have documented on our social coordinated a second facility media, Spring 2018 was another exciting tour this year. semester for the Sport Management program. Te most important change was the update As we like to support our to the curriculum, which was highlighted alumni, the group frst chose in the spring edition of the DeSales Univer- to go to the PPL Center in Al- sity Magazine along with the Division of lentown, courtesy of Vinny Business website. Te addition of the new Cuvo ’18. Along with ofer- courses (Data-Driven Decision-Making and ing insights into the work- Sport Sales) and professional tracks (Athletic ings of a Phantoms game Administration, Athletic Communications, and their preparation for the and Coaching) will ensure that our students playofs, Vinny also gave our Bobby McLean ’20, Megan D’Adamo ’18, David Bast ’20, and Jolene Stearns ’19 participated in a case study competition at the remain competitive on the job market. students a frsthand account Pennsylvania Sport Business Conference. of transitioning from the Our students also benefted from two classroom to a career. professional development opportunities this leveraged that impression into valuable semester.