By David Post

Special to the Post

Kudos to Catawba College’s Big Idea entrepreneurial competition. And to Professor Pam Thompson, dean of the Catawba Ketner School of Business, who proposed the idea. And for the guidance of Colin Pillay, professor of entrepreneurial and business studies at Livingstone, some of whose students were on a study-abroad program in India while others were winning in a national business competition.

And to Brannon Williams for helping to organize Salisbury’s second annual version of a friendly Shark Tank. And to a long list of mentors and judges.

And, most importantly, to more than 50 entrepreneurs who submitted business plans about their ideas for the next big thing. Thirteen finalists were selected and introduced to a local mentor with the experience to help them enhance their business plans. A panel of judges rated each business plan on 19 criteria.

More important than who won are the ideas. Ralph Ketner, the legendary founder of Food Lion, proposed an entrepreneurial discovery avenue for Salisbury more than 20 years ago. Always decades ahead of his time, Ralph’s idea is finally happening.

The three “winners,” since all were winners, in the High School Division were:

1. Greenway Growing Groups. Cole Goodnight, a 14-year-old freshman at Greystone Day, wants to help groups from schools, nonprofits, and businesses learn to develop teamwork and leadership skills with challenges on an outdoor nature course. Smart organizations should make his phone start ringing tomorrow.
2. HeadFi. At West Rowan, students and teachers apparently lose their cell phone accessories, such as earbuds and car chargers, regularly. Christopher Johnson, Katie Barnhardt and Hunter Bernhardt want to develop a campus vending machine for technology accessories.
3. Bay’s Paint Shop. Baylie Hain, a senior at West Rowan has an up-and-running business. She provides on-the-site instruction on painting canvases for birthdays, events, and design classes. Call her quickly, because her calendar is filling quickly.

The five winners in the College Division, all from Catawba, were:

1. EmiField. Rhett Holaway is a golfer who has developed a cell phone app which allows a golfer to record his swing and then allows other golfers to rate it. And more importantly, participating golfers will win a range of awards. (He even has a category for me!)
2. uniBeeper. Shaun Carmack has a solution to reduce alcohol-impaired driving, an app that has designated drivers on call, at your fingertips and there within minutes if you’re at a party and know you shouldn’t drive. His first target market is the college sector and has already attracted the interest of some administrators.
3. The Caterer. Suppose you’re at home wanting Chinese food and your friend wants Italian. Call Terrence Pruitt’s company. It has a couple dozen menus online for a wide range of restaurants. Both of you can order your favorite dish, and The Caterer will place both orders and deliver.
4. SunDown. Ever turn on a rental car, or your kid’s car, and risk ear drum damage? Lincoln Anderson likes loud music and his fiancé likes soft music. His solution is an implanted device in the radio, and home sound systems, that automatically adjusts the volume when the car, or stereo, is started.
5. Mosquito Burrito. Zack Lafavre and Jacob Breig want to start a “burrito joint” in their hometown, Mount Airy, which has mostly greasy spoon restaurants. Go Burrito in Salisbury is their inspiration, and their demographic research shows them that it will be a slam dunk in the real Mayberry.

The five winners in the Adult Division were:

1. STEM2Go.  Matthew McCullough believes the United States, North Carolina, and Rowan County in particular lag behind other nations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. He is developing hands-on activities and equipment to inspire and support K-12 education.
2. Your Kitchen Store and More. Dennis Lunsford believes downtown Salisbury has turned the corner, is generating more car and foot traffic, and is the home to a growing residential sector. He is opening an upscale small kitchen appliance store carrying unique brands and products in the heart of downtown.
3. Tivia. Gil Zino is in beta testing for his app that allows groups of people, large and small, to communicate and collaborate with each other at a lower cost than all of the commercial products on the market.
4. Dawnylady. Dawn Holcombe, an employee of Catawba, makes her own liquid detergent, candles, and lip balm, so she is inventing a machine – about the size of a home bread maker – that does just that. And without the mess!
5. Vico’s Creations. Perla Munoz, a true inspiration herself, wants to inspire other handicapped people to start their own business. Her business creates unique decorations out of foam and other decorative materials for birthday parties, baby and wedding showers, and weddings. Her phone should ring tomorrow.

The challenge for these young folks is to keep trying and to get up when they get knocked down. The challenge for Salisbury is to keep these young entrepreneurs in town.

Thank you Catawba College!