Entrepreneurship Event - Student and Community Pitch Winners

Andrea Byerly
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 12:00 AM
Press Releases, Community, All, Events, Academics

CLEVELAND, TN – The George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cleveland State Community College recently hosted an Entrepreneurship Event that included student and community pitch competitions as well as a vendor expo with local businesses. The two-day event was sponsored by the Lynn Jones Foundation, the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator and the Small Business Development Center. 

Five students competed in the third annual Student Pitch Competition; Brooke Christison, an entrepreneur major, won the competition. She will graduate in May and plans to expand her new business, Exposing Love Photography. With the $2000 prize money, Christison will invest in additional photography equipment for her business. The remaining finalists were also awarded prize money from the Lynn Jones Foundation and the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator.

Seven businesses competed in the second 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.  

Michelle Parrott with Endless Printworks, LLC won first place. The family owned business opened in January 2023 in Athens specializing in custom apparel printing. Parrott will invest the $7500 prize money in new equipment to expand her business.

Ruddle’s Bread and Book in Cleveland won $4000 for second place, and Premier Physical Therapy in Polk County won $1500 for third place. Other finalists were Bethany Humberd with Arctic Snacks, Justin Spears with Cleveland Disc Golf, Daniel and Denise Talley with Euchee Meadows Nursery, and Shandy and Justin McDonald with Shandy’s Mean Greens. Prize money was donated by the Lynn Jones Foundation.

“This has been awesome - seeing how somebody in business is starting out and what the students want to be like. It brings back old memories to me. God has blessed me, and I am glad to be able to share that blessing with others,” said Lynn Jones. “Mr. Johnson set the road to go down and we want to continue to do that. These people give their heart out, and they enjoy what they are doing. It’s a win-win for everyone tonight. Good job to Cleveland State for hosting this event.”

Judges for the Community Pitch Competition were Dr. Corey Campbell, Cleveland State Vice President for Academic Affairs, 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, James Dunn, owner of Simon J Marketing, and Frenise Mann, owner of Mann Financial Consulting and an advisory board member of the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Photo Above: Pictured back row left to right: Lynn Jones, Margaret Schenck, Bryan Clary, Jansen Brown, Justin Spears, Justin McDonald, Daniel Talley, Jim Fairweather. Pictured front row left or right: Kaylee Brown, Michelle Parrott, Bethany Humberd, Shandy McDonald, Denise Talley, Dr. Corey Campbell. 

Community Pitch Winner Michelle Parrott

Student Pitch Winner Brooke Christison