CCBC’s B’More BOLD Business Conference offered financial boost for creative entrepreneurs

Jun 24, 2021 | by Hope H. Davis | 443.840.5053 (office) | 410.971.5560 (cell)

CCBC’s B’More BOLD Business Conference did more than provide entrepreneurs with coaching, mentoring and valuable business lessons, it gave some creative entrepreneurs a financial boost through its B’More BOLD Pitch Competition. A total of $6,000 was awarded to assist entrepreneurs in growing their business. Winners included first-place winner Krystal Henry of Baltimore ($3,000), second-place winner Jordan Foley of Annapolis ($2,000), and third-place winner Jeremiah Batucan also of Annapolis ($1,000).

Seven contestants vied for the competition’s winnings by providing an initial two-minute video pitch followed by a 12-minute live virtual pitch before a panel of judges. Judges included Darren Peyton, Asst. Director, Baltimore County Small Business Development Center, Lisa Scott Dzwonczyk, Area Marketing Director, Chick--fil-A, and Christopher Wink, CEO, Technically Media.

The winning entrepreneurs and their businesses include:

Krystal Henry founded Around the Way Moms, LLC, an all-occasion card line that produces culturally relevant stationary items. Henry plans to use her winnings to expand her product line and increase her knowledge of graphic design.

Instagram: @roundthewaymom

Jordan Foley is the creator of Chow, a nonprofit providing veterans and military spouses pathways to business ownership in the culinary industry through food truck training. He uses a fleet of food trucks to train future entrepreneurs and also visits underserved regions to provide hot meals, public health resources, and even free WiFi from his food trucks. Foley plans to use his winnings to invest in his company and continue community outreach.

Website: https://www.letschow.org Instagram: @chow_nonprofit

Jeremiah Batucan is the co-founder of the Annapolis Social League, a sports and social events company created to produce community events that are competitive, social, and philanthropic. Batucan plans to use his winnings for equipment, marketing and expansion beyond Annapolis. Website: https://www.peakesocial.com/ Instagram: @AnnapolisSocial

CCBC’s B’More BOLD Business Conference was a virtual event that featured 25 speakers and 17 sessions bringing together students, entrepreneurs, college faculty and business owners from the Baltimore-Annapolis areas. Attendees obtained valuable information to help grow their businesses and turn their ideas for new products and services into sustainable entities. The pitch competition was the culminating event with all competitors walking away with a scholarship to CCBC’s “mini-MBA” small business start-up course.

Registration for next year’s B’More BOLD Business Conference is already underway.

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About the Community College of Baltimore County (www.ccbcmd.edu)
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, more than 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2020 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.

CCBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Tags: Small Business, Press, Community, Business Innovation