The most recent winner of West Liberty University’s entrepreneurship pitch contest, Schaparr LLC, just patented their bright green telescoping form product and are ready for some serious marketing
“Our winning team, Chuck Kelly and Kevin Parr are ready to attend trade shows and to get their product more visibility. They are thrilled to have won the pitch contest,” said Dr. Carrie White, director of the WLU Gary E. West College of Business’s entrepreneur program.
Kevin Parr, owner of Kris-Crete Contracting Inc. and Jimmy Schau, a Union Laborer of Local 1149, have 80 years of combined experience in concrete and forming, according to Schaparr’s website greenkeyconcreteforms.com. This experience led to the design and engineering of Schaparr’s patent pending green key telescoping forms. Kelly also is a designer of the patented product, headquartered in Shadyside, Ohio.
The contest was held Oct. 7 at the Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley. It was a packed event and drew six competitors sharing their business ideas with the audience including George Kellas (Wheeling Documentary), Matt Welsch (relocating Vagabond Kitchen), Tabitha Dyer (Outlook College TV), Alexis Muha (Grace-Full coffee house), Tricia Goode (Princess Kokoa) and Schaparr. The winner received a $2,500 prize for getting top votes from the judges and audience.
Pitchers also had a chance to listen to the keynote speaker, Jesse Lear, himself an entrepreneur in the Columbus, Ohio region. He shared tips and personal advice on new business development with the pitchers.
Sponsors included the Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley, TechConnect, RED Partners, Vision Shared and the Gary E. West College of Business.
“The pitch contest is an enjoyable way to network, pitch new ideas and seek funding. Our pitch contests have fueled seven businesses locally now and we are pleased to continue this effort,” White said.
Judges included: Anne Barth, executive director of West Virginia’s technology based economic development entity, TechConnect; President Cory Dennison of Vision Shared, West Virginia community and economic development organization; Lear, owner of VIP Waste Services, serving Central Ohio and WLU Alumnus Vincent Leusner, partner and vice president with Keiretsu Forum financial management company, Pittsburgh.
Some of the successful businesses that have come out of previous WLU pitch contests include Vishesh Maskey with Spatial Decision Support System, Mason Dixon BBQ Co., founded by WLU alumni Patrick Fisher, Happy Goat Yoga, owned by WLU alumna Lindsay Schooler and Mmm … Popcorn, owned by Wheeling resident and WLU alumnus Dave McFarland.
Rules of the pitching include giving each pitcher five minutes to present, questions and answers, then both the audience and judges vote on the ideas. Finally the winner is announced.
“It’s always a lot of fun and learning. Our next pitch contest will be in March and more information will be available soon,” said White.
The Center for Entrepreneurship is a division of the Gary E. West College of Business and offers catalyst for innovation and job creation in West Virginia and the region. The pitch contest is just one of its programs. Others include a business incubator housed in WLU’s Main Hall and an entrepreneurship minor for WLU students.
Entrepreneurs seeking more information can contact White at 304-336-8159 or at cwhite@westliberty.edu. For complete information on the Gary E. West College of Business, visit westliberty.edu/westbusiness.
