live from THE LAUNCHBOX!With great honor, we invite the top teams in our competition to our business plan presentation challenge - hosted at Penn State's Happy Valley LaunchBox. Is your business plan ready?
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123 S Burrowes St. 6th Floor
State College, PA 16801 |
$10,000 Scholarship
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The top team selected in our rounds of judging will receive a $10,000 scholarship (per member - see our FAQ area for details), generously provided by The Pennsylvania College of Technology. Our Shark-Tank-like competitions allow the best student teams from school districts to present their business ideas to a panel of local judges for awesome prizes.
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THE EXPERTS
A variety of renown business professionals will be in attendance
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Samuel R. Ryder
Vice President 
First National Bank
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Alan Dakey
President 
Brighter Financial Futures
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Brian Walton
Assistant Dean of Business & Hospitality 
Pennsylvania College of Technology
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Elizabeth Hay
Jack White Family Director 
Happy Valley LaunchBox
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Tina L Kennemuth
SVP, Team Leader Commercial Banking 
First National Bank
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Kendy Alvarez
Mayor 
Borough of Lewisburg
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Stephanie Desaulniers
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Covation Center
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Bios
ELizabeth Hay
Elizabeth has more than 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur and consulting with small business owners. Her expertise includes business strategy, disaster recovery, scaling and de-risking growth companies, employee management, insurance compliance, accounting and bookkeeping, government contracting, bid and proposal writing, safety management and overall business management.
Elizabeth has worked with multiple SBIR awards and has training in DCAA contract accounting. Elizabeth has experience with woman owned and veteran owned business certifications, compliance, and bidding under those designations.
Elizabeth is the President of WiNGs, a State College based women entrepreneurs networking group, she teaches yoga in the State College area, and balances her SBDC career, owning a small business, and raising her 6 children with the help of her husband and co-owner of TechKnowServ Corp, Thomas Hay.
Elizabeth has worked with multiple SBIR awards and has training in DCAA contract accounting. Elizabeth has experience with woman owned and veteran owned business certifications, compliance, and bidding under those designations.
Elizabeth is the President of WiNGs, a State College based women entrepreneurs networking group, she teaches yoga in the State College area, and balances her SBDC career, owning a small business, and raising her 6 children with the help of her husband and co-owner of TechKnowServ Corp, Thomas Hay.
Kendy Alvarez
The Honorable Kendy Alvarez serves as the Mayor for the Borough of Lewisburg. She is a community builder who connects people, organizations, and systems throughout the Greater Susquehanna River Valley. Her love of the region can be heard on the podcast “The 570h” where she joins friends to discuss living, working, and playing in the 570.
Ms. Alvarez demystifies the real estate financing process for aspiring homeowners and investors. She is an advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation volunteering as part of the organizing team for 1 Million Cups Susquehanna. Her commitment to community and economic development is reflected in her board participation with Lewisburg Downtown Partnership and Lewisburg Neighborhoods as well as a volunteer with CommUnity Zone, Union-Snyder Hunger Coalition, Penn State Extension Ag Council, Evangelical Community Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council, and the PA Outdoor Recreation Engagement Coalition.
Ms. Alvarez is a 2006 graduate of Bucknell University where she serves as President Emeritus of the Black Alumni Association.
Ms. Alvarez demystifies the real estate financing process for aspiring homeowners and investors. She is an advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation volunteering as part of the organizing team for 1 Million Cups Susquehanna. Her commitment to community and economic development is reflected in her board participation with Lewisburg Downtown Partnership and Lewisburg Neighborhoods as well as a volunteer with CommUnity Zone, Union-Snyder Hunger Coalition, Penn State Extension Ag Council, Evangelical Community Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council, and the PA Outdoor Recreation Engagement Coalition.
Ms. Alvarez is a 2006 graduate of Bucknell University where she serves as President Emeritus of the Black Alumni Association.
Tina L Kennemuth
Tina L. Kennemuth is a Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Team Leader with First National Bank. In her role, Tina manages a team of bankers as well as a portfolio of existing client relationships, while also working to develop new business opportunities throughout the Central Mountain Region. Tina returns to First National Bank, following a position at Wells Fargo in Texas as a Senior Relationship Manager. She has also worked as a Commercial Lender at NexTier Bank, Clarion County Community Bank, and First Commonwealth Bank. In her career, she has managed middle market and corporate customers, some with credit needs over $100MM. Tina is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a BS in Geology. She completed her MBA at Clarion University. Through out her career she has served on many economic development groups including Jefferson County Development Council and North Central’s loan committee. She served on both for over 20 years. She has taken abuse counselor training and taught management classes in her local community.
Alan Dakey
Alan Dakey has greatly enjoyed his career as a community banker which began with a summer banking job at The Dime Bank in Honesdale and has included 20-plus years as a CEO of three Pennsylvania-based community banks including Mid Penn Bank and Peoples Neighborhood Bank in Hallstead PA. Mr. Dakey most recently served as President and CEO of the Bank of Bird-In-Hand, a de-novo bank located in Lancaster County, PA.
He currently serves as President of Brighter Financial Futures, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide K-12 students with economics, personal finance, and entrepreneurship skills that elevate their standard of living, quality of life, and professional success.
Alan has been active in community activities, having served as a School Board Director of the Millersburg Area School District, a Director of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, and a former member of the Boards of the Honesdale, Harrisburg Area, and Scranton Area YMCAs.
He currently serves as an Advisory Board member for the Bloomsburg University- Ziegler College of Business and as a Co-chair of the Pennsylvanian Bankers Association Retired Bankers Program. He has been active in a number of nonprofit organizations, including The United Way, Countryside Conservancy and various chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.
Alan holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Scranton, a BS in Accounting from Bloomsburg University and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Pennsylvania Bankers School of Banking.
He currently serves as President of Brighter Financial Futures, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide K-12 students with economics, personal finance, and entrepreneurship skills that elevate their standard of living, quality of life, and professional success.
Alan has been active in community activities, having served as a School Board Director of the Millersburg Area School District, a Director of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, and a former member of the Boards of the Honesdale, Harrisburg Area, and Scranton Area YMCAs.
He currently serves as an Advisory Board member for the Bloomsburg University- Ziegler College of Business and as a Co-chair of the Pennsylvanian Bankers Association Retired Bankers Program. He has been active in a number of nonprofit organizations, including The United Way, Countryside Conservancy and various chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.
Alan holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Scranton, a BS in Accounting from Bloomsburg University and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Pennsylvania Bankers School of Banking.
Samuel Ryder
Sam is a Vice President and Business Banker with First National Bank. In this role, Sam manages a portfolio of existing client relationships and works to develop new business opportunities throughout the Susquehanna Valley.
Prior to joining First National Bank, Sam spent 17 years with Fulton Financial Corporation working in Consumer Banking and Small Business Lending. Sam is a 1996 graduate of Shippensburg University where he earned a degree in Business Management. He went on to complete his MBA at Pennsylvania State University in 2009. Sam is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Lancaster and 2013 graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley. He is active in the community serving as a teacher, volunteer and elder at his church, as the treasurer of the board of directors for Susquehanna Valley CASA – Voices for Children. He is also an adjunct professor and a member of the business advisory committee at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Sam is passionate about financial literacy and serves as a volunteer for Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy and as a facilitator of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.
Prior to joining First National Bank, Sam spent 17 years with Fulton Financial Corporation working in Consumer Banking and Small Business Lending. Sam is a 1996 graduate of Shippensburg University where he earned a degree in Business Management. He went on to complete his MBA at Pennsylvania State University in 2009. Sam is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Lancaster and 2013 graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley. He is active in the community serving as a teacher, volunteer and elder at his church, as the treasurer of the board of directors for Susquehanna Valley CASA – Voices for Children. He is also an adjunct professor and a member of the business advisory committee at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Sam is passionate about financial literacy and serves as a volunteer for Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy and as a facilitator of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.
BRIAN WALTON
Brian Walton is currently the Assistant Dean of Business and Hospitality for the School of Business, Arts, & Sciences at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Brian has worked in higher education for twelve years. Brian earned his Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University, Iowa, and his bachelor degree in Technology Management from Pennsylvania College of Technology. Brian is currently pursuing his Doctoral Degree through Drexel University. Brian joined Penn College in 2009 as an Admissions Representative for Pennsylvania College of Technology. Brian made the transition to academic affairs with the School of Business & Computer Technologies as the Coordinator of Matriculation and Retention. After serving the school in the recruitment and retention role Brian was assigned more administrative duties. After an academic school restructure Brian was moved into his current role with the Business & Hospitality. Brian has served on numerous college committees including College Council, First Year Experience, Judicial Review, and various marketing committees. Brian has conducted numerous presentations and attended numerous conferences specifically relating to student development and Student Government. Brian is also currently an adjunct instructor teaching courses in the business administration/management department, teaching courses in Leadership, Management, and Managerial Decision Making.
Stephanie Desaulniers
Stephanie Desaulniers is the Assistant Director of the Covation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses thrive through coworking, coaching, and community-driven education. With over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship and consulting, she brings a practical, no-fluff approach to business strategy—particularly for solopreneurs and microbusinesses in rural communities.
In addition to her work at the Covation Center, Stephanie is the founder of Business By Dezign, where she’s helped countless makers and small manufacturers build profitable, sustainable businesses through smart operations strategy, production planning, and marketing that actually works. She also leads AI and automation trainings for small business owners, making cutting-edge tools approachable and effective for everyday operations.
Stephanie is passionate about helping business owners simplify systems, boost revenue, and build businesses that align with their goals—without burning out.
In addition to her work at the Covation Center, Stephanie is the founder of Business By Dezign, where she’s helped countless makers and small manufacturers build profitable, sustainable businesses through smart operations strategy, production planning, and marketing that actually works. She also leads AI and automation trainings for small business owners, making cutting-edge tools approachable and effective for everyday operations.
Stephanie is passionate about helping business owners simplify systems, boost revenue, and build businesses that align with their goals—without burning out.
AGENDA
Welcome |
Judges Time |
