By ALAN HOSKINS
The newest electronic device caddy for mobile phones highlighted the first Innovation Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College May 2.
An estimated 100 innovators, investors, small businesses, students and members of the community turned out for the Summit and “Perfect Pitch” competition designed to connect people with ideas and innovations with people who can give reality to those ideas and innovations.
Mary Beth Oliver of Imagine Management, LLC, was presented a check of $500 by KCKCC President Dr. Doris Givens for her winning entry in the “Perfect Pitch” competition. Called ‘The Flip Flap,’ it’s a multi-purpose cell phone/iPod pocket that attaches to any waistband without need of a belt.
It also has a credit card or ID pocket and a key clip and will be on sale this summer. In addition to the $500, Oliver received a ticket to the American Corporate Growth Conference.
Runnerup Melissa Kropf Roberts also received admission to the American Corporate Growth Conference for her Health and Wellness newsletter that medical and wellness fields can purchase, download send to clients.
“Many health and wellness departments do not have time to produce their own newsletter but desperately want one,” said Roberts.”
Other competitors included Jim Gerdom, industrial product; Ma’Rie Hinson, “Say I Am Productions;” Clint Velazquez, The Super Market School of Music; and Deon Whitten, Allergen Eater. They were the six finalists chosen out of 12 entrants to present their innovations to seven Venture Capitalists investors.
The investors included Mike Myers, Optum; Rick Vaughn, Mid-America Angel Investor Network; Kelly Pruneau, Network Manager, Women’s Capital Connection; Bill Johnston, Inventors Center of KC; Michelle DeSilva, Angel Investors; Claude Aldridge, Open Air Equity; and Charley Vogt, Country Club Bank.
Dean Tan of the UMKC Bloch School, which houses top-ranked entrepreneurship programs, delivered the keynote address on the future of entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.
Following his address, Mark Fields of Ppi LLC, Mike Farmer of Leap 2 and Tim Hulen of InTouch talked about their unique and highly motivational journeys in finding success.
Organized by Workforce Development at KCKCC, the Summit sponsors include the Central Area Betterment Association, Kansas Small Business Development Center (JCCC), Women’s Business Center, Wyandotte Economic Development Council, UMKC, KCK Black Chamber, KCSource Link, Leavenworth County Development Corporation and the KCK Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
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PHOTO: A check for $500 was presented by KCKCC President Dr. Doris Givens to Mary Beth Oliver for winning the “Perfect Pitch” competition as part of the first Innovation Summit at KCKCC May 2. On hand for the presentation were (from left) Dr. Marvin Hunt, KCKC Dean of Business and Continuing Education; Melissa Kropf Roberts, the second place finisher; Dr. Givens, Mary Beth Oliver and Jay Matlack and Marissa Graves of the sponsoring KCKCC Workforce Development. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)
