Angelo State Accounting Students Aid Success of SA Business Plan Competition
November 21, 2019
Nine Angelo State University graduate students in the Master of Public Accounting degree program have successfully completed their advisory roles for the San Angelo Business Plan Competition that wrapped up Nov. 20 with the announcement of the three winners.
The students are all enrolled in the AEF Business Plan Competition course taught by senior instructor Vince Mangano. Their roles were to assist the professional advisors at the ASU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as they worked with the contestants in all three phases of the San Angelo Business Plan Competition.
The participating students were:
- Izmael Carranco of San Angelo
- Bailey Dominguez of El Paso
- Adam (Tyler) Hall of San Angelo
- Haley Hernandez of San Angelo
- Dana Hughes of San Angelo
- Madlyn McEnrue of San Angelo
- Hallye (Claire) Phillips of Mertzon
- Kaitlyn Thomas of San Angelo
- Brian Watson of Fredericksburg
The San Angelo Business Plan Competition is a three-phase contest coordinated by the City of San Angelo Development Corporation, ASU Norris-Vincent College of Business and the SBDC. Individuals and multi-person teams can enter their business plans to start or expand their businesses in San Angelo. The business plans are judged by a panel of successful entrepreneurs, business leaders and financial professionals – as the contestants compete for cash and in-kind prizes.
The three phases of the competition include:
- Business Overview – contestants submit a two-page maximum overview of their business.
- Draft Business Plan – selected semi-finalists submit a completed draft business plan and receive feedback from the judging panel.
- Final Business Plan and Presentation – selected finalists submit their 20-page maximum final business plans and make in-person presentations to the judging panel.
This year’s contest winners were presented their cash prizes and other awards during a ceremony at San Angelo’s McNease Convention Center. The winners are:
- First Place: Jack and Kim Graves, J Bar Meats – $40,000
- Second Place: Sarah Ford, Ranch Road Boot Co. – $20,000
- Third Place: Michele and Jody Babiash, Old Central Firehouse Pizzeria and Taproom – $10,000
The ASU students assisted the SBDC advisors throughout the competition as they helped the contestants with their business plan preparation. They are also taking classes toward completing the Small Business Management Certificate Program.