Normington is recognized at Annual Governor’s Cup Award for ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship and higher education

Sierra Nevada College Professor Richard (Rick) Normington was honored last night at the  Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Reno.

Sierra Nevada College Professor Richard (Rick) Normington was honored last night at the  Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Reno.  Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki introduced the award by saying:

Because of the time and dedication our faculty advisors invest in supporting our student teams, NCET thought it would be fitting to formally recognize their substantial contributions. I’m very pleased this year to present the NCET Faculty Advisor Special Recognition Award to an individual who has helped make the Governor’s Cup to a new level, and even created a feeder competition at Sierra Nevada College… Ladies and gentlemen – Professor Rick Normington.

This year Sierra Nevada College had four students involved in Gov/Lt Gov Cup presentations.  This is the first time The College had more than two finalists.  In 2008, Seth Gunsauls and Aaron Kerson made finals in both Competitions taking 3rd place and winning $5000 and taking first in the and Lt Gov Cup for another $5000. Previously Mike Chestone took 3rd place in the first Gov Cup competition in 2004; re-entered in 2005 and won $20,000 for first place.  James Weingard and Jim Keranen entered Gov Cup in 2006 and won $20,000 for first place. In 2009, Amanda Badger made the Lt Gov Cup finals and was a finalist again this year along with Sweigard; Ryland Sweigard and Andy Gendron.

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Scuba Solutions on Wednesday won the Donald R. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition.

The victory from the team of University of Nevada, Las Vegas students capped an overall strong showing by Southern Nevada entrants.

Scuba Solutions, which made a wheeled tote to help scuba divers transport their tanks, netted the $20,000 first prize among graduate-student business plan contestants. In January, the team won the Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition, sponsored by the Las Vegas Business Press.

"We see better results from the contestants who have been through the Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition and the Truckee Meadows Business Plan Competition," said Dave Archer, the CEO of the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship.

All told, graduate and undergraduate Governor’s Cup winners collected $200,000 in prize money. The awards ceremony was held Wednesday night at the Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa in Reno.

UNLV students Chris Powell, Alex Strabala, Curtis Weinstein and Sean Daly comprises the Scuba Solutions team. Andrew Hardin is faculty adviser.

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Team Photos Here

Governor’s Cup – Graduate Winners

Scuba Solutions, UNLV – First Place – $20,000
Scuba Solutions LLC, legally established in March 2011, is a Nevada-based company that provides superior scuba equipment to diving enthusiasts throughout the world. The company is also the winner of the 2011 Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition.

• Team Captain: Griffin Owings, MBA
• Team Members:
• Chris Powell, MBA
• Alex Strabala, MBA
• Curtis Weinstein, MBA
• Sean Daly, Mechanical Engineering
• Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hardin

Mad Sensor, UNLV – Second Place – $10,000 
Rebel Technology Associates has developed the innovative Motorcycle Accident Detection and Notification System named MAD – which is similar to GM’s much heralded OnStar system for automobiles. Motorcyclists can now get quick help when in accidents! The device also features Lojack-like capabilities for tracking stolen motorcycles.

• Team Captain: Adam Jackson, M.S. M.I.S.
• Team Members:
• Jerome Mandel, M.S. M.I.S.
• Nicoleta Cornea, M.S. M.I.S.
• Shehan Peries, Certificate in entrepreneurship
• Yrene Ordaz, Computer Engineering
• Gerson Recinos, Computer Engineering
• Faculty Advisor: Dr. Andrew Hardin
• SENSE.tech, UNR – Third Place – $5,000

SENSE.tech is an innovative organization with the ultimate goal of finding a technological solution for point of care (POC) detection of tuberculosis (TB). We have developed a sensor material capable of detecting TB instantly via a handheld breathalyzer device system. Our system can also easily be amended to detect other pathogens of interest."

• Team Captain: York Smith, Chemical Engineering
• Team Member:
• J. Dexter Ramsey, Business
• Travis Anderson, Medical Student
• Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mano Misra

Governor’s Cup – Undergraduate Winners

Eighteen At Eighteen, UNLV – First Place – $20,000
Eighteen At Eighteen is all about getting ahead…at 18. Our youth focused how-to guides will provide ways for teenagers to jumpstart their lives with simple, short, digital books straight from their Smartphone. Through our licensing program, entrepreneurs will be able to leverage our market presence with ease and affordability.

• Team Captain: Anthony Alegrete, Marketing
• Team Members:
• William Wong,
• Nathan Turner, Finance
• Claudia Perez, Management
• Matt Petterson, Accounting
• Jami Vallesteros, Economics
• Faculty Advisor: Dr. Janet Runge

Completely Off-Grid, UNR – Second Place – $10,000
Completely Off-Grid is a Reno Nevada manufacturing company producing pre-cut, partially assembled, and uniquely designed homes. These cost effective, permanent, complete off-grid packages, are a self-sufficient, energy producing, efficiently designed living space; easily assembled anywhere. If you desire or require an independent lifestyle, you will find living Completely Off-Grid completely joyful!

• Team Captain: Vicki Bischoff, Psychology
• Team Member: 
  Eric Bischoff, International Affairs 
  Pete Whitehead, Economics and International Business 
  Jeff Punya Computer Science 
  Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gary Valiere

Bumblebee Blooms, TMCC – Third Place – $5,000
Bumblebee Blooms Flower Boutique, LLC has created a unique marketing opportunity in the Reno/Sparks market as a retail florist. They are an expert in unique floral design that includes weddings, proms, and sympathy flowers, as well as offering unique plants, dish-gardens, gourmet chocolates and food baskets.

• Team Captain: Katie Knapp, Culinary Arts/Business
• Team Member: Naomi Cardy, Social work
• Faculty Advisor: Ms. Jolene Hayes

Lt. Governor’s Award Winner – $5,000

GD Fuels LLC, UNR

GD Fuels LLC is an early stage startup company whose purpose is to create engineering solutions which make alternative fuels less expensive for producers and consumers. Our company has developed novel technology that will significantly revolutionize the Biodiesel Industry and allow for greater cost savings and profit margins for biodiesel producers.

• Team Captain: Jason Strull, Material Sciences
• Team Member: Adrian Testa, Economcis
• Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mano Misra

At a time when many people are looking at the condition of our national economy and concluding that now is not the time to start a business, Nevada entrepreneurs continue to show their true grit.

According to a Kauffman Foundation report released last month, Nevada leads the nation with the highest rate of business startups in 2010. This resilient entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in the number of Nevada college and university students competing in the seventh annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Business Plan Competition.

Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology recently received 73 business  plans for the annual Governor’s Cup competition. We were thrilled with this response, which was a significant increase over the 56 received last year. This "real world" program brings together college students from a wide range of academic fields to develop innovative new business concepts and compete for nearly $100,000 in cash prizes. The program encourages students to develop creative and forward-thinking new business models, while gaining invaluable experience in understanding the fundamental  elements of successfully starting and running a business in Nevada.

We are all well aware that Nevada’s long-term economic health and stability will depend heavily on the creation of new and sustainable jobs, the diversification of our state economy and the nurturing and development of our home-grown small businesses.

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