6th grader from Don Estridge Middle takes top honors in YEA pitch contest
By: Dale King
Camila Spinosi, a sixth grader at Don Estridge Middle School in Boca Raton, wishes she could spend more time with her elders. And she knows other teens have that same desire.
Using her computer, entrepreneurial smarts and technological savvy, she has created an actual company called “Buddy Visits,” a high-tech listing that allows young adults get together and “bond with seniors,” she told an audience – via Zoom – at last week’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy CEO Round Table & Elevator Pitch Competition sponsored for the 10th year by the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.
Camila’s contribution to entrepreneurial shrewdness won her first place in this year’s event. It was the first time the Boca Chamber had to conduct the competition via computer platform, so all participants – judges, students, Chamber officials and other watchers – were literally and electronically separated.
Second place in the Zoom-broadcast program went to Zachary Schiller, a student at Pine Crest School, who concocted a business called “Social Share.” He described his company-created product as a “personalized virtual business card.”
Taking third place was Jordan Herold, a 10th grader at American Heritage School with his self-created company, “Stericart,” a technique that combines elements from a car wash and UV light to kill 99.9 percent of germs on shopping carts.
“Congratulations to Camila, Zachary, Jordan, and all the students that participated. Great job,” said Troy McClellan, CEO and president of the Greater Boca Chamber, following the announcement of the award recipients.
All participants in the event are part of the Boca Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy, an annual program that gives area students a chance to work with local business folks to learn how to launch and grow a commercial operation. YEA is part of the Chamber’s Golden Bell Education Foundation which not only provides a forum for the academy, but also raises money for Boca Raton schools. The money supplements regular school budgets, giving educators a chance to purchase items they might not otherwise be able to afford.
Chuck Stout, chairman for the fourth year of the Golden Bell Education Foundation, said the organization – which has been donating to community schools annually since 1991 – reached “a milestone” this year by collecting $100,000 for the city’s school system – the most money raised by the foundation in any one year since it began.
“We are funded solely by individual and corporate donations,” said Stout. “It is a fantastic program.”
YEA students not only got a chance to promote their own self-developed businesses, but also had an opportunity to speak face-to-face – or computer screen to computer screen – to six CEO’s from local communities, at least one of whom sprung into the world of business success through the YEA program.
Panelists included Robert Finizio, CEO of TherapeuticsMD; Leigh Hill, a college student, YEA alumna and founder and CEO of Piston Trainer, a company that provides specialized trumpet technique training; Olivia Hollaus, founder and CEO of Protect My Shoes, a firm that comes up with protective fashion shoe products; Jennifer Jager, founder and CEO of Plum Productions; Randy Nobles, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County and Sam Zietz, founder and CEO of TouchSuite, a company that allows other firms to accept credit card payments.
“The CEO roundtable presentation gives our YEA students the ability to connect with local business leaders, ask questions, and learn valuable lessons about their entrepreneurial/business journey,” said Sherise James-Grow, foundation manager of Golden Bell and YEA.
She reminded watchers that “YEA is a 20-week program that teaches students in middle and high school to become entrepreneurs and the CEOs of tomorrow.” She noted how three volunteer mentors took students through the journey from entrepreneurial novice level to successful businesspeople in the making.
Students began working with Bobra Bush, CEO of Telecom Corp., who offered instruction during the opening session. Rob Jager, who works with wife, Jennifer, at Plum Productions, took over for the second segment and Ken Lebersfeld, CEO of Capitol Lighting, completed the journey through segment 3.
James-Grow said Bush helped students with “business plans and financials” and Jager “guided them though the numbers to fine tune them.” Lebersfeld “got them to where they are now.”
Following the presentation, McLellan praised participants. “You kids are awesome. Where you sit, you can compete with any other YEA program and be successful.”
Others who made presentation during the Jan. 20 program were:
Christian Frenelle, 7th grader at Florida Virtual School, “Real World Board Game;” Leah Gonzalez, Wellington Landing Middle School, “Blue Baking Company;” Mithil Khosa, 8th grade at American Heritage, “Better Brace” (ankle brace for soccer players);” Emily King, 6th grade at Don Estridge, “Camp Delight Virtual Summer Camp;” Chloe Levine, 8th grader at Pine Crest, “Buddy Belt” (for walking dogs); Rithik Manadalapu, 10th grader, “KALMpound” (online counseling and information services); Joshua Rubin, 9th grader at Donna Klein Academy, “Shootle” and Jacob Wein, eight grader at Torah Academy, “Free Play” (tool to fix electronics).
