The eight Small Business Division teams advancing to the Oral Presentation rounds April 12-13 at the Presbyterian Health Foundation Conference Center in Oklahoma City. Note: Teams will receive an email with judges’ comments and additional information on the oral competition by Monday, March 25.
Common Ground
East Central University
Small Business
Team leader: Andrea McKinney
Team members: Andrea Nuzzolillo, Michael Rudd and Jake Zumwalt
Advisor: Stacey Bolin
Summary: Common Ground is developing a multi-faceted bar/restaurant business near the campus of East Central University that targets students at the Ada university. Located across the street from the ECU campus, Common Ground will offer a coffee shop, pizza restaurant and bar/night club designed to become the city’s No. 1 place for college students to spend their time.
Dancing Bass Market and Microfarms
Northern Oklahoma College
Small Business
Team leader: Cassandra Coleman
Team members: Kindra Beaumier and Benjamin Deffner
Advisor: Laura Marshall
Summary: Dancing Bass Market and Microfarms is pairing hydroponics and aquaculture to grow and sell fruit, vegetables and Oklahoma native fish. The company has developed small scale greenhouses in which crops such as lettuce and fish varieties of catfish, crappie and bass can be grown year round in a chemical free environment.
EMOP, LLC
St. Gregory’s University
Small Business
Team leader: Cristian Merino
Team members: Callie Pacheco, Chanel Edwards and Aminadou Ouattara
Advisor: Mayda Shorney
Summary: EMOP is creating the EMOP Vehicle Weight, a double-walled, fluid-filled device that weighs down the back of a rear-wheeled drive vehicle during hazardous driving conditions such as snow and ice. Placed in the trunk of a car or bed of a truck, the rectangular device is filled with liquid antifreeze, providing safety and traction with the additional weight.
FMS Industries
St. Gregory’s University
Small Business
Team leader: Leathern Spitz
Team members: Tim Fernandez, Paul Mikelonis and Hugo Mondragon
Advisor: Mayda Shorney
Summary: FMS Industries is creating a smart phone app that is paired with a silicon bracelet containing an RFID chip or QR code to provide location information of venue visitors, which can be analyzed and used to improve services.
J-Paxers
Rogers State University
Small Business
Team leader: Kasey Ng
Team members: Whitney Duncan, Loren LeForce, Bryce Hall, Dil Patel and Samantha Slater
Advisor: Charles D. Atkins
Summary: J-Paxers has developed the patent-pending J-Pax backpack that eliminates the need for shoulder straps. The J-Pax provides users the ability to carry more items or weight without strain or injury.
Revolutionary Transportation
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
Small Business
Team leader: Stephanie Asher
Team members: Belinda Hunt, Karlee Gibson and Robert Woods
Advisor: Scott Donaldson
Summary: Revolutionary Transportation offers scheduled bus service in the northeast Oklahoma region with initial plans to operate between Miami and Joplin, Mo., with expansion into both Kansas and Arkansas. The company operates an environmentally friendly fleet of vehicles powered solely by compressed natural gas (CNG).
RxOmni
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
Small Business
Team leader: Kris Monier
Team members: Angela Davis, Angela Estavez, Herbert Foncham, Lori Hasty and Mayra Tello
Advisor: Amber Hefner
Summary: RxOmni has developed software that alerts pharmacists to possible adverse drug reactions from different medications prescribed to patients. Pharmacists are prompted by the app to ask patients questions about current medications to ensure new prescriptions don’t present a health risk because of conflicting medications.
UCO Entrepreneurs
University of Central Oklahoma
Small Business
Team leader: Josh Pelton
Team members: Amanda Cole, Kayla George, Allison Kliewer and Nichole Struble
Advisor: Maurice Haff
Summary: UCO Entrepreneurs have developed a coffee shop concept called The Last Cup that offers a quiet atmosphere and organically grown coffee. The Last Cup will market to college students in the Edmond area with made-to-order coffee drinks, open 24 hours and study rooms that can be reserved.
