— from Victoria Compton, SJC EDC —
Winners pictured above: Tim Fry (Lopez), Sasha von Dassow (San Juan), Leslie & Jacob Betcher (San Juan), Sandhya Sreerama (San Juan)
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is excited to announce the winners of their first annual business plan competition, Launch San Juan Islands. The winners and all finalists were lauded at an awards luncheon at Coho Restaurant in Friday Harbor, on December 1, 2015.
For first prize, Sasha von Dassow (San Juan Island) was awarded $2,000 for his plan for San Juan Island Transport, a food transportation concern serving local farmers and markets.
For second prize, Leslie and Jacob Betcher (San Juan Island) were awarded $1,000 for their plan for Upright Marine, manufacturer of environmentally neutral buoy anchoring systems.
For third prize, two winners shared $500. Tim Fry of 468 Insider (Lopez Island) will launch a mobile app to serve the travel and tourism industry. Sandhya Sreerama of Port of Spice (San Juan Island) will create an Indian food catering company. The prize money will go toward specific deliverables in the participants’ business plans.
Finalists Molly O’Neil, Andrea Champlin, Kalen Huntemer and Cher Renke were also recognized for their efforts.
Eleven entrepreneurs from Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands participated in the competition, and a wide variety of industries were represented.
Donations from the following businesses and individuals made this event possible: San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, Mark Madsen, Jack Yelverton, Gretchen Staehlin, John Gresseth Architect, Steve Hushebeck, the Islands Weekly, the Islands Sounder, the Journal of the San Juan Islands, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Windermere Real Estate, Valmark, Edward Jones of San Juan Island, Farmers Insurance of San Juan Island, Coho Restaurant, Victoria Compton and Island Market.
All participants received instruction in business planning and marketing,
plus follow-up mentoring. The goal of the two-month competition was to help
every participating entrepreneur to advance their business, and the
competition will be held annually. More information is available on the EDC
website at www.sanjuansedc.org.
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