Business Plan Competition Helps Make Dreams into Reality

August 15, 2007 - (ATLANTA, GA) -  Gloria Hu, Michael Hodges, and Chao Xie are one step closer to living the American dream of owning their own companies. The three Georgia State University students are this year's recipients of two separate business plan competitions sponsored by the Herman J. Russell, Sr. International Center for Entrepreneurship at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

Hu, a Ph.D. candidate in Georgia State's Department of Applied Linguistics, and Xie, a master's and Ph.D. candidate in the University's Department of Computer Science, won the Herman J. Russell, Sr. International Venture Award. They received $10,000 for their plan based on an idea for SoniEasy, an Internet company specializing in leading-edge technology to create online English learning communities and training.

Hodges, a recent Robinson graduate, received $5,000 as the winner of the Moses Lee Reid Entrepreneurship Award. His plan was for Home Carbonation, a company he started last year with $5,000 of his own money. Home Carbonation produces a fountain drink system designed for in-home use.

Robinson alumnus Tony Calibrisi, served as one of three judges in the competition. Calibrisi, the 2005 Moses Lee Reid recipient, said that winning gave him the confidence to start his own business Rx Solutions (now Linear Solutions). In addition to serving as a judge, Calibrisi donated $1,000 to the Center to help encourage other budding entrepreneurs.

"All of the finalists were passionate abou t their businesses and I hope they use the presentations to springboard them to success as business owners," he said.

Overall, 19 students submitted business plans. Faculty from the Center for Entrepreneurship reviewed the plans, provided feedback for each student, and selected two finalists for each award.

The Herman J. Russell, Sr. International Venture Award is funded by the H. J. Russell, Sr. International Center for Entrepreneurship endowment and by the Institute for International Business grant from the Department of Education's Business International Education fund (BIE).

The Moses Lee Reid Entrepreneurship Award was created by endowments from Robinson alumnus, Dr. Kenneth Reid, Global Chief Investment Officer for AXA Rosenberg Group. The award is named in honor of his father. It is designed to recognize viable ventures designed by students at Georgia State University.

The J. Mack Robinson College of Business is one of the top-ranked business schools. The College's Flex (part-time) MBA program has been listed in the top ten by U.S. News for the past twelve consecutive years and its undergraduate business program is ranked among the top 50 in the nation. Robinson's Executive MBA program is listed among the world's best by The Financial Times. Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business has an enrollment of approximately 7000 students and has classroom facilities in downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta, Brookhaven and Henry County.