Baker Boyer Bank Pitch IT competitors advance to final event

Baker Boyer Bank Pitch IT! Finals Competition

- Wednesday, November 18
- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Gesa Powerhouse Theater
- The event is FREE and open to the community
- www.pitch-it.info

Wednesday night Heather Nygaard, WWCC, Haute Stuff Catering Co., Lindsey Shearer & Melanie Morales, Walla Walla University, Untapped: Unleashing your Closets, Daniel Ochoarrarte, College Place High School, Staging Spain, Paris Orchard & Jaedyn Sellers College Place High School, VT Bow Co., Marcus Huenergardt, College Place High School, Art of the Farmer, Abby Rolfe, Prospect Point Elementary, Angle Animals Cookie Society, and Harry Shaul, Weston Middle School, Pro Shifter impressed the panel of local judges with their business concepts to advance to the final round of the Baker Boyer Bank Pitch It competition.

Twenty-six students, from seven schools participated in three different grade brackets in the preliminary competition at Walla Walla Community College. “Pitch IT!” - inspired by the TV show, Shark Tank, provides a vehicle for students of all ages to design and develop innovative business, products and services concepts. The Final Community-Wide Competition is November 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the GESA Powerhouse Theater. The winner receives a $500 cash prize from Baker Boyer Bank to support their business.

The Baker Boyer Bank Pitch It competition is in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) November 16-22, 2015. This week was created to recognize the power of entrepreneurship.

Special thanks to the Preliminary Competition judges:
• Casey Waddell – Baker Boyer Bank
• Jim Kuntz – Port of Walla Walla
• Craig Sievertson– Banner Bank
• Ted Cohan – Walla Walla Public Schools
• Mark Thompson – BMT Risk Management
• Todd Brandenburg – PocketiNet Communications
• Brandi Hammon – Hapo Credit Union
• Nanqi You – Walla Walla Web Weavers
• Ron Dunning – Business Owner and County Commissioner
• Lawson Knight – Intermountain Impact Investments
• Brad McMasters – Port of Columbia
• David Lindstrom – Walla Walla University
• Marlene Ramsey – Walla Walla Community College
• Alice Freyer – Work Source Walla Walla

The GEW Committee is made up of members from Whitman College, Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla University, College Place School District, Walla Walla Public Schools, Junior Achievement and the WWV Chamber of Commerce.

Finals Competition judges; Megan Clubb, Baker Boyer Bank, Andre Bopp, Andrea’s Kitchen, Shannon Bergevin, Express Personnel, Hank Worden, Edward Jones Investments, and Zachery Frazier of the Walla Walla Sweets Baseball Club.