A VIRTUAL BUSINESS

WITH REAL ENTHUSIAM:

Ohana Surfboard Company – VEI*

In the Fifth Annual Long Island Virtual Enterprises Business Plan Competition and Trade Fair held recently at Farmingdale State College, five Sayville High school students made a presentation for their virtual business, Ohana Surfboard Company, and four students ran the trade booth ‘selling’ over $85,000 of merchandise.

There were more than 700 Long Island high school students, representing more than thirty schools showcasing their “virtual businesses” at the competition, but what distinguished the Sayville group of students who were representing a fledgling firm in its first- year was their irrepressible energy and enthusiasm.

“Although, they did not place to move onto the next round,” explained Sayville Business teacher and firm’s facilitator, Mr. Chad Cross, who accompanied the nine students on the competition, “they received much praise by the judges for their presentation skills and comprehensive business plan.  Some of the judges were so impressed that the students were only in their sophomore and junior years competing against other firms comprised of seniors.”

“However,” Mr. Cross continued, “there was so much excitement from Ohana Surfboard Company that they placed Third for most enthusiastic firm.”

While the team was not one of the top six “businesses” to advance to the finals, Mr. Cross and his students recognized the invaluable lessons from their experiences developing, writing, and presenting a business plan. “Although it is important to be competitive, it is not always about placing,” Mr. Cross added.  “Placing for best something, like best brochure or logo, is winning on talent which is great, but placing for enthusiasm is a character trait and that made me proud as their facilitator. I watched the students walk out of the presentation with smiles, and that made me delighted. I am proud of my students and their accomplishment as a first year firm.”

Special thanks to the following mentors who advised the students with the development of their business plan.

-          Brendan Barrett, Sayville Running Company

-          Jennifer Mohrmann, Parent

-          Barbara Butler, VEI Mentor

Students who presented business plan:

Michael Pace

Chief Executive Officer

Jake Sheridan

Vice President of Marketing and Sales

Alicia Rivera

Chief Financial Officer

Rebecca Mohrmann

Chief Information Officer

Sarah Laterza

Director of Human Resources

All the students who attended and ran the trade booth:

Michael Pace

Chief Executive Officer

Jake Sheridan

Vice President of Marketing and Sales

Alicia Rivera

Chief Financial Officer

Rebecca Mohrmann

Chief Information Officer

Sarah Laterza

Director of Human Resources

Noah Divinsky

Accounts Payable

Nick Moosa

Accounts Receivable

Cole Parrott

Marketing Associate

Nick Villez

Bank Manager

 *Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) is an in-school entrepreneurship program modeled on the European tradition of apprenticeships. The program targets high school and college students. With an emphasis on college and career readiness, VEI offers students a competitive edge through project-based collaborative learning, and the development of 21st-century skills in entrepreneurship, global business, economics, problem solving, communication, personal finance, and technology. Each year, VEI works with schools to transform 500 classrooms into offices and 10,000 students into business executives.