Judges Announced for BIG Competition

DUBOIS – The panel of five judges is in place for the Second Annual B. I. G.* (*Business Ideas Gone wild) Competition, sponsored jointly by the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, the Office for Technology Transfer at Penn State DuBois, and the Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce. These judges will be responsible for choosing the best, most innovative, and unique business idea entries submitted to B. I. G.* this year. The winner will receive up to $20,000 in cash and services to develop, research, or market a new product or new process.

This year’s judges are: Dan Dowling, Dave Geci, Cynthia Labant, Anne Posteraro, and Kerri Presloid. 

Dan Dowling is the President and CEO of the DuBois Area YMCA. He is active in community organizations including DuBois Rotary Club, and is Chairman of the Treasure Lake Property Owner’s Association Finance Committee.  He is the manager of the DuBois Little League, and a past board member of the Greater DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce.  

Dave Geci is a certified public accountant and owner of Geci and Associates PC with offices in St. Marys and Kane.  He is also an investment advisor.  Geci is active in the community as a basketball coach, former treasurer of the ECCHS Athletic Association  and a member of the Allegheny Hardwood Development Council. 

Cynthia Labant is the Consumer Lighting LED Senior Engineer at Osram Sylvania in St. Marys.  She is a member of the American Ceramic Society and National Institute of Ceramic Engineers.  Labant is also the holder of five patents, and an Osram STAR award winner.  She is active with the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, and sits on the PTO board of the St. Marys Catholic Elementary Schools.  She is also the coordinator and presenter of Pre-Cana Marital Preparation classes. 

Anne Posteraro is the Accounting Manager for KTH Architects, Inc.  She is a member of the DuBois Business College Advisory Board, and a past chair of the Greater DuBois Area Chamber of Commerce.  Posteraro is on the Girl Scouts of Western PA Curry Creek Advisory Board and Site Team, and the St. Michael Archangel Church Council.  

Kerri Presloid is the first place winner of the 2009 B. I. G.* Competition.  She won for her Polliwog Academy Education Games, which teach both students and parents ways to be successful in academics.  Presloid, a former second grade teacher, is also active in school activities and volunteers at her children’s schools. 

“We are very fortunate to have this panel of judges. With their diverse backgrounds, from engineering to business management to finance, they will provide a balanced and comprehensive review of the ideas,” said Penn State DuBois Technology Transfer Coordinator, Sally Moran. 

The competition is designed to spur regional economic development through support of local creative ideas. Entries will be accepted from teams, small businesses, and individuals over 18 who reside in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, or Potter Counties.  The entry could be for any marketable product or business process or for dramatic improvements to things that already exist.

“The B. I. G.* Competition provides an opportunity for everyone in our region to see if their idea has what it takes to help their dreams become reality,” said John Weible, Business Development Coordinator for the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.  

The deadline for entries to the competition is August 25.  Winners will be announced Nov. 9.  

For more information, or to submit an idea, visit www.thebigcompetition.ncentral.com.

Steve Harmic, Penn State DuBois