Business school to host business plan contest

NEW PALTZ — The School of Business at the State University of New York at New Paltz and Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc. will hold the annual Business Plan Contest Presentation and Award Ceremony on Friday, April 27, at the College Terrace on the SUNY New Paltz campus.

The teams of students will present their business plans before a panel of judges from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and the award ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. This semester there are four teams participating in the contest, with each team consisting of four students and a faculty advisor.

Hadi Salavitabar, dean of the School of Business, said the business plan contest gives students an opportunity to test their knowledge in real business settings by researching and developing an idea that a local business submitted or by coming up with their own idea and turning it into a practical and profitable business plan. The contest combines the excitement of competition with the joy of serious learning. Students who participate reap the rewards of stronger skills and increased confidence in their abilities.

Business sponsors include: the School of Business; Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc. at SUNY New Paltz; M&T Bank; Mohonk Mountain House; Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union; Ulster Federal Credit Union; Ulster Savings Bank; Johnson Auto Group, Inc.; and The Chazen Companies.

“The students, faculty and local business executives who participated in and attended the program in the past were very excited about this contest and felt it was a very valuable learning experience,” said Salavitabar. “We invite the business community to listen to the presentations and provide us business plan ideas for next year¿s contest.”