SALISBURY, Md., December 4, 2024 – On November 7, 2024, Project Opportunity conducted its Fifth Annual Business Pitch Competition for graduates of our program. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competition:

Early Start-Up Category:

• Kelly Foster – Motivated by Kelly – $4,000.00 Award
• Megan Robinson – Workplace Transition and Education Services – $2,000.00 Award
• Veron James – Livi Rose Photography – $1,000.00 Award

Established Business Category:

• Arthur Toole – CEO Grenada Nut Company – $10,000.00 Award
• Roslyn Davis – CEO RoDa Business Solutions – $4500.00 Award
• Cheryl Ford – CEO ATHOS1 – $4500.00 Award
• James Jones – CEO Armis Dei Apparel – $1000.00 Award

We would like to acknowledge and thank the Business Pitch Competition Judges:

• Carlene Cassidy – CEO Philip and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.
• Ryan Del Gallo – Business Consultant, Maryland Small Business Development Center, Northern Region.
• Joel C. Bakal, Chief Financial Officer, H&M Wagner and Sons Foodservice
• Ulric Donowa, Loan Office Baltimore Community Lending
• Eric Thompson, Vice President Business Advisor, Truist Bank

Project Opportunity^SM has formed an Educational Partnership with Pitch Creator to provide the Pitch Creator Foundation Course to program graduates to assist them in preparing for the Project Opportunity^SM Annual Business Pitch Competition. Business pitch participants were provided the Pitch Creator Foundation Course at no charge along with eight (8) hours of individual coaching/mentoring by our facilitators. Special thanks to our Business Pitch Coaches:

• Brenda Dilts, Owner Next Step LLC and Senior Project Opportunity^SM Facilitator for Anne Arundel and Howard Counties.
• Patricia Newby, President Strategic Business Partnership and Project Opportunity^SM Presenter for classes in Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties.
• Warline Bryant, Chief Executive Officer, BHL Group, LLC. and Project Opportunity^SM Facilitator for Harford County
• Elizabeth Doubleday, President Doubleday Concepts, LLC and Project Opportunity^SM Presenter for Classes in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel and Howard Counties

Funding for the Business Pitch Competition was provided by the Philip E and Carol R Ratcliffe Foundation. The Ratcliffe Foundation is based in Annapolis Maryland and operates as a charitable organization designed to encourage and reward entrepreneurship, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities.

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation sponsored the lunch and social networking hour for our event this year.

To learn more, visit the Ratcliffe Foundation at https://www.ratcliffefoundation.com/