Ouachita senior Lindsey Fowler wins 2012 OBU Business Plan Competition
December 10, 2012 - Rachel Gregory
Lindsey Fowler, a junior business administration/finance, political science and history
major, won first place in Ouachita Baptist University’s 2012 Business Plan Competition
on Dec. 4 with her plan for TrustedWills.com.Fowler, an Arkadelphia native, developed her plan from the idea that new parents often
want a quick and easy way to create a viable will. With just a few questions, TrustedWills.com would create a legitimate will for people who want the reassurance and peace of mind
that having a last will and testament provides.
“This business plan competition has taught me so much that I can apply to my future
educational and career goal,” Fowler said. “Researching for the business plan also
gave me a deeper understanding of many legal terms and procedures that will give me
a solid foundation as I enter law school.”
Having already participated in this competition with a group her freshman year, Fowler
said she realized that “all of the information we had been learning in our classes
really was relevant to the business plan. … It made class so much more meaningful
to see it applied to a real-world business idea.”
“We do hope it’s more than just an academic exercise,” said Bryan McKinney, dean of
the Frank D. Hickingbotham School of Business. “We’re taking an idea and turning it
into a tangible document that can be presented to others and will demonstrate the
need and the likelihood that an idea could turn into a functional business.”
McKinney was Fowler’s faculty advisor for the competition. Ouachita alumnus Dr. Terry
Sergeant, a computer science professor at Hardin Simmons University, also partnered
with Fowler to develop the concept for TrustedWills.com.
The evaluation guidelines for the 2012 OBU Business Plan Competition stated, “All
judges ultimately consider the entire business concept, looking at overall feasibility,
combined with significant capital gains potential, attractive investment possibilities
and actual implementation.” Student competitors had to demonstrate to the six judges
who are businessmen and businesswomen themselves that their ideas were not only possible
on paper, but profitable in practice.
The first place prize for the Business Plan Competition was $4,000. “Because of the
example of many ‘Tigers for Life’ before me,” Fowler said, “I plan on giving back
and donating part of the winnings to the Annual Fund, as this is one of Ouachita's
greatest needs. I plan on using what is left to go on the Campus Ministries South
Africa mission trip this summer.”
The second place business plan that earned $3,000 in prize money, called eScout, was created by Connor Burke, a senior accounting and business administration/finance
major from Gilbert, Ariz.; Jason Cantwell, a junior kinesiology and fitness major
from Frisco, Texas; and Sarah McKimmey, a senior history major from Heath, Texas.
The third place winners were Jared Carlin, a senior accounting and business administration/finance
major from Lubbock, Texas, and Rizvan Ceka, a junior business administration/management
and finance major from Coppell, Texas. Their business proposal, entitled Stuffed Burritos, was awarded $2,000.
Other participants included: The Espresso Exchange by Brittney Jones, a senior business administration and finance major from Texarkana,
Ark.; Judith Brizuela, a senior business administration/finance and psychology major
from Cortes, Honduras; Greg Lawrence, a senior business administration/management,
marketing and finance major from Saginaw, Texas; and Will Sparks, a senior business
administration/management major from Dripping Springs, Texas. One27 was presented by Michelle Perez, a senior business administration/management and
political science major from Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Chase Rackley, a senior business
administration/management and marketing major from Little Rock, Ark.
“I’m phenomenally proud of the students when I see all the energy they put into their
plans and the faculty, who put in so many hours advising students,” McKinney said.
“They all work so hard at this.”
The winners of the 2012 OBU Business Plan Competition will go on to compete against
Henderson State University’s top plans in the OBU/HSU Business Plan Competition in
February. They may also have the opportunity to compete in the statewide Donald W.
Reynolds Governor’s Cup at the Little Rock Convention Center for a first place prize
of $25,000.
For more information, contact Bryan McKinney at [email protected] or (870) 245-5513.
By Rachel Gregory
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