The launch of the Dr. Anthony ’65 and Geraldine ’66 Zembrodt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Thomas More strives to make the University the destination for students who thrive in an innovative environment. Incorporating innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset into curriculum and campus culture gives these creative thinkers an outlet for their grand ideas. On May 3, 2023, the inaugural Saints Shark Challenge was held thanks to the efforts of the Robert W. Plaster College of Business and event sponsor Roebling Capital. Five students went head-to-head in a competition as they presented their entrepreneurial ideas before a panel of expert judges. Dean Bruce Rosenthal, Ph.D., and Professor John J. Cioffi III were instrumental in mentoring these young thinkers to research and finesse their concepts into viable business plans. Student presenters and their concepts included: 

Austin Henry – Buy This House

Jack Milton – Quontroversery

Enrique Aceves Pizarro – E1EVATE (3^rd place winner)

Clarrissa Harvery – NOBRA (2^nd place winner)

Colin Wilmhoff – ACE Company (overall winner)

Thank you to the panel of judges for accepting the challenge of critiquing and providing intriguing questions and feedback to the concepts. Judges included: Wes Goebel, managing director of the RCP team at Roebling partners; Jill Morenz, CEO at Aviatra Accelerators; Mike Faillo, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer for Fifth Third Bank; Taylor Justice, co-founder and president at Unite US; and Dr. Bruce Rosenthal.

For more information about the Robert W. Plaster College of Business, CLICK HERE. To learn more about the Zembrodt Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, CLICK HERE or contact Director Jeni Al Bahrani at albahranij@thomasmore.edu