2017/18 Fall & Winter EditionAPKCFEE NEWSLETTER

N E W S L E T T E RF A L L & W I N T E R E D I T I O N V O L . 3

Vol. 3

APKEC Incubator: A New Home for New Businesses

tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition 2017

IP News: Music and Copyrights

Past Scholars, New Scholars

Letter from the APKCFEE Executive Director

WHAT’S INSIDE:

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Small Business Tips:

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Photo provided by Wilkes University Marketing

July 2017 marked the completion of year three and beginning of year four of my tenure at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (APKCFEE). In the spring/summer 2017 APKCFEE Newsletter, I discussed my belief that this ‘new’ Kirby Center is more like a rapidly growing startup company than an established firm, even though we were established in 1993. We have a startup culture at APKCFEE through exciting new activities like the Kirby Scholar Program, our Executive Mentor Program, technology transfer office, and our attempt to establish what we refer to as the Northeast Pennsylvania region’s first and only “stage-one” focused business incubator.

You may be asking yourself, what is a “stage-one” incubator? If you examine how most business ventures begin, their activities and progression generally fall into four generic stages. Stage one is from epiphany to prototype. Stage two is prototype to early sales and adopters. Stage three is scale up to established production/sales. Stage four is exponential growth and/or exit.

Naturally, stage one is where all ventures begin but also where most ventures fail. Most ventures at this initial stage require a tremendous amount of attention and direction. It is also the stage where most ventures receive the least amount of intentional, professional and comprehensive help. Most early stage ventures begin to get serious help when they get into stage two, because that is when they enter the region’s robust business incubator system. However, to get into an incubator, a venture must have some ability to pay rent and other fees, which is almost impossible for stage-one ventures.

We are doing it differently. We are creating an intentional, professional and comprehensive business incubator, specifically focused on stage-one ventures. We bring “hands-on mentoring”

Letter from the APKCFEE Executive Directorto stage-one ventures where it is critically required with the help of our Kirby Scholars and Mentor Network. Our student-based scholars program enables us to provide the increased attention required by stage-one clients. This is a win-win for our students who are looking for opportunities to interact as much as possible with real ventures – what we refer to as “true experiential learning opportunities.” Additionally, we have also created unique and precedential capacity expanding partnerships like SCORE and TreMonti Consulting. Our incubator was originally focused on Wilkes University-specific ventures, but now help a few non-Wilkes ventures; we strive to be good stewards of and partners with our community.

We discovered the unique nature of our incubator services have begun to clearly recognize the major benefit we can be to the region. By focusing on stage-one ventures, we are growing and expanding the existing entrepreneurial ecosystem, increasing the number of stage-one ventures that successfully transition to stage two, and are providing training and mentoring that will make those stage-two clients stronger and better prepared.

Additionally, we are undertaking efforts, like our APKCFEE micro-grant fund, to bring more readily accessible resources to early stage ventures where $1,000 can make the difference between growing and closing. We are keenly aware that even with our help, training and resources, many ventures will still not initially succeed. However, our approach has always been, if they are not going to initially succeed, to make sure they fail “correctly;” meaning failing sooner is better than failing later. We also want them to learn and grow from the process and ultimately try again. These subtle changes, over time, will have a very positive effect on the entrepreneurial and economic development landscapes in the region, with ventures either transitioning stronger or those that don’t transition failing correctly.

The goal of the APKCFEE has always been to help others succeed. Our new location of our Allan P. Kirby Enterprise Center is going to do just that. We are now better equipped than ever to give stage-one ventures the hands-on mentoring they need and a greater ability to succeed. By doing this, we are not only helping our clients, but also enacting change on the economic landscape of Northeastern Pennsylvania. We are marching ever so diligently

toward our ultimate objective as Wilkes University President Dr. Leahy stated: “Our goal is simple: to have the same relative impact on our community as the great research universities of the country have on their communities.”

So what’s next for the APKCFEE? In August 2017, we will have a new physical incubator location, 85 South Main St (2nd floor) on the Wilkes University campus. We are applying for grants, seeking philanthropic donations and continuing to form partnerships, all of which are required to pilot a program that helps us define a capacity model and conduct a test run on scaling up our capacity. Handling more external clients (i.e. scaling up our capacity) is more difficult than it may seem, especially because we are “hand’s-on mentoring” every client. The new term that fits this effort best is “mass customization”. If successful, then the goal will become overall system and model duplication. While these are lofty goals that are a little ways out on the time horizon, if you consider us a startup, then they are simply stage-three and stage-four of our APKCFEE product and business growth.

Even though we have already begun establishing a stage-one incubator, we do have a significant issue. Although demand is great, our ability to help non-Wilkes clients is very limited. Our Wilkes based funding is not enough to enable us to scale-up to meet the demand without financial and other help from the community. Additionally Wilkes funding, for the most part, should be focused on helping Wilkes related ventures. As previously mentioned stage-one ventures do not garner enough fees and rent to fully operate a traditional model incubator. We believe our attempt to fully establish a stage-one incubator is truly going to be an extremely beneficial tool for the community; therefore we are going to need the partnership and support of the community. We believe there are community-based and philanthropic resources available to help fully scale-up our effort to meet the demand. We are already seeing some resources come in and establishing new critical partnerships. New examples of institutions showing a willingness to help are Scranton Area Foundation, the Governor’s Action Team, the local PSU campuses, other Institutions of Higher Education, local Banks and Foundations, as well as additional professional service firms.

Written by Dr. Rodney Ridley

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FALL 2017KIRBY SCHOLARS BY DEPARTMENT

TecBRIDGE Business PlanCompetition 2017Written by Michelle Lehman

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The tecBRIDGE Business Plan Competition is a popular regional competition that was designed to stimulate innovation in Northeastern Pennsylvania. TecBridge Business Plan competitors compete in two separate categories: Collegiate and Non-Collegiate. The region’s fourteen Universities engage undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurs, while the non-collegiate category engages local community entrepreneurs. Each category is eligible to win $100,000 in cash and in-kind business services. The awarded price is given to encourage entrepreneurs to launch their business, enter a business professional mentor network, and ultimately succeed.

The Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (APKCFEE) had 4 student clients and 1 external client participate in the 15th Annual TecBridge Business Plan Competition in April, 2017. The Center staff and Kirby Scholars worked hands-on with clients to prepare them for the competition. The Center mentored clients through business plan development, presentation evaluations, and connecting competitors to local qualified business professionals.

Connor Harding, a Senior Entrepreneurship Major at Wilkes University, and Kyle Shopf, a 2017 Wilkes

University Graduate with a degree in Entrepreneurship, submitted their business plans in the collegiate category during the first round of the competition. Although they did not make it to the finals, they learned valuable entrepreneurial skills from their experience.

Xenoil, a student run business from Wilkes University, also competed in the collegiate category. Xenoil made it to the finals with their idea to convert plastic recycling to petroleum oil.

In the non-collegiate Category, Nodin, a high-school student team, persevered into the finalist division. The team consisted of local high-school students with an innovation to fix water-damaged phones. The Founder of Nodin, Jarrod Cooper, is committed to attending Wilkes University for the Fall 2017 semester.

“It was an amazing opportunity and I met tons of new and successful people. I’m really excited to make my improvements and be back and ready to win next year,” Said Cooper.

An APKCFEE external client, Fader Plugs, won the Collegiate Division for their patent-pending hearing protection device. CEO and Founder, Blaise Delfino is from East Stroudsburg University and is continuing to receive mentorship and guidance from the Center.

LEGALDominic Butchko

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTMichelle LehmanEmily Sutton (Intern)

ENTREPRENEURSHIPTaylor Baker

DIGITAL DESIGN & MEDIA ARTTodd EspenshadeAbigail Sanders

COMMUNICATIONSAmanda Bialek

ACCOUNTINGJoe Palmadessa

ENGINEERINGMatthew Miller

INTERNATIONALSaidat Abidemi Sanni

SCIENCELaura Solomon

KIRBY OPERATIONS INTERNMadison Kaminski

Photo provided by Fader Plugs

Photo provided by Nodin

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Photo provided by The Guardian

IP News: Music and CopyrightsWritten by Courtney McMonagle

We’ve all heard about it—an artist is suing another singer for copyright infringement. Just recently, Ed Sheeran settled a case concerning his song “Photograph” out of court with the writers of “Amazing,” a song by X Factor…Matt Cardle. Settlements like these happen frequently; artists claim others plagiarize and steal their work, and the case either goes to trial or is settled privately between artists. And then all is quiet until the next case comes along.

Many times, when cases like these broke, I tacked it up as coincidence that one artist’s song sounds like another—there must only be a finite number of note combinations and melodies that an artist can create, especially after decades’ worth of music. However, according to musicologist Joe Bennett, that is not the case.

Joe Bennett is someone the singers and songwriters call in to make sure the piece they just wrote isn’t plagiarizing someone else’s work. Those who work in music are very afraid something like this will happen, which can damage their image and have legal ramifications, so they call in an expert.

Bennett argues that the chances of two melodies sounding very similar or almost identical by coincidence are slim to none. He explains, “I might start on C and you might start on E—two of the seven notes in the major scale. The odds [against us choosing the same note] aren’t exactly one in seven, but you get the idea. Then you come to the second note: I might choose D, you might choose another E. So then we’ve got a seven to the power of two probability, and that’s just within two pitch choices.” In short, there are too many combinations of notes for a song to sound the same by coincidence.

So does that mean our favorite artists are plagiarizing each other to create successful songs? No, probably not. What happens more often than not is songwriters rewrite a song they have already heard without realizing it. Scott Mills, Radio 1 DJ, says, “If you’re a songwriter, your brain works in a different way when you hear music, you soak it all up like a sponge, and you’ll 100% believe a song is yours.” Both Mills and Bennett agree—why infringe on a copyright when the odds are more in your favor to write a new piece?

Perhaps the artists getting sued can provide an answer for us.

Jerry Lisman is the CEO of Lisman Holdings Inc., an operating company with interests in business strategies,

medical products and online retailing. Mr. Lisman contributes his years of entrepreneurial experience to the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship through hands-on client mentoring.

When asked what advice Mr. Lisman would give to nascent entrepreneurs, he responded that it is essential for entrepreneurs to have a deep understanding of the market that they are entering, the process for making and sourcing products, and the profitability of their venture. As an executive mentor to the Center, Lisman implements that advice by teaching entrepreneurs how to execute that understanding. Generally, Lisman mentors APKCFEE internal and external clients on consumer products, manufacturing, production acquisition, and sales and distribution.

“Selling begins when customers say NO!”

MENTOR SPOTLIGHT: JERRY LISMAN

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FALLNEWSLETTER

STAFFWRITERSMichelle LehmanCourtney McMonagleMadison KaminskiAmanda Bialek

LAYOUTTodd EspenshadeAbigail Sanders

PHOTOGRAPHYMadison KaminskiJimmy MustoThe GuardianWilkes University Marketing

MANAGEMENTCharles Pierce

APKEC Incubator: A New Home for New BusinessesWritten by Courtney McMonagle

The Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship is pleased to announce that the Allan P. Kirby Enterprise Center is moving to a new location.

Previously located in the Luzerne Bank Building on Public Square, the APKEC is now housed on the corner of Main Street and Northampton Street, just upstairs from the SBDC.

The new location is much larger than the previous office space: there is a meeting room, a classroom, and six office spaces. It provides easy access to resources the clients would use, such as the SBDC, Kirby Scholars, and other mentors.

One of the offices is occupied by Edify. Edify is a web-based software development company catering to education. Their product is called PlanBook Plus, which is an online lesson planning application, which also includes online instruction, and eLearning. It is an ecommerce product, so it is available online for trial and purchase to both individual teachers and entire school districts.

Edify wants to foster an environment of mentoring in the new incubator space by being an in-house mentor. “Having people around,” Pete Schmitt, the owner of Edify, says, “really helps start-ups grow.” They want to be teach and advise to the younger entrepreneurs that will be housed in other spaces by having an open-door policy.

One such company is Nodin, a start-up company working on a product that fixes water-logged cell phones. The CEO is Jarrod Cooper, a freshman business major at Wilkes University. He and his team is excited to work

in the incubator, with easy access to mentors, Scholars, and other companies and students who will create an environment of teaching and learning.

Another office is marked as the Kirby Scholar Suite. The Suite will house four Kirby Scholars, as well as the Assistant Director of the APKCFEE, Mr. Charles Pierce. The Scholars will take turns working at the incubator, and this presence allows clients to have easy access to the Scholars for any projects or questions the Scholars can work on.

The remaining office are open to primarily Wilkes affiliated clients (students, faculty, or staff), but external clients are also welcome to apply for a space. Each office will be divided by a cubicle wall, so that two companies can be housed in the same office space. Offices are available to house only one client for an extra charge.

By having easy access to the Kirby Scholars, the SBDC, and other mentors in the APKEC mentor network, including SCORE, the APKCFEE hopes to help their incubator clients be more successful. Now, instead of starting a long email chain and hoping to set up a meeting in coming weeks, clients can now simply walk down the hall or downstairs to receive the help and mentoring that will make them successful.

The APKEC, along with its partners, plans on hosting training sessions, which will be conducted every other month in matters such as intellectual property information, social media, and website upkeep, among others. To build a culture in the new location, mixers will be held to build a sense of comradery, friendship, and networking between the clients housed there.

The APKEC’s new location is a huge advantage to clients housed there. Clients are able to enjoy easy access to resources, such as proximity to mentors, Scholars, and training courses, that will help them succeed and grow. Because the incubator is in a KIZ/KOZ zone, businesses there will receive tax benefits, which is incredibly advantageous to fledgling companies.

Photo provided by Todd Espenshade

The culture of the APKEC is meant to be one of family, one that will help all involved in the organization to grow and succeed. It is a new home for what will become a family of new businesses.

This is being done in conjunction with our partner institutions like the Small Business Development Centers, the Family Business Alliance, the Institute, Wilkes-Barre Connect, CAN DO Inc., tecBRIDGE, BFTP, local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Agencies, Academic Partners at Wilkes University and other Professional Service Firms. APKCFEE is becoming uniquely positioned to do this for a number of reasons. First, thanks to the generous support of the Kirby Board of Managers (KBOM), Wilkes University and pro bono activity from regional professional service firms, we have the initial resources and have begun to create this type of incubator. The KBOM endowment and Wilkes University funding also makes us less dependent on client fees and rent as compared to the traditional incubators in the BFTP network.

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Past Scholars, New ScholarsThe start of the new academic year has brought about some changes in the Kirby scholar line-up. Six scholars have either graduated or moved on to even better job opportunities. This semester, six new students have taken upon a role as a Kirby Scholar. Also new to this semester is the recently created Kirby Scholar of Science position, which is now held by Laura Solomon, a senior majoring in biology. The past scholars contributed greatly to the mission of the Allan P. Kirby Center, and their work was much appreciated. We look forward to welcoming the new group of scholars on board, and are excited for the skills and knowledge they will contribute in the year to come.

Past Scholars

Written by Madison Kaminski

Pictured, Left to Right:Kimberly Keller: Accounting, Nicole Kutos: DigitalDesign & Media Art, Courtney McMonagle: Legal, Jimmy Musto: Digital Design & Media Art, Annelise Pryzwara: Communications, Taylor Ryan: Communications

Pictured, Left to Right:Amanda Bialek: Communications, Dominic Butchko: Legal, Todd Espenshade: Digital Design & Media Art

New Scholars

TecBridge -Business Plan Competition Awards Dinner: April 2018

Wilkes-Barre Connect: Series of 3 PITCH Events -Wednesday, November 10th -Wednesday, February 7th -Wednesday, May 9th -Wilkes-Barre Innovation Center

Wilkes University Internship and Career Fair -October 19th ; 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM -Wilkes University UCOM Building

2017 Ben Franklin Venture Idol -Tuesday, November 14th: Bethlehem, PA

Entrepreneurial Institute -Entrepreneurial Institute -Marywood University -November 2017

Upcoming Events:

Pictured, Left to Right: Joseph Palmadessa: Accounting, Abigail Sanders: Digital Design & Media Art, Laura Solomon: Science, Holly Lucent: Science

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The Leather Jacket Tradition: Honoring Local Businessmen and Kirby ScholarsThe Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship hosted its (number) annual Mentor Breakfast in the Henry Student Center at Wilkes University on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The event celebrates the role of mentors in nurturing entrepreneurial endeavors. It also recognizes business and industry leaders in the community as well as Kirby Scholars for their accomplishments.

“I am amazed at the creativity of our faculty here at Wilkes; their capacity for love and mentorship; their dedication to building young people for lives of meaningful service,” Dr. Paul Riggs, Dean of Wilkes University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences said.

The Allan P. Kirby Center features the Kirby Mentor Program and maintains a network of over 30 active advisors who offer their services on a limited, pro-bono basis. Combined with the academic resources at Wilkes University, mentors offer years of experience to advise both students and prospective start-up businesses.

“Mentoring is absolutely essential. It’s a tenet of what we do at Wilkes. It’s part of our culture and part of the DNA of the Institution,” said Dr. Rodney Ridley, executive director of the Allan P. Kirby Center.

Don Webster, the Executive Director of TecBRIDGE, mentors Kirby Scholar of Business Development Michelle Lehman TecBRIDGE is a regional organization that collaboratively strives to create entrepreneurial opportunities with the goal of growing technology wealth in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“Having Don as a mentor has provided me with personal and professional opportunities. Because of Don, I am able to attend unique networking events and make connections with other professionals in my field. He uses his knowledge and expertise

Written by Amanda Bialek

to give me valuable advice that will aid me in achieving my future goals,” Lehman said.

The Kirby Scholar program truly enhances the mission of Wilkes University. This program continues the Wilkes tradition of educating students for lifelong learning and success through a commitment to individualized attention, scholarship and academic excellence.

“The mentor aspect of the Kirby Scholar Program has helped me with insight for client projects, helped me with professional development and allowed me to gain more knowledge in an area that is of my interest,” Cassidy Clement, Kirby Scholar of Marketing said.

To honor students for their impeccable work in the Kirby Scholar program and and members business and industry leaders in the community for their mentorship, individuals received a leather jacket as a symbol of their achievements.

“The Black Jacket Society is a network of established community leaders and I am honored to be inducted into a society of that prestige,” Lehman said.

The five Kirby Scholars of Wilkes University honored for their exceptional

work are Michelle Lehman, Cassidy Clement, Courtney McMonagle, Saidat Abidemi Sanni and Matthew Miller. Students undergo a rigorous selection process involving a review committee of field-specific faculty, Allan P. Kirby Center staff and the executive-in-residence. “To me, it means I get to be a part of a group of very knowledgeable people who are experienced in their fields and use those skills to give back to new businesses through the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship,” Clement said.

Four executive mentors were also welcomed into the Black Jacket Society at the Mentor Breakfast. The honorees included Joseph Boylan, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Argent Eagle Development Company; Jeffery Roth, owner of Jeffrey Roth Insurance Agency; Steven Roth, managing partner of the law firm Rosenn, Jenkins and Greenwald LLP and Wico van Genderen, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Wilkes Barre Chamber of Business and Industry.

“Mentoring is at the heart of what we do. We’re not Wilkes without mentoring,” Ridley said.

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Contact Us

Visit Us

RODNEY S. RIDLEY SR., PH.D.Executive Director, Distinguished Professor(570) 408-4592rodney.ridley@wilkes.edu

CHARLES J. PIERCEAssistant Director, Adjunct Professor(570) 408-3804charles.pierce@wilkes.edu

GERALD A. EPHAULTExecutive In Residence, Adjunct Professor(570) 408-4590gerald.ephault@wilkes.edu

LORNA M. GALLIFORDOffice Assistant(570) 408-4590lorna.galliford@wilkes.edu

The Allan P. Kirby Center For Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship65 West South StreetWilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18766

(570) 408-4590 • apkcfee@wilkes.edu

VISIT WILKES.EDU/KIRBY FOR MORE INFORMATION

Photo provided by Wilkes University Marketing

Scholar SpotlightTodd Espenshade, Digital Design & Media ArtQuestions Compiled by Madison Kamanski

Major: Digital Design & Media ArtMinors: Art and Marketing

Tasks and Projects at the Allan P. Kirby Center:I work in the field of graphic design to help clients represent their ideas visually through logos, branding and other promotional material for their business. Also help create material for the Center such as the APKCFEE Metrics Report, interior artwork for the new incubator, and layout of various brochures and flyers.

As a senior this year, what is your plan after graduation?I plan to begin a career at an advertising agency working in the field of graphic design and marketing.

What is your favorite restaurant?Texas Roadhouse

What is your favorite place you’ve travelled?The favorite place that I’ve travelled was Palm Springs, Calif. I got to explore some of the coolest mountains I’ve ever seen and experience Joshua Tree National Park for the first time.

What are some of your hobbies? Design is one hobby that I enjoy, even when I am not working. I also enjoy photography, hiking and kayaking.

Favorite TV Show/ Movie/ Music?TV Show: The Office, Movie: Django Unchained, Music: Punk/Rock

Do you have a favorite quote?“Creativity is a luxury; we build with our hands what we have in our hearts” –August Burns Red

Is there any role model you look up to?I don’t have anyone in particular, but many artists and designers, both known and unknown, do influence me and my work. I enjoy looking at the world around me and what others have done before to gain inspiration.