Harvey L. Golubock Business Competition Announces Finalists
Bradford Area Alliance announced its 2024 Harvey L. Golubock Business Competition finalists, including new businesses, existing businesses looking to expand with a new venture, and new business owners stepping into an existing business.
The five finalists survived a rigorous selection process that began with 51 applicants, the competition’s largest number to date.
Among the finalists are Dustin Coles with North Country Gear Works, Brittany Holsinger with Kinzua Canine, Abby Leposa with The Speech Path, Mayva Sturzenbecker with Groovy Glaze, and Mark Young with Young Web Design.
“The competition is incredibly tough,” said Carolyn Newhouse, Executive Director of the Bradford Area Alliance. “It’s tough to turn away great applications, and it often keeps me up at night. Seeing the remarkable growth in entrepreneurial spirit within our community is truly inspiring. Since we started the competition in 2020, we’ve received over 185 applications. As we celebrate the 5th annual competition, the challenge of selecting winners only gets harder.”
North Country Gear Works is an early-stage startup created by Dustin Coles. North Country Gear Works manufactures high-quality outdoor equipment specifically for eastern and midwestern hunters who are passionate about spending time afield. The business has realized and designed equipment for the primary differences in hunters’ needs in the eastern United States versus those from the western United States. The $20,000 investment would help to secure manufacturing space and equipment, as well as to hire employees to assist with manufacturing efforts. Check out North Country Gear Works online at https://www.northcountrygearworks.com/.
Kinzua Canine is a new business created by Brittany Holsinger to meet the need for year-round dog training in a rural community with few local trainers. Inspired by her experience volunteering at a shelter and working in odor detection with law enforcement, Holsinger saw the potential in providing expert training in communication, fitness, and agility. The business also offers a gym membership with access to training supplies, allowing for continued development and bonding between owners and their dogs. Kinzua Canine’s mission is to bridge the communication gap between canines and their owners, one session at a time. Visit Kinzua Canine at https://kinzuacanine.com/.
The Speech Path is a new business created by Abby Leposa. The Speech Path is an outpatient speech-language pathology clinic serving pediatric and young adult patients, from birth to age 25, in Bradford and the surrounding areas. The clinic addresses the gap in services for children who have aged out of early intervention or do not qualify for school-based therapy due to minimal academic impact. By offering personalized speech therapy, The Speech Path ensures that patients at all stages of development can access the care they need to improve their communication skills and overall quality of life.
Groovy Glaze is an existing business seeking to expand, owned by Mayva Sturzenbecker. Groovy Glaze is a pottery painting studio where visitors can choose and paint premade ceramic pieces, which are then fired in a kiln and ready for pickup a week later. These finished pieces can be used or displayed as desired. After six months in operation, Groovy Glaze is experiencing growing demand and is ready to expand by hiring additional staff. The business also plans to introduce clay classes and upgrade seating to accommodate more customers and the new services it aims to offer. Check out Groovy Glaze online at https://www.groovyglaze.shop/.
Young Web Design is a new business created by Mark Young. Originally established in Logan, UT as a freelance resource, the business was shut down after Young relocated to Bradford, PA. Now, he is relaunching Young Web Design as an affordable web design, marketing, and development agency focused on supporting small to medium businesses in Bradford and the surrounding areas. With over a decade of experience working at multiple agencies, Mark aims to enhance local web presence and improve user experience, bringing his extensive expertise in design and development to the community. Check out Young Web Design online at https://youngwebdesign.net/.
To determine who will win the $20,000 grand prize, the Harvey L. Golubock Business Competition Pitch Event is scheduled Oct. 17th at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Harriett B. Wick Chapel. The event is open to the public with limited tickets. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins at 6 o’clock. Audience members will be part of the action and have the opportunity to vote for their favorite as part of this year’s $5,000 People’s Choice Award.
The event is possible due to the support of Blaisdell Foundation, Halloran Philanthropies, Northwest Bank, Northwest Industrial Resource Center, McKean County Community Foundation, Southern Airways Express, and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
The Harvey L. Golubock Business Competition’s promotions were partially funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
