‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award winner to be announced at April 11 event
By Jason Emerson
editor
The second annual “Entrepreneur Next Door” discussion and networking event will be held Wednesday, April 11, in Hubbard Hall at Cazenovia College, and will feature a keynote talk by social entrepreneur and clean water advocate from Hoosick Falls, Michael Hickey, a panel discussion on social entrepreneurship, and the naming of the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award winner.
Hickey, an alumni of Cazenovia College and a winner of the EPA Environmental Champion Award, will discuss his experiences exposing contaminated drinking water in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. Hoosick Falls became a national public health story in 2016 after it was discovered that the public water supply was tainted with high levels of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, believed to be connected to high levels of cancer in town residents.
Hickey’s advocacy work, which started after his father’s death from kidney cancer, helped expose the public health issues in his town, and will be the subject of an upcoming book and documentary. Hickey will debut the trailer for his new documentary, “Teflon Town,” at the event, and the author of the upcoming book on the subject, Mariah Blake, will also attend and participate in the panel discussion.
In addition to Hickey and Blake, three local entrepreneurs will also participate in the panel discussion: Kate Brodock, CEO, Women 2.0; Tina McPherson, owner, Primo & Mary’s Heritage Products; and Jo Stephenson, owner, Whispering Hill Equestrian Center. Panelists will discuss their own businesses and offer thoughts on social entrepreneurship and what it means for entrepreneurs and the communities in which they live.
Cazenovia Republican editor Jason Emerson will moderate the discussions.
The event will also announce the winner of the second annual Entrepreneur of the Year Award, as decided by popular voting. This award will recognize an entrepreneur who, in addition to successfully managing one of more businesses or organizations, has had an impact on the community. Their impact may come in the form of giving back to the community and/or playing a significant role in addressing an issue that impacts Cazenovia and the surrounding area.
This year’s nominees are:
- Jeff and Linda Schoenfeld — The Nelson Odeon.
- Dan and Mary-Margaret Kuper — Lincklaen House/Hampton Inn.
- Ralph Monforte — Cazenovia Jewelry.
- Marla Velky-Reger and Meghan Kelly — Cazenovia Community Fitness.
- Joanne Stephenson — Whispering Hill Equestrian Center.
- Judith Hight — J.S. Hight & Sons.
- Kelly and Kevin McGreevy — Cazenovia Bagel Co.
Voting for the award is open until 4 p.m. Friday, April 6. The link for voting is cazenovia.edu/entrepreneur-vote.
The Entrepreneur Next Door event is supported by Cazenovia College, Cazenovia Area Community Development Association, Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cazenovia Republican. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, in the Morgan Room at Cazenovia College.
The event is free and open to the public, and will also be livestreamed on the college website at livestream.com/cazenoviacollege/EntrepreneurNextDoor2018.