1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MediaContact:
SherrinGuy
PublicInformationOfficer,DSN
760-492-1597
sherrincarlsbad@gmail.com
(Formediause only; notfor publication)
First Ever Live Student Trade Show Competition Held in San Diego
San Diego, CALIF.(Dec. 2, 2016).) Over700 ambitiousstudentsflockedtocompete in
California’sfirstever, live Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) regional Trade Show competition.The
event,sponsoredbyCaliforniaCommunityColleges - DoingWhatMatters Small Business(DSN) and
HSBC, broughtover39 virtual companies toexhibittheirproducts/services whichranged fromamong
others, drones(Drone Vision),all honeyproducts (Bumble's),toSol Sand(sandandgrime removing
powder).
VEI’s experiential learningtechnique grooms studentsforthe ‘real-world’of business. AsJoe
Molina,ProgramDirector(DSN) explained,“We are delightedtosupportthis VEITrade Show
Competition,the project-basedmodelreplicatesthe functionsof real businesses…itoffersthe softskill
setthat businessownersare lookingforand exceptional opportunities fornetworkingandmentoring”.
Teri Jones,VEISouthernCaliforniaRegional Director,toutedthe valueof the competitioninbridging
businessandeducation,harnessingbothsoftandpractical skills.AccordingtoTeri, “This competition
gives students the experience to be able to learn in a safe way and become more business
savvy. For employers students might be very knowledgeable but, are not very hirable because
they don’t have the social/communication soft skills, and this provides an excellent learning
opportunity”.
The competition requiredstudentstowrite businessplans,developmarketresearch strategies,create
websites,pay wages,taxes andsell theirvirtual servicesandproductstoeach otherusingvirtual bank
accounts. The Trade Fair and Competitionjudgedcategoriesthatincluded amongothers:BestCreative
Booth,BestCompanyCommercial Video,CompanyWebsite,FlyerandSalesmanship. Itwasjudgedby
business leadersand educationalprofessionalsincluding SeaWorld’s AlexCastellanos;SDSU, Cody
Emerson;UnitedPayroll &HR, ElenaRuiz;East CountySchoolsFederal CreditUnion,MireyaRangel and
KarenFleck.The online portionof the competitionincludedjudgesfromSanDiegoZoo,Youth
Campaignsand Mile3Web Development.
JamesMcFarland,organizerof the Trade Show said,“right away, the competitionprovidesa business
connection pathway, and has led to students gaining scholarships, internships and key college
partnerships”. Teri Jones thanked the sponsors for their help in giving students the skills to
succeed, “withoutthe financial, mentorshipandsupportfromorganizationssuchas DoingWhat
Matters Small Business(DSN),the Virtual Enterpriseprogramwouldnotbe able toprovide sucha rich
experience forstudentgrowth. Joe Molina and DSN have beena fantasticsupport forthe trade shows
and regional businessplancompetitions.”
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