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Merrillville entrepreneur wins Purdue University Northwest’s Big Sell competition

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First place winner, Rockland Page, presents his final pitch to the judges at The PNW Big Sell competition. (Photo provided by Purdue University Northwest)

A concept by a Merrillville graphic designer and marketer took top honors in Purdue University Northwest’s Big Sell competition.

Rockland Page, owner of Merrillville-based RockaBlock, took first place and $10,000 for his Freedom Fighters t-shirt design which brings together fashion, history and technology. Second place went to Emily Edwards of Schererville, founder of Emily’s Foods, who was awarded $5,000 for her plant-based Paradise snack packs.

The third-place award of $2,500 was Artunity’s founder, Jay Weinberg of Valparaiso, whose business idea offers the public an opportunity to donate to an artist for a chance to win original artwork.

“This type of event is important,” said Mont Handley, entrepreneur in residence and associate director of the PNW Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center. “It provides recognition to those who are gaining traction with their startups, motivation to those who are interested in entrepreneurship and serves to promote an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northwest Indiana.”

This year’s event, under the direction of Handley and Alexandra Moran, clinical instructor of entrepreneurship at PNW, was streamed live from WJOB housed inside PNW’s CMEC building in Hammond. The 12 finalists delivered a six-minute pitch to a three-member panel of judges made up of local entrepreneurs, David Olivencia, Kristin Burton and Kelli Jones.

In addition to the three winners, a Fan Favorite Award was presented to Merrillville resident, Michelle Pearson, chief executive officer at MPB Essential Technology Inc., generated the most audience praise for her pitch.

“Our hope is that these entrepreneurs continue to move forward, keep going, and keep pressing on with their innovations,” said Moran. “We’re trying to create a community ecosystem of entrepreneurs and this is just one piece of it.”

The PNW Big Sell final pitch competition can be viewed on-demand at jedtv.com.

Larry Avila
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