Campus News

Power of Possibilities Summit held at Garrett College

Partnership initiative focuses on rural Appalachia and entrepreneurship

Bakken: Pictured are first place winners Fred and Cindy Bakken (Oakland), owners of Dunderbakken, in the Power of Possibilities All-In Business Plan Competition recently held at Garrett College.

Bucci: Second place winners of the Power of Possibilities All-In Business Plan Competition are Ingrid and Danny Bucci (Oakland) of D & I Lawn and Landscaping.

Fowler: John Fowler (Oakland) was awarded third place in the Power of Possibilities All-In Business Plan Competition for his business plan idea, Community Benefits Administration, LLC.

Garrett College, in partnership with the Garrett County Department of Economic Development and Mountain Maryland Tech Network, is working to help improve the economic conditions of rural Appalachia through the Power of Possibilities. The Power of Possibilities (POP) initiative encompasses a focus on emerging industries, business collaboration, and entrepreneurship to develop and advance the tristate region.

Participants recently completed the All-In Business Competition at Garrett College. During the past few months, each competitor worked to develop and craft a business plan, followed with a final 'pitch' of their idea and presented the concepts at the annual POP Summit.

Oakland residents Fred and Cindy Bakken, owners of Dunderbakken were awarded first place along with the $1,000 cash prize, for their plan to manufacture precision parts, made to customer specifications, using both manual and computerized machining equipment and 3D Printing.

Second and third place winners (all from Oakland) included Danny and Ingrid Bucci, of D & I Lawn and Landscaping, and John Fowler for his business plan, Community Benefits Administration, LLC.

Before the competitors presented their business plan ideas, Master Rick Rando, a High-Octane Motivation Speaker gave the keynote address for the conference. Experienced in entrepreneurship and focused teambuilding, Master Rando has conducted thousands of presentations on empowerment and leadership in the business world and in academia.

Rando has been a business owner for the past 22 years, manages a staff of over 70, and owns one of the largest, open-spaced martial arts studios in the country. He was inducted into the US Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame in 2019, and was awarded the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition Community Leadership Award shortly thereafter.

Taylor Made Deep Creek Vacation & Sales also presented at the Power of Possibilities Summit. Jodi & Joe Refosco and Chad Taylor were award recipients of the 2021 Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. Jodi gave a presentation that shared their journey and lessons learned since the company’s inception in 2008.

Past competitors from the Power of Possibilities event participated in the panel discussion and Q & A that provided insight and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Power of Possibilities strives to improve the economic conditions of rural Appalachia, support small business growth and create jobs with a multi-faceted, inclusive program. The POP Summit is just one of many ongoing sequences of business collaboration events in the tristate area focusing on entrepreneurship and growth.

For more information on the Power of Possibilities Summit or the All-In Business Plan Competition, contact Glotfelty at 301-387-3770 or kaitlyn.glotfelty@garrettcollege.edu.