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Dateline: 3/1/2007

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY NEWS RELEASE
Dale Goodwin, Director
Peter Tormey, Associate Director

Telect Gift Supports Hogan Plan Competition

SPOKANE, Wash. – Telect, Inc. has joined Itron, Inc., and Avista Corp. as major sponsors of the Hogan Business Plan Competition, a part of the Gonzaga University Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

Telect will be the major sponsor of the Community-Based category $7,500 first-place award in the 2007 GU Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program Business Plan Competition held in collaboration with Eastern Washington University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Activities and Whitworth College’s School of Global Commerce and Management. The first-place prize will be awarded to the team that presents the top business plan built around a for-profit venture idea in collaboration with an entrepreneur in our community.

This is the first year that Telect, based in Liberty Lake, Wash., has contributed to this competition as a major sponsor. The BPC also has been financially supported by the Herbert B. Jones Foundation of Seattle, which has provided a $20,000 grant to the event each of the past three years. Several other regional companies also have provided financial support.

This year’s competition will include plans in three categories:

  • Student-Generated Ideas: Original student ideas;
  • Community-Based Plans: For-profit ideas originating from entrepreneurs in the community;
  • Social Enterprise Plans: Nonprofit ideas;

A total of $42,500 in prize money will be awarded to finalist teams in the three categories. Students participating in the competition not only have a chance for financial gain but also will have access to mentoring, coaching, public relations assistance, legal counsel and many other opportunities. The purpose of the competition is to create a valuable learning opportunity for students and to provide an incentive for creation of new commercial and social enterprises in the region.

Visit the BPC Web site at for specifics about the competition.

For more information, please contact Hogan Program Director Tom Tilford via e-mail or at  (509) 323-7039; Robert Schwartz, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, Eastern Washington University (509) 358-2254; or Jo Ann Nielsen of Whitworth’s School of Global Commerce and Management Entrepreneurship Program at (509) 777-3242.