Judges for Delaware Valley University's Third Annual Spark Bowl Have Been Announced

Local Bucks County Businesses will be Awarded Thousands of Dollars in Prizes

by Nicole McMahon

Doylestown, PA (10/05/2022) — The judges for Delaware Valley University's (DelVal) third annual Spark Bowl were announced today. Spark Bowl, a "Shark-Tank"-like competition will award thousands of dollars in prizes to area small businesses on November 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in DelVal's Life Sciences Building. The competing businesses will have fifteen minutes to "pitch" their idea or product to the judges. The five competing businesses have been selected and represent the following industries: animal nutrition, education, prosthetics and mobility aids, job training for individuals with varying abilities, and public safety. Last year's Spark Bowl winners walked away with a total of $28,500 in prizes.

As part of DelVal's experiential learning program, DelVal students will serve as business consultants for the finalist teams and will also be awarded prize money for their efforts. Spark Bowl is hosted by the University and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and is possible because of sponsorships from Bucks County businesses and individuals.

The judges for DelVal's third annual Spark Bowl are:

Michael Araten

Michael Araten is the President and CEO of Sterling Drive Ventures, LP, a family office that owns, among other things, The Rodon Group, founded in 1956. Rodon is a highly automated plastics injection molder, with a focus on small parts, used in over 100 industries, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical diagnostic packaging, windows, consumer packaged goods, construction and toys. Sterling Drive Ventures' latest venture is SillDry, a company that sets the standard for window and door flashing in residential and commercial environments.

Prior to Sterling Drive Ventures, Michael was the President and CEO of K'NEX Brands, whose K'NEX construction toy is distributed in 40 countries. Over 95% of the K'NEX component parts are made at Rodon in Hatfield, PA.

Susan Lonergan

Susan Lonergan is the Director of Middle Market and Specialized Banking for Fulton Bank's commercial sales and lending teams across five states, Sue Lonergan oversees the bank's commercial real estate, healthcare, agricultural, dealer services and middle market commercial teams.

Prior to this role, Lonergan was Regional President of Fulton Bank's Southeastern Pennsylvania Division, where she led the commercial sales and lending teams and focused on growth strategies for the market. Under her leadership, Fulton Bank opened its first Philadelphia regional headquarters within the city, its first consumer financial centers in the city's underserved neighborhoods, as well as its first mortgage loan office.

Sue has more than 30 years of banking experience, which includes nearly 10 years as a commercial relationship manager for CoreStates Bank in the Greater Philadelphia market, where she served both middle market companies and small businesses.

For almost two decades, Sue worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she progressively advanced with her responsibilities in both sales and strategy roles. Immediately prior to her current role, Sue was managing director and small business strategy and planning executive for Bank of America. In that role, she led the effort to integrate sales channels and product teams, advance referral strategies across lines of business, and improve product delivery to small businesses. She also regularly presented about small business owners' outlook on business and the economy on Bloomberg, MSNBC, WSJ and The Street.com.

Zane Moore

Zane Moore is President/CEO of YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties. Under his leadership, four separate YMCAs were merged forming one association. This new organization consists of seven membership branches, seven youth education centers, twenty-four after school care sites, and two outdoor camp facilities serving over 75,000 community members each year and providing more than $5M annually in charitable community benefit.

Recently Moore led a $30MM Comprehensive Campaign to expand one YMCA facility and to build another in an underserved market.

Moore chairs the PA State Alliance of YMCA's and has chaired the PA YMCA Opioid Addiction/Substance Abuse Task Force, the YMCA Cities Group CEO Conference for CEOs across the northeastern U.S., the PA YMCA 7th Grade Initiative Task Force, and the PA YMCA Public Policy Committee. He also serves on the Y-USA National Committee on Membership Standards and on the Y-USA National Strategic Planning Committee. He was elected to the Y-USA Inaugural Leadership Symposium as one of the top 40 leaders of the Y National Movement.

William (Bill) Schutt

Mr. Schutt has been featured for his business and technical achievements in TIME Magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer and many other publications, and has appeared on national radio and television including "Good Morning America," "Hannity & Colmes," MSNBC, FOX News, NBC, CBS and others. He has received numerous awards for his work and worldwide projects and in 2016 received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Delaware Valley University.

Mr. Schutt is a former member of the Delaware Valley University Board of Trustees. He serves on Drexel University's Close School of Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and on Drexel President John Fry's Leadership Council.

Mr. Schutt spends much of his time with non-profit organizations and serves on the board of several organizations. He mentors established business owners and students. He is the founder of the Delaware Valley Saxophone Quartet, which has played in venues from the Philadelphia Constitution Center to concerts on Nantucket, MA.

For more information on Spark Bowl visit delval.edu/spark.

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