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The Spirit Award finalists get two minutes each to make their cases to the judges.

Carey Dunkin Baker of Part-Time Pros speaks to a panel of Spirit Award judges Thursday while her husband and business partner, Brett Baker, looks on. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

By LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer
Published: 11/6/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/6/2009 3:34 AM

The countdown begins.

In less than two weeks, seven finalists will learn the names of the top three winners in the Mayor's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award business model competition.

On Thursday, contestants had two minutes each to make one last pitch to judges.

"All of these entrepreneurs have just given it their all, and they're all committed to Tulsa, and they're all showing significant ability to adjust, modify and work toward developing a business that can grow and prosper," said Sean Griffin, a judge and chairman of the competition.

The third-annual competition kicked off in April with more than 85 submissions before being narrowed over several months to the final seven. The competition features more than $100,000 in cash, prizes and services.

Throughout Thursday afternoon, contestants gave presentations in the 10th-floor board room of SpiritBank, near 18th Street and Baltimore Avenue.

Among them was Part-Time Pros, a business that places degreed professionals, including retirees and stay-at-home mothers, in part-time jobs.

"I'm excited. I guess it's an excited nervous," Carey Dunkin Baker said in an interview before her presentation.

"I love the pitch process. I like the preparation. I didn't really enjoy speaking in front of people, and this process has helped me become more comfortable."

Baker got sick last week and lost her voice, so she spent only three days preparing for her presentation when she normally would have taken a

week.

She said that throughout the competition she has enjoyed the question-and-answer sessions with the judges.

Not only has it forced her to think on her feet, Baker said, but she has gained from having the attention of several bright minds all at once who've asked questions or made suggestions that could help create a new chapter or program for the business.

On Thursday, judges followed up Baker's presentation with questions about the company's 2009 performance compared with its projections and the long-term trend for the service.

One judge asked Baker to describe the worst job placement the business had experienced and what she had learned from it.

"I hope it went well. I hope I showed my personality," Baker said outside the board room after her presentation. "That was one thing that I just wanted to show — my enthusiasm and passion for this."

Her husband, company chief operating officer Brett Baker, agreed that the competition has been a valuable experience.

"It's been an amazing learning process," he said. "It has forced us to look at ourselves and our business and make tough choices.

"In the long run, the process has improved our business, whether we come in first or last."

If Part-Time Pros wins the competition, the Bakers want to use the prize money for marketing and taking steps to franchise the business.

Another finalist, Melinda Ryan of Cog Togs Inc., concurred that the judges' input has been invaluable regardless of whether her company wins a dime.

Ryan, together with her siblings Shawna Sims and Jeff Johnson, are the creators of Cog Togs — a social networking site for children that requires kids to exchange bracelet beads with friends before they can be connected to each other on a child-safe Web site.

Ryan, who said she was "excited" and "nervous" before giving the team's two-minute pitch, acknowledged that she, too, was looking forward to the question-and-answer session and the chance to gain more perspective and information from the judges.

"They are very sincere in their desire to help Oklahoma businesses grow," she said, "and I think that has been the most pleasant thing that we've encountered."

Spirit Award finalists

Blue Label Bartending
CogTogs Inc.
Elote Café and Catering
Filters4me.com
Part-Time Pros
Real Time Rehab
Target Solution Foods

Prizes:

First place: $30,000 from SpiritBank
Second place, $5,000
Third place, $2,500

A “judge’s choice award” has been added this year for one finalist who doesn’t win a cash prize. The award will provide the entrepreneur with extra help from some judges, who will advise the firm for a short period.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Tulsa Community College Center for Creativity.

Laurie Winslow 581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com

By LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer

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snoop, Tulsa (10 months ago)

OK, help me here..............

Over $100,000 in cash, prizes and services

Here's the breakdown

1st place 30,000
2nd place 5,000
3rd place 2,500

total 37,500

That's over 63,000 in prizes and services. Please show me those.................

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But What Do I Know?, (10 months ago)

If they are receiving awards I assume their businesses are considered successful and are maybe even profitable, and they probably look good going forward.

Maybe the money should go to businesses that are not making it, that are fighting for survival, and of course the best cure for that situation is cash. Consider changing the contest to the small businesses that shows the greatest need.

Just a thought from a long time entrepreneur and owner of a small business.

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OkieDad, (10 months ago)

But What...

The argument could be made that if your business is not doing well, then perhaps a bailout is not what you need?

If a SBO can not adapt and change to make money in this climate, then perhaps owning a small business is not for them?

This comes from a 12 year SBO who is seeing my most profitable years ever. Adapt and change to the economic climate!

Not everyone is cut out to be a SBO. Some will fail. It's the nature of capitalism.

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