Randolph-Macon College alumna Sheridan Skurupey ’18 has delicious plans for the future. After winning $1,000 in the Dominion Energy Innovation Center (DEIC) 2018 Pitch Competition, the Lago Vista, Texas native plans to make her dream of owning a vegan food truck a reality.

The DEIC, located in Ashland, Virginia, offers a space for startups, early-stage businesses, and creatives and is designed to foster collaboration. In addition to a monetary award for winning the pitch competition, Skurupey received a membership to the Center.

Getting the EDGE
A business major with minors in accounting and classical studies, Skurupey entered the pitch competition at the suggestion of RMC Business Professor Wendy McEntee.

“Professor McEntee had known about my plans to open a food truck since I took one of her classes during my junior year,” says Skurupey. “She suggested I talk to Dontrese Brown, executive director of The EDGE, the college’s four-year career program. After meeting with Dontrese, I decided to enter the competition. I knew that if I wanted to make my business idea work, I needed to practice talking about my company and my business plan. The competition was great start.” Skurupey and other finalists pitched their ideas in front of a panel of judges and an audience of investors and community members.

Vision, Goals, Plan
Brown says, “We allowed three RMC teams to compete, and all interested students submitted an application which was reviewed and approved by the EDGE team. Students were asked to describe the purpose for their idea; why was there a need for it; and how the idea was a solid solution to the society or community they live in. Sheridan did a wonderful job and delivered a great pitch. She had a vision, goals and a plan—she just needed a platform to make it to reality.”

Throughout her college career, Skurupey worked closely with staff from The EDGE Center for Entrepreneurship. The two-semester program uses industry leaders and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for students who are interested in exploring entrepreneurship, innovation and social change. Students in the program can design and launch their own venture or seek pathways to impact communities as intrapreneurs (managers within a company who promote innovative product development and marketing), activists, researchers, organizers, or artists.

From Pitch to Practice
Skurupey now has an office at the DEIC, where she collaborates with business leaders, attends business seminars, and fine-tunes her business plan.

“My future career goals are to work the food truck full-time within the next two years and to eventually open a brick and mortar location,” she says. “What makes my food truck different is that it will offer unique vegan food—including craft burgers and sandwiches. I look forward to seeing where this company goes.”

Partnership and Commitment
Randolph-Macon College has a great relationship with the DEIC, says Brown, who also serves as a board member for the organization.

“Their partnership was crucial to our first pitch event,” he says. “They support the program and understand fully the entrepreneurial mindset; how we want to advance the EDGE program through that; and the positive impact this will have on students and the community. We look forward to partnering again for the 2019 Pitch Event.” Brown says he was “humbled and honored” when Carrie Roth, president of the DEIC, asked him to join the board. “It really exemplifies their commitment to enhance the Town of Ashland and their efforts to partner intentionally with RMC,” he says.