North Carolina Executive Roundtable Hosts NC VEI Business Plan Competition Winners at April Luncheon

CARY, N.C. - March 16, 2015 - PRLog -- Wendy Coulter, President of the North Carolina Executive Roundtable (NCER), announced that NCER has invited the NC VEI Business Plan Competition Winners, The EDGE from Granville Central High School in Stem, NC to do a trial-run presentation of their business plan at the April luncheon.  The event will take place Friday, April 10^th, at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary at 11:45am. The meeting is open to members for $25 and guests for $35. For more information or to register for the event, visit:  http://www.ncer1.org/guest-services/luncheon-registration/

This kind of encouragement for young, aspiring entrepreneurs is very much in keeping with NCER's Mission and an excellent opportunity to provide valuable feedback and support to a special group of students representing North Carolina at the national level. A copy of The EDGE's business plan will be included for attendees to preview, and there will be time for Q&A following their presentation. Your participation and tough questions will hone their skills in the presentation and defense of their business plan. All NCER Members are urged to attend.

What is Virtual Enterprise International (VEI)?
VEI is an in-school, live, global business simulation that offers students a competitive edge through project-based, collaborative learning in entrepreneurship, global business planning, problem solving, communication, personal finance and technology. VEI replicates all the functions of real businesses in both structure and practice. Students create and manage their virtual businesses from product development, production and distribution to marketing, sales, human resources, accounting and finance, and web design.

VEI firms engage in trade with over 5,000 other Virtual Enterprise firms across the nation and worldwide. Mirroring the real world, VEI firms offer diverse products and services – from banking, insurance, and technology to publishing, advertising, app creation, tourism, and fashion. All VEI transactions are facilitated through a virtual banking system that connects all of the firms. Participating students are business savvy and fiercely competitive.

2015 Youth Business Summit
The Youth Business Summit is the signature event of Virtual Enterprises International because it offers students multiple opportunities to show what they know. Through the Summit's three major activities – the Global Business Challenge, the National Business Plan Competition, sponsored by HSBC and Microsoft, and the International Trade Show – students demonstrate their skills, knowledge and diverse talents in entrepreneurship, communications, computer technology, and global business management.

The EDGE, a virtual enterprise from Granville Central High School in Stem, NC, won the North Carolina VEI Business Plan Competition (Wake Tech Community College, Dec. 17th) and are now headed to New Your City to compete for the 2015 VEI National Business Plan Competition (NBPC) on April 12th. This pits State Champions from throughout America head-to-head in a competition that evaluates both their written business plans and oral defense in presentations to potential investors, board members, and stakeholders. This culmination of a year-long preparation is the ultimate test of the students learning and achievement.

Tom Cook, North Carolina Coordinator for Virtual Enterprises International, Inc., will accompany The EDGE for this program and will open with a brief overview of what VEI is and some background about how it has developed in North Carolina. Tom is a graduate of Penn State University with a B.S in Management Science and Information Systems and earned his Masters in Education from Temple University. He lives in Wake Forest and has won several awards for teaching and coaching and has led students to back-to-back State Championship awards in Business Plan Competitions (NC 2013, 2014.) He is also a Charter Member of the Governor's Teacher Network 2014-15. Tom is also an Ultimate Frisbee coach, who led a team to the Pennsylvania State Championship in 2009.

“VEI has shown that through developing and managing businesses, students not only stay in school, but gain expertise in problem-solving, decision-making, communication, collaboration, technology, and accessing, using and analyzing information,” said Wendy Coulter. “We are all looking forward to showing our support and preparing The EDGE for their presentation at the National Business Plan Competition.”

About North Carolina Executive Roundtable (NCER): North Carolina Executive Roundtable is the premier professional association of highly capable senior executives who are sought after by business and industry for their unparalleled expertise and recognized for their contributions to the greater community. For a senior executive in a small-to-midsize business, NCER is a nonprofit professional association that provides a forum for building trusted relationships among members which fosters a culture where peers discuss and explore business ideas and challenges in an open, receptive environment. For more information, visit http://www.ncer1.org