Brandon Turner, Director of Hanover County Economic Development (HCED), recently served as a judge for the 2025 Hanover Regional Governor’s School for Career and Technical Advancement (HRGS-CTA) Pitch Competition. He was joined by Heather Lyne (1717 Collective), Ashley Redwood (Trap Cardio), and Bobbie Carey (Dominion Energy Innovation Center).
This regional event is part of a ten-day summer residential program for gifted Career and Technical Education (CTE) students who demonstrate strong ability, interest, and achievement in CTE fields. The program emphasizes workplace readiness and entrepreneurial skills, developed through team problem-solving, guest speakers, business site visits, and mentoring experiences.
This year, 23 students participated in a fast-paced, hands-on learning experience, working alongside peers and staff who share their passion for CTE.
The program concluded with a “Shark Tank”-style business pitch competition. Students were divided into four teams, each tasked with developing a business idea, complete with a business plan, SWOT analysis, and a marketing strategy based on the Four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.
Pictured front row (L-R): Brandon Turner, Heather Lyne, Ashley Wood
The four business ideas pitched were:
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Sign 2 Speech – Glasses that translate sign language into text and speech
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Steady Striders – Shoes with sensors to prevent falls and alert caregivers
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Tuck Inn – An overnight childcare facility for night-shift workers
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Life Bar – A gamified fitness app for youth and young adults
Students first presented a trial pitch on Wednesday, July 16, to gather feedback from the judges before the final presentations on Saturday, July 19. The judges were thoroughly impressed by the depth of research, creativity, and polish in each presentation, making the final decision challenging.
Tuck Inn was named the overall winner, with additional awards presented for Best Written Business Plan, Best Marketing Plan, Best Presentation, and Most Creative.
HCED has been honored to serve as a judge for the pitch competition over the past several years and is consistently impressed by the passion, creativity, and knowledge demonstrated by the students.
For more information about the HRGS-CTA program, email Ben Saunders, Hanover County Specialty Center Coordinator and Director of the Hanover Regional Governor’s School for Career and Technical Advancement, at BSaunders@hcps.us.