Centennial High School Class of 2011 alumni and best friends Jamie LeRoy and Nick Simpson are budding entrepreneurs whose innovations took home top honors at two recent business competitions.
LeRoy, who will graduate in May with a degree in mechanical engineering from the College of New Jersey, is the co-founder of the Thor Electric Longboard, an electronic board that is greater in length and width than a skateboard, and has more stability, traction and durability due to its larger wheel size and lower wheel hardness.
The Thor Electric Longboard team — LeRoy, co-founder Ian Nolan and chief financial officer Jenna Wilson — were thrilled when their new product won second prize and $12,000 at the TCNJ Mayo Business Plan Competition. The team is now working on a utility patent and creating an LLC and a Kickstarter campaign.
Simpson graduated from Salisbury University a year early (Spring 2014) with a degree in business management to focus on his entrepreneurship ventures. To that end, he and his partner Ryan Nuzum have assembled a team with Allen Butler and Nick Giambra to launch a new App, NuVu.
Designed to customize the nightlife experience for party goers, NuVu provides venue information such as average age and ratios of women to men, single and married.This past Fall, the NuVu team was awarded first place along with a $25,000 check in the Eastern Shore Business Competition.
"I think it is really cool that both (boys) are thinking outside thebox in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship and have been best friends for years," said Joan LeRoy, Jamie's mom.
Congratulations Nick and Jamie. Tolearn more about Jamie and Nick's products, go to nuvuapp.com and http://www.thorelectriclongboards.com.
On Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the community is invited to a free event, Healthy Kids Day 2015, at the Dancel Family Center YMCA, 4331 Montgomery Road in Ellicott City. Enjoy family fitness activities, healthy treats, crafts, face painting and a moon bounce. For more information, call the Dancel Family Center YMCA at 410-465-4334.
Get rid of your unwanted documents at the Howard County Government April Shredding Event on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain or shine), in Ellicott City'sMeadowbrook Park and Ride (take exit 1A off Maryland Route 100). County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded onsite. For more information, go to http://www.howardcountymd.gov/Shredding.htm.