Skip to main content
Affordable Employee Training Exclusively for NJBIA Members LEARN MORE

Kingsway Learning Center, which offers special education services to better meet the needs of children and adults in Haddonfield and Moorestown, is the winner of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s Big Shot contest.

In a Facebook live video aired today (Go here), NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka announced that Kingsway Learning Center has won $15,000 and free consulting from NJBIA partners for best detailing why its operation was most deserving of the Big Shot winnings.

“We’re extremely happy to present this prize to Kingsway Learning Center today,” Siekerka said. “Throughout this contest, we learned about the amazing work that takes place in both of Kingsway’s locations, and we saw that drive and entrepreneurial spirit to take their nonprofit to the next level. We know that Kingsway Learning Center will make the most of these winnings to grow their operation and we look forward to tracking their progress.

“All of our three finalists, as well as many of our contestants, had very compelling and inspiring stories to tell about their businesses, which made it difficult for our judges to decide. While only winner could be selected by our panel, we thank all of business owners who entered our contest and reaffirmed that the heartbeat of small businesses in New Jersey is strong and vibrant.”

“Kingsway is happy to be a member of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and we’re excited to take advantage of every opportunity that it offers,” said Kingsway Learning Center CEO Christine Robinson. “We rely on NJBIA to keep us informed as to what’s going on at the state level and to advocate for us.”

NJBIA’s Big Shot contest launched on Oct. 3. Entrants had until Nov. 30 to upload a short video to www.bigshotnj.com explaining why their business deserves its own Big Shot at the winnings.

Last month, the three finalists were selected. In addition to Kingsway Learning Center, the other two finalists were:

  • Jersey Girls Food Tours: A unique, Jersey City-based service that introduces local restaurants and chefs to the public via guided tours throughout New Jersey and lower Manhattan.
  • SERVPRO – A SERVPRO franchisee serving Atlantic City, Hamilton and Hammonton in Atlantic County and Haddon Heights and Voorhees in Camden County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after fire, smoke or water damage.

For the Big Shot campaign, NJBIA teamed up with New Jersey-based entrepreneur, CEO and business consultant Mike Luzio to attract contest participants and spread the word about NJBIA’s valuable toolbox of member services.

Each finalist collaborated with Luzio to create another video about their businesses. A panel of NJBIA member business owners – not competing in the contest – judged the videos of the three finalists and selected Kingsway Learning Center as the grand prize winner.

“Seeing and hearing the stories of our winner and finalists were nothing short of inspirational,” said Luzio, who started a business in his basement in 2004 for $15,000 and sold it for millions10 years later. “All of our finalists clearly have what it takes to grow their businesses. They and all the member businesses can rest assured that NJBIA has their back by providing the advocacy and cost-saving services to assist them.”

Kingsway Learning Center will be presented a check for $15,000 and will be provided consultations from participating NJBIA member businesses later this month. Member panelists who voted on the winner, and will provide consultations, include: Laura L. Ditommaso, Smolin Lupin & Co.; Thomas Foschino, Arch Insurance; Sandra Seastream, Direct Energy; Angelo Mendola, Priority Payments Local; Mike Leneghan, Association Master Trust; Jeffrey J. Corradino, Jackson Lewis; Leon Grassi, The DSM Group; and Sivaraman Anbarasan, The New Jersey Community College Consortium.

More information on the contest, including all videos from the winner, finalists and entrants, can be found at www.bigshotnj.com.

Visit Mike Luzio’s YouTube channel here and his Facebook page here.

 

 

Steven W. Wilson | Manager of Communications, New Jersey Business & Industry Association
10 West Lafayette Street | Trenton, NJ 08608 | D: 609-858-9495 | C: 856-693-5700 | P: 609-393-7707
swilson@njbia.org | www.njbia.org

Follow NJBIA on LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook!