ADA Student Business Plan Competition Draws Students from 24 Au.D. Programs

Lexington, Ky.—Thirty-seven Au.D. students, representing 24 universities, are registered to participate in the inaugural ADA Business Plan Competition, which is designed to provide an opportunity to gain meaningful hands-on business experience, while showcasing their knowledge and creativity.

“The breadth and depth of participation, by audiology students across the nation, reflects growing momentum and interest in practice management,” said ADA President, Nancy Green, Au.D. “Members of the ADA Virtual Student Chapter initiated and took ownership of the idea for a business plan competition right out of the gate, leaving no doubt that the future of our profession is destined for autonomous practice.”

Registered ADA Business Plan Competition participants include:

• Robert Allen & Sarah Kate Fisher, Auburn University
• Kinnaly Amodio, SDSU/UCSD
• Devin G. Anderson, Arizona State University
• Eric Barrett, Northwestern University
• Justin Burwinkel, University of Cincinnati
• Lindsay R. Bush, Auburn University
• Nicole Butler, Idaho State University
• Lori Cameron, University at Buffalo
• Jeffrey Cooper, A.T. Still University
• Andrew Couch, University of Arizona
• Rachel L. Crout, Auburn University
• Kathryn Daar, Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium
• Katie Englehart, Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium
• Rachel Magann Faivre & Elizabeth Tusler, Northern Illinois University
• Nada Hanna, University of South Florida
• Ashley Hughes, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Lana Joseph, Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine
• Patrick Kelly, Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium
• Sejal Kuvadia, Rush University
• Lisa Mariello-Baiada, Salus University
• Dana Matthyssen, Missouri State University
• Michelle McLain, Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine
• Caleb McNiece, University of Memphis
• Chasity Moore, Arizona State University
• Stacy O'Brien, University of South Florida
• Star Lange Richey, Northeast Ohio AuD Consortium
• Jay Richman & Ryan Euer, A.T. Still University
• William Roach and Michael Hammerbacher, Nova Southeastern University
• Lyndsey Spencer, Salus University
• Rebecca Thiesse, University of Massachusetts
• Sally Vollner, University of Cincinnati
• Sarah Williams, UT Austin
• Brianne E. Wright, A.T. Still University

ADA Business Plan Competition participants may compete as sole owners (1-person team) or as partners (2-person team). ADA Business Plan Competition contestants will be required to submit a written business plan using Small Business Administration guidelines.

Finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to the ADA 2013 Annual Convention at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida, November 8-10, 2013, where they will present their business plans in person to a live audience and a panel of judges.

The Grand Prize Winner/Team will receive a $5,000 ADA cash grant to be used to advance business objectives and enhance business and leadership skills.

Business plans will be judged based on the following criteria:

1. Creativity
2. Feasibility
3. Completeness
4. Cohesiveness throughout the document
5. Professionalism and polish

“The ADA Student Business Plan Competition will provide future audiologists with a learning experience that will foster their entry into autonomous practice in whatever practice setting they choose,” said Dr. Green. “ADA would like to thank EarQ for underwriting this important competition to help ensure that future audiologists are able to develop business skills and confidence before entering practice.”
Key competition deadlines:

Contestants must be ADA student members in good standing and must be listed as either 3rd or 4th year students at some time during calendar year 2013. Please take the following link for complete requirements and participation guidelines: https://audiologist.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=59d85b4d8bff8b5eb5cebbd43&id=a90e8467bb&e=25382c63a1.

Please contact Stephanie Czuhajewski at sczuhajewski@audiologist.org for more information about the 2013 ADA Business Plan Competition.

About ADA:

The Academy of Doctors of Audiology is dedicated to the advancement of practitioner excellence, high ethical standards, professional autonomy and sound business practices in the provision of quality audiologic care. ADA provides programming, services and resources to audiologists and students who are, or who desire to be autonomous practitioners.