As a sponsor of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Metro East Startup Challenge (MESC), Anders helped coach two local startup companies to second and third place in the competition.
Each of the 15 MESC semi-finalists worked with a group of business mentors and startup advisors on developing their business plan. Joshua L. Snyder, CPA, Anders tax supervisor, worked with Nicole Grimm of Idea Factory Education Services on her business plan from an accounting and tax perspective. Grimm, an SIUE grad, won the second place prize of $6,000 to help grow her business. She hopes to use her teaching background to provide language education services to children and behavior management techniques for parents in early childhood centers in St. Clair County.
Anders tax senior manager Adam S. Prest, CPA worked with mother-daughter team Robyn and Emma Starkey of Harvest Market on accounting tax planning opportunities. Harvest Market won $4,000 in third place. The Starkeys hope to expand their weekend farmers market in Columbia, Illinois into a year-round attraction. They also plan to expand into a local grocer, small deli and eventual community commercial kitchen.
The top three MESC teams presented their winning business concepts at the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois Board of Directors meeting for over 200 leaders in business, industry, education, government and labor.
View the MESC Announcement video.
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