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RJ has been a featured speaker at the following events:

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• University of MD Eastern Shore Entrepreneur program March 2023

• Wicomico High School October 2022

• Professional Development for WIcomico County FACS teachers October 2022

• Prince Street Elementary School April 2022

• Wicomico High School December 2021

• Guest at Shore Hatchery Salisbury University November 2021

• Kebloom webcast January 2020

• US STEM and Engineering Expo with USPTO April 2018

• USPTO Invention Con August 2017

• Fruitland Intermediate Junior Achievement May 2017

• NorthWestern Elementary School Career Day May 2017

• YEA National Saunders Competition to the YEA leaders May 2017

• YEA CEO Roundtable March 2017

• North Salisbury Elementary School JA Follow-up January 2017

• Maryland Capital Enterprises Entrepreneur Banquet November 2016

• Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) Orientation October 2016

• Pinehurst Elementary School Career Day May 2016

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Awards and Achievements

 2016 

• RJ pitches Tip Tough:

  • Shore Hatchery Competition and tied for second place against 30 businesses to win $15,000. He is the youngest entrepreneur to win an award of this size through this Salisbury University contest.

  • Start UP MD - Pitch Across MD winning Fan Favorite and Champion’s Choice Awards. He meets the TEDCO Rural Business Innovation Grant folks that day and gets a $6000 grant for the development of the manufactured Tip Tough in large, medium and kid’s sizes in both metal and plastic.

2017

• RJ pitches Tip Tough:

  • The International Home and Housewares Show where he is the youngest inventor to ever bring a product to the Inventor’s Corner. He pitches to a panel that includes HSN and major retailers. He continues to get feedback about the product and the marketing.

• RJ is featured as a Young Entrepreneurs Academy Success Story and presented at the national YEA Sanders Competition in May.

• He is a featured speaker for the United States Patient and Trademark Office Invention Con 2017

• RJ was featured in an episode of the Smithsonian’s “Stem in 30” educational program about the inventing and patent process.

• RJ speaks to local school students about invention and entrepreneurship.

 

RJ and Lori continue to attend local tradeshow/vending events and RJ is featured in local television and newspapers for YEA and his Tip Tough. Picklehead and RJ begin to win awards for his business:

• RJ is selected as the SBA Maryland Rising Star Student Entrepreneur of the Year for 2017

• RJ is awarded the Spirit of Entrepreneurship by the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce for 2017

Lori and RJ attend the American Dreams Academy hosted by HSN and the University of Tampa in November.

 

2018

• RJ pitches a retail ready version of the Tip Tough:

  • The International Home and Housewares Show Inventor’s Corner. He pitches to a panel that includes HSN and major retailers. Networking he makes connections with major retailers. He continues to get feedback about the product and the marketing.

• RJ is featured in a pilot TV show for CBS called Small Business Champions. This is a “Shark Tank” type show where kids with businesses pitch to social media influencers for their investment. RJ got a deal with the host Robert Irvine, celebrity chef, but the show was not picked up so nothing came through

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2019 – 2020

Continued to sell Tip Tough through our website and vending events until March of 2019 and COVID shut down our only source of income.

2021

• November - RJ is featured on the USA Network’s pitch competition show America’s Big Deal. On this show the entrepreneur/inventors pitch to America and a panel of retail giants (QVC, Macys, and Lowes) and the person with the most sales wins a 6 figure deal with one of the giants. RJ wins and land a deal with Joy Mangano of QVC.  The Tip Tough sold out 30 minutes after the show ended.

2022

• Currently working with QVC to launch Tip Tough in the late summer of 2022 with a 6 figure PO.

• Added RJ to the business charter since he is of legal age. This makes us a woman and minority owned business.

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