Barberry Wins 2006 Bernstein Award For Excellence

SALISBURY, MD---With an increasingly global workforce, native languages among co-workers often vary. However, the language of safety should be universal, according to 2006 Bernstein Achievement Awards for Excellence winner Patrick Barberry.

The Darlington, MD, resident and SU senior business management major has won $5,000 in the annual business plan competition for his proposal, Translations Consulting Group. The business, which Barberry hopes to implement next year by using the prize as startup money, would provide translation services and bilingual safety training to companies with Spanish-speaking employees.

The idea’s roots stem from Barberry’s father’s business, Aldino Sod Farms, which employs immigrant workers. Without proper translation, this sometimes led to confusion in communication and safety issues. With that in mind, Translations would target small to mid-sized businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Barberry’s interest in entrepreneurship also stemmed from his experiences on the farm, where he plans to work for a year following graduation this May. His father designed a machine to use in sod work to help minimize frustrations on the job. Apparently other sod farmers had similar problems. Today, Barberry’s father has sold the machines to 220 of the 300 working sod farms worldwide. His entrepreneurship was “really an inspiration,” Barberry said.

Many helped Barberry shape his idea and supported his plans, including his parents, Mike and Charlene Barberry; roommate, Alex Buhlman; girlfriend, Robyn Chrest; supporter Robert Chrest; John Hickman, director of the Small Business Development Center at SU; and Dr. Stephen Adams, Bernstein Award coordinator and management faculty at SU. The plan, Barberry’s second entry in the Bernstein competition, began as a project for Adams’ entrepreneurship class. Now, Barberry plans to work on the project for submission to the national Fortune Small Business Student Business Plan Competition, the winner of which receives $35,000.

Other SU students also were honored for their plans. Lisa Patrick of Greensboro, MD, along with Bill Myszka won the $1,000 second-place award with her submission, “File Cabinet Bookkeeping Services: The Key to Your Business’ Success.” Amy Gebhart and Amber Moore of Salisbury, with Sean Crosariol and Kate Scott, presented “Fix it for Her Automotive Repair” to take a $250 honorable mention award. Brian Warren and Tyler Rowe of Berlin, MD, and Matthew Lacher of Severna Park, MD, also received a $250 honorable mention award for their plan, “Maryland Biodiesel.”

The competition was established by businessman Richard Bernstein to recognize SU students who create an outstanding original proposal for a business startup or for the transformation of an existing business.  The Franklin P. Perdue School of Business hosts the annual contest.

This year’s judges included Warren Citrin, co-founder of Solipsys Corp. and his latest company, Gloto Corp.; Lauren Kimlel, vice president and business development officer for Mercantile Peninsula Bank; James A. Poulos II, registered patent attorney and executive director of the University of Maryland Office of Technology Commercialization; and Edwin A. Rommel III, co-founder and managing partner of Twilley, Rommel & Stephens, P.A.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu. "