First Preston HT

Imagine a degree program which has as its mission to teach college students “how to make money, while giving back to the community.” Envision an undergraduate program which equips students to be able to secure great jobs and to create great jobs. This was the vision of Dallas real estate entrepreneur Nancy Richards First Preston HT founder and chairman. Three years ago Richards endowed a global entrepreneurship program via the Neeley School of Business at TCU.  Shortly thereafter the Values and Ventures™ Business Plan Competition became a reality.

Richards together with Values and Ventures co-founder, Lisa Barrentine added a new prize to the line- up this year. The Founders Award will encourage bold thinking and cutting-edge initiatives. The $5,000 prize will be awarded by the co-founders to inspire future entrepreneurs to dream big and plan well.

This year the Neeley School of Business at TCU hosts its third annual business plan competition, April 19-20.  Twenty eight undergraduate teams from across the country and around the world will compete for $43,000 in start-up funding. Each business plan must demonstrate a sustainable profitability model as well as a core component of community service. Other business plan competitions exclude under-graduate participation. “I think that entrepreneurship needs to be fostered in every way at every level,” stated Richards.

Successful entrepreneurs in their own right, Nancy Richards and Lisa Barrentine lead the First Preston HT family of companies (First Preston Management, BidSelect, and HomeTelos). During their 25 year history in real estate management and technology solutions, they have marketed and sold over 440,000 properties valued at over $40 billion. They have done so while demonstrating the principles of corporate responsibility and donating over $16 million to community service organizations across the country. Nancy Richards First Preston HT staffers are avid supporters of numerous community service initiatives.

The competition will be held April 19-20 at TCU’s Brown-Lupton University Union at 2901 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth. Who will win? Follow the two-day competition at www.facebook.com/neeleyschoolofbusinessattcu, on Twitter @NeeleySchoolTCU #tcuvv13, and live at www.neeley.tcu.edu/livestream Saturday 9am-1pm for finalists’ presentations, and Saturday evening beginning at 7pm for announcements of winners.

To read more about the First Preston HT family of companies visit http://www.firstprestonht.com/ Find them on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Chinese Proverb

Nancy Richards First Preston HT Founder believes in the power of entrepreneurship to create jobs and change lives. The first place winners of the 2011 Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition are successfully demonstrating the guiding principles of the event.

First place winners of 2011, Ayesha Ghaffar, Emily Hollingsworth and Emilie Lico impressed judges with their venture, Spring Back Recycling (formerly MattressWorks). The enterprise engages and employs formerly homeless and incarcerated workers to dismantle mattresses and recycle mattress parts. Spring Back creates jobs and equips employees with business training and a sustainable future while helping the environment. The Nancy Richards First Preston HT philosophy embodies this type of empowerment.

The Spring Back Recycling team  has proven the viability of their concept. The firm is now expanding to multiple markets. Spring Back Nashville, recently celebrated its first year in operation and has recycled over 15,000 mattresses, diverting in excess of 250 tons of waste from landfills. Their Colorado operation opened in August 2012 and has already re-purposed more than 1100 mattresses.  In the process they have generated over $110,000 in revenue and are bidding on a government contract. Spring Back Recycling has plans to expand the business model to additional states via licensing agreements.

Both Nancy Richards and Values and Ventures co-founding sponsor, Lisa Barrentine believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform an economy, and impact the global community.

Successful entrepreneurs in their own right, Nancy Richards and Lisa Barrentine lead the First Preston HT family of companies (First Preston Management, BidSelect, and HomeTelos). During their 25 year history in real estate management and technology solutions, they have marketed and sold over 440,000 properties valued at over $40 billion. They have done so while demonstrating the principles of corporate responsibility and donating over $16 million to community service organizations across the country. Nancy Richards First Preston HT staffers are avid supporters of numerous community service initiatives.

The Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition is an invitation-only competition for undergraduate students. It rewards values-centered enterprises that incorporate ethics and community service. The competition will be held April 19-20 at TCU’s Brown-Lupton University Union at 2901 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth. Students will compete for $43,000 in total combined cash prizes. The presentation sessions are open to the public.

Follow the two-day competition at www.facebook.com/neeleyschoolofbusinessattcu, on Twitter @NeeleySchoolTCU #tcuvv13, and live at www.neeley.tcu.edu/livestream Saturday 9am-1pm for finalists’ presentations, and Saturday evening beginning at 7pm for announcements of winners.

To read more about the First Preston HT family of companies visit http://www.firstprestonht.com/ Find them on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at the TCU Neeley School of Business. Collegiate entrepreneurs from 28 universities across the country and around the world will compete to earn funding for enterprising business plans that foster profitability and community improvement.

Nancy Richards First Preston HT Founder and Chairman was the impetus for the program. The founding donor, Richards believes in the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives and uplift communities. Richards and co-founder Lisa Barrentine trumpet the ability of entrepreneurship to transform an economy, create jobs and impact the global community.

Successful entrepreneurs in their own right, Nancy Richards and Lisa Barrentine lead the First Preston HT family of companies (First Preston Management, BidSelect, and HomeTelos). During their 25 year history in real estate management and technology solutions, they have marketed and sold over 440,000 properties valued at over $40 billion. They have done so while demonstrating the principles of corporate responsibility and donating over $16 million to community service organizations across the country. Nancy Richards First Preston HT staffers are avid supporters of numerous community service initiatives.

The Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures Business Plan Competition is an invitation-only competition for undergraduate students. It rewards values-centered enterprises that incorporate ethics and community service. The competition will be held April 19-20 at TCU’s Brown-Lupton University Union at 2901 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth. Students will compete for $43,000 in total combined cash prizes. The presentation sessions are open to the public.

Click here for a video of the 2012 Awards Ceremony or to learn more about the Richards Barrentine Values and Ventures™ Business Plan Competition .

To read more about the First Preston HT family of companies visit www.FirstPrestonHT.com   Find them on Facebook or follow on Twitter.