CBS Radio’s KYW-AM Newsradio Philadelphia featured President, Debra Kimless-Garber, M.D., of Red Thread on-air the week of 7/23 as the winner of the inaugural 2012 Small Business Challenge. Red Thread is being awarded a $25,000 ad campaign on KYW and a one year lease of professional private furnished office space located at one of the seven American Executive Centers in the Delaware Valley.
Red Thread strives to design and create the best clothing and solutions to improve the quality of life for all breast cancer survivors. According to Dr. Deb, “Red Thread was born from both urgency and necessity.” After surviving a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, still in pain and not happy with the aesthetic solution, she came up with a line of comfortable clothing that is also beautiful: “I’m a physician, I’m a survivor. I know what survivors are going through. I created these products to make myself feel whole again. I want to share that with all the other 2.6 million survivors that live in the United States.”
From 5/28 to 6/17, KYW accepted nominations for the Small Business Challenge. Criteria for nomination included being in business for less than two years, 80% of the revenue must stay in the Delaware Valley, total revenue could not exceed $5 million annually and the business must be up and running and post revenue. The finalist and winner were chosen by an esteemed business panel, including:
Pam Cyr, Chief Retail Officer, Beneficial Bank
Pam Hisler, NJ Market Director, Beneficial Bank
Mike Howard, President, American Executive Centers
Mark Lochiavo, Executive Director, Laurence A. Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship, Drexel University and Sr. Exec. in Residence, LeBow College of Business
Tina M. Malek, MBA, VP, Director of Marketing Communications, Beneficial Bank
Carl Needles, PA Market Director, Beneficial Bank
Tony Sweeney, SVP Media Director, LevLane Advertising, PR, Interactive
Terri Zobel, Director of Programs and Services, Laurence A. Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship, Drexel University
July 9th through July 22nd, KYW reported stories of the finalists, highlighting their business strategies and future growth plans.
The five finalists included:
· 20/20 Visual Media
· Atlas Mountain Construction
· Lollipop Shoppe
· Red Thread
· The Business Growth System
The Small Business Challenge is presented by Beneficial Bank, and sponsored by American Executive Centers, Devon Hill BMW and Drexel University’s Baiada Institute.
RBR-TVBR observation: Getting involved in this is a great way to superserve KYW’s core listeners and gain some sponsorship dollars in the same effort. It also provides valuable, actionable content that’s not just news-traffic-weather 24/7.
