Long Beach High School hosted its inaugural Business Olympics on May 31 as an opportunity to bring the Long Beach School-Business Partnership together with the school’s Business Department. Students enrolled in business classes networked with professionals from the community and broadened their understanding of what constitutes a successful business venture. Groups and individuals presented creative, unique ideas for efficient utilization of local property.

Students were assigned to develop simulated marketing plans to optimize Brownfield opportunities in the Long Beach area and try to capitalize these sites. They spent time prior to the event preparing ideas on ways to use these locations effectively, and sketched out pitches for an assortment of establishments, from fitness facilities to water amusements.

Sophia Elenson, Joseph Liabach, Leila Radin and Zeno Stout introduced their plan for All Time Sports. Cory Eisel, Ryan Levine, Kelly Monahan and Brenna Regan shared marketing ideas for Long Beach Water Sports. Kaia Cheung, Katie Frisch, Bryan Mizhirumbay, Aidan White and Elizabeth Zielinski presented their designs for Reef House. Dan Barto and Dane De Pasquale outlined their plan, LB Sports Stop, and Katie Gray and Brooke Shapiro introduced Long Beach Interactive Aquarium.

Karleke Dennis, Noah Eskenazi went the health club route with Elite Fitness, and Julia Candon presented a Long Beach Campus. Akilah Conquest, Jillian Domingo, Adelaide Donnelly and Briana Funches presented ideas for Seaside Water Sports. Maddie Allen, Isabella Defonte, Robert DiResto and Joe Morelli shared their marketing plan for Putt Putt Palace.

Students provided comprehensive overviews of their proposals, complete with websites, social media and Google slides. Each team/presenter shared statistics from research they conducted and covered strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats and locations for their concepts.

Julia Candon was selected as the event’s winner. Her plan for a Bayfront Campus featured a waterfront business development with apartments on-site as a way to appeal to both companies and employees by eliminating high cost of City rent. She described her research on the campus-style approach and the benefits it can bring to the Long Beach area.

The Business Olympics was introduced by teacher Blake Malizia with the objective of giving students a greater awareness of the factors that impact businesses and inspiring them to think creatively about ways to potentially boost the local economy. Approximately 30 local business owners and professionals participated as judges and rated each presentation. They also attended a dinner with the students to kick off the evening with conversations related to the business world and students’ goals for the future.

Mary Pat Grafstein, International Baccalaureate Advisory Board director for the Smithtown School District, addressed the students.

“You have an excellent start,” she said. “We encourage you to continue taking business classes.” Leah Tozer of Engel & Volkers also provided remarks.

The high school extends special thanks to State Farm, Sideline Swap, Engel & Volkers and Brand’s Delicatessen for serving as sponsors for this business education showcase.