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HOLBROOK, N.Y. (March 11, 2019) — American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (AP), a privately-held, independent broker/dealer that services financial advisors across the country, hosted the finals for the eighth annual Long Island Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) Business Plan Competition on Feb. 26, 2019. VEI is a non-profit organization that offers in-school experiential learning programs for high school students to form entrepreneurial, start-up businesses within a live global simulated setting.
Each year, AP looks forward to ushering in a new wave of promising, young entrepreneurs as it continues its support of educational organizations that promote business leadership. The firm has worked closely with VEI since 2014, and has nurtured a relationship that has proven to be mutually beneficial on many levels. Holding this competition at AP’s headquarters provides students with the backdrop of a true corporate experience. At the same time, the firm’s employees and investment professionals find the judging experience to be extremely rewarding.
“Over the years, the firm has had the honor of hosting these competitions, as well as hosting VEI interns at our home office,” states AP CEO Lon T. Dolber. “These students truly represent the promise of the future and, no doubt, will go on to be successful in business on whatever career path they choose because of what they gained from their participation in VEI’s experiential learning program.” For Dolber, social responsibility is not just a personal mission, but it is instilled within AP’s corporate goals—owing to the belief that a company has an obligation to do good work in the community. He adds, “I believe that if we can influence just one person in a positive way, then any success we achieve as a company will be that much greater and meaningful.”
High school teams emerging as semi-finalists in the 2019 Long Island Trade Show held on Jan. 9, 2019, at LIU C.W. Post convened at the AP headquarters in Holbrook, N.Y., presenting their virtual business plans to a panel of judges. The 2019 VEI Business Plan Competition was comprised of 11 student-run business teams from 10 schools: Huntington High School (Team Poppy); Westhampton Beach High School (Team Sway); Carle Place High School (Team A Lil Twist); Patchogue-Medford High School (Team Nova); George W. Hewlett High School (Teams Comforting Canines and NAPR); Herricks High School (Team Infinity Bars); Syosset High School (Team AstroDough); Valley Stream High School (Team Strivana); The Berkeley Institute (Team Leisure in the Triangle); and Centereach High School (Team Rapid Brew).
The finalists in in the Business Plan Competition were Teams AstroDough, Comforting Canines, Leisure in the Triangle, Nova and Poppy. The winning teams will advance to the VEI National Business Plan Competition, which will be held as part of the Youth Business Summit event on April 15-17, 2019, at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The panel of judges officiating the business plan competition were comprised of select AP staff members, as well as Assistant Dean Dr. Francine Federman for College-High School Programs at Farmingdale State College and Dean Robert Valli of the College of Management at LIU C.W. Post. Of his second time serving as a competition judge, AP CFO Damon Joyner shares, “Once again, I’m impressed by the hard work and dedication put into each of the student presentations. I am awe-struck by the level of expertise and skill they show in creating and presenting their comprehensive business plans. It’s been a privilege to review their work and help them on their path to achieving great things.”
The presentations were held and captured in AP’s in-house production facility, Studio 454, to provide students with playback coverage of their performances as a way to improve on their presentation skills for future VEI competitions. Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to meet and network with the firm’s senior management, investment professionals and staff members. Staging the competition at AP’s corporate offices helped students to associate how their virtual business management and operating procedural plans might apply in a real business environment.
The firm’s commitment to nurture the talents of America’s future business leaders early in their academic careers doesn’t begin and end with sponsorship of competitive events; in 2016, AP and VEI launched the AP-VEI Internship Fellows Program. This unique program creates pathways for students who have completed VEI’s business and entrepreneurship program to go on to summer internships with AP and other companies. This multi-year, national initiative serves as the catalyst for other companies to aid in the development of the next generation’s workforce. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for both VEI students and our affiliated investment professionals,” says Dolber. “Advisors not only gain a helping hand when they take part in this program, they’re investing in our collective future as a society.”
The firm looks forward to continuing its support of VEI throughout the year with internship and mentoring opportunities at its corporate offices, as well as nationwide throughout its 386 branch offices comprised of financial services business owners.
About American Portfolios
Headquartered in Holbrook, N.Y., American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology entity American Portfolios Advisory Solutions, LLC, collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently serves 833 independent investment professionals located in 386 branch locations throughout the nation. It was named Broker-Dealer of the Year* (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as one of the top 10 Best Companies to Work for in the state of New York for 2016, 2017 and 2018 by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG).
*Based on a poll of registered representatives conducted by Investment Advisor magazine. Broker/dealers rated highest by their representatives are awarded “Broker/Dealer (B/D) of the Year.”
About Virtual Enterprises
VEI is a non-profit organization that provides experiential learning programs to schools across Long Island and beyond. Through their live global business simulation, students are offered a competitive edge through project-based collaborative learning that allows them to create and operate every facet of a virtual business. This program helps students develop 21st-century skills in entrepreneurship, global business, problem solving, communications, personal finance and technology.
VEI Judges
Dr. Francine Federman, Assistant Dean, Farmingdale State College/Assistant Dean, College-High School Programs; Robert Valli, Dean, College of Management, LIU C.W. Post; Damon Joyner, Chief Financial Officer, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.; Kimberly A. Branch, CFP®, Vice President of Marketing Strategy, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.; Lisa DiBella, Vice President of Human Resources, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.
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