SUNY Canton Entrepreneurial Challenge Assists North Country Business

Entrepreneurial-minded SUNY Canton students helped a North Country business discover ways to evolve during the college’s eighth annual “Roopreneur” challenge.

Earlier this year, Cristina Fenner, owner of Cristina Fenner Photography, sought advice from the college’s Business Department after launching a new Golden Hour clothing line. Fenner, who is also a SUNY Canton graduate and an adjunct instructor in the Graphic and Multimedia Design program, uses iconic regional imagery to create custom t-shirts. She works with Bailey Campbell, a freelance artist with ties to the region, to make one-off, limited-run apparel.

“Golden Hour places great emphasis on its ties to North Country,” Fenner said. “All of our shirts are printed locally and feature scenes from the area.”

Among the list of challenges she presented to students included how to expand her product line and increase visibility through promotional efforts. The top students in the competition suggested expanding the product line to include stickers, magnets and pins and establishing a local presence at community events. Other suggestions included holding a competition for aspiring artists to create a shirt design and providing custom artistic renderings of area businesses.

“I was truly impressed with the students’ ability to evaluate my business and apply their own innovative and creative ideas,” Fenner said.

The top entries received awards ranging from $100 to $800, funded through the SUNY Canton College Foundation, Inc.

Roopreneur is offered through the college’s Management program, offered through the School of Business and Liberal Arts. It is open to students from any discipline and typically links with an established business. Previously, students have worked with NEXT! Hospitality Advisors, Long Island-based Day & Nite All Service, and Canton’s Luna Boutique.

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran has noted that the college places significant emphasis on entrepreneurship in its academic programs as a means of establishing the next generation of business innovators.

Winners of the 2024 Roopreneur Challenge, listed in order of place starting with the top entry, are:

• Caitlyn M. French, a Management major from Wynantskill.
• Tobi P. Morin, a Game Design and Development major from Potsdam.
• Zachary A. Wells, a Forensic Criminology major from Canton.
• Hannah E. Alkintor, a Forensic Criminology major from Coram.
• Kyla B. Garrison, a Forensic Criminology major from New York.
• Miranda B. Reilly, a Law Enforcement Leadership major from Wolcott.
• Lily A. Jellison, a Legal Studies major from Clay.