Edina Shark Tank 2021

The Edina Chamber and our new community initiative, GreenUmbrella, is excited to announce a new opportunity to support innovation in Edina and the talented group of young entrepreneurs at Edina High School.
 
This year we are hosting Edina?s take on ABC Network?s Shark Tank with EHS DECA program. Edina Shark Tank will provide DECA students the opportunity to pitch their classroom prepared entrepreneurship project to a group of ?Sharks? to compete for cash prizes and the title of Edina Shark Tank Champion.
 
DECA is an international association of high school and college students studying marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Throughout the year, students acquire knowledge that helps with their success at competitions and more importantly success in the real world. The Edina Chamber has partnered with Edina High School and local entrepreneurs, business folks and investors to create this exciting opportunity.
 
We would love for our members to get in on the action and have sponsorship opportunities available at various levels. We are proud to be part of an event where we are creating opportunities for the younger generation of Edina residents who will be contributing to our business community before we know it!

Meet the Sharks!


Bonnie Speer McGrath, Founder & CEO

Bonnie Speer McGrath has been described as a people connoisseur, a meaningful connector, and a person you go to for a bit of courage. Her favorite book to give new founders is "What Do You Do With an Idea?" by Kobi Yamada. As a founder, CEO, board director and community volunteer, she has created and led many high performing teams over the course of the last thirty years, often creating services and products that did not previously exist. She and her family have lived in Edina for 27 years. She is honored and excited to be a judge for the first Edina Shark Tank.



Paul R. Mooty, Vice Chairman & Partner, Faribault Woolen Mill Company  
 
Paul is a born and raised Minnesotan.  He received his BSB in Business from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and his JD from the University of Minnesota Law School.  Paul's professional career includes working in the tax department of Arthur Andersen & Company and in the private practice of law focusing on closely held businesses.  He also served as President and CEO of Custom Rock, a St. Paul based manufacturer and architectural concrete contractor.  Paul is also actively involved with a number of business interests including serving on the Board of Directors.
 
Paul is a partner and serves as Vice Chairman of Faribault Woolen Mill Company. Founded in 1865, the year Lincoln died and the Civil War ended, Faribault woolens are renowned for their comfort and quality. The Mill is one of the last fully integrated mills in the United States producing woolen goods from raw fiber to finished goods under one roof, a truly Made in America product.
 
Paul has been involved in a number of community and civic organizations including serving as the President of the Rotary Club of Edina and as member of its Board of Directors and Foundation Board .  He is currently a member of the M Health Fairview Community Advisory Committee and a Board member of the Edina Chamber of Commerce and Gianna Homes.
 
Paul and his wife Jean live in Edina and have three children and three grandchildren.



Kevin McArdle, Founder & CEO, SureSwift Capital

SureSwift Capital acquires SAAS businesses from independent founders and takes them to the next stage of growth. A little over four years ago, SureSwift was just a couple of co-founders with an idea. Today it's a rapidly growing portfolio of more than 30 online businesses, managed by a fully remote team of 80 people working across 14 timezones. 

Kevin's passion for personal relationships and driving business results are at the heart of SureSwift's impressive growth to date. Prior to founding SureSwift, Kevin was a Vice President at Cerner Corporation, a global Healthcare IT firm. In his 15 year tenure at Cerner, Kevin held positions in sales, sales leadership, operations, general management, and client management, eventually becoming one of the youngest Vice Presidents in the company's 35 year history.


Special thanks to the wildly popular ABC television show Shark Tank^TM for encouraging all of us to think big. Shark Tank^TM is a registered trademark of Sony Pictures Television and is not associated with the Edina Shark Tank.

 
Contact Caitlyn@edina.org for more information.