Host:

Shannon LaNier
TV Show Host & News Anchor
 

Shannon LaNier is an Emmy-Award-Winner television host, news anchor and author. He currently anchors the CW’s Morning Show, “Morning Dose” in Houston, Texas where he lives with his wife/college sweetheart Chandra and their three Little LaNiers. He’s also known for hosting the global celebrity center show “Arise Entertainment 360” under the BET umbrella… and as correspondent on the nationally syndicated show, “Black Enterprise Business Report.”

The Cincinnati, Ohio native co-authored the Random House Inc. book Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family along with photojournalist Jane Feldman.The book follows his family revelations as the 6th great grandson of President Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. Follow Shannon at @MrShannonLanier.

Judge:

Robert Herjavec
Founder & CEO Herjavec Group and leading Shark Tank Investor
 

Robert Herjavec is a dynamic entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert. He founded Herjavec Group in 2003 and it is now one of the world’s leading cybersecurity operations firms specializing in Managed Security Services and Incident Response for enterprise level organizations. His views on the threat landscape, on emerging technologies and on the need for a proactive security framework are regularly profiled across print, digital and television mediums. Robert shares his business expertise with other entrepreneurs each week as a leading Shark on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning hit show Shark Tank. Follow Robert on social @robertherjavec.

Finalists:

Samia Bingham

Founder & CEO, Flavors Culinary Group

 

The unsung heroes of the culinary world create inviting atmospheres through delicacies and dishes that shape our experiences and create lasting memories. I assist culinary geniuses in creating explosive customer experiences while maintaining an excellent company culture. Flavors Culinary Group, my specialized food and beverage service firm, focuses on assisting companies in quality talent acquisition, recruitment, adequate staffing, and superior management training. As a former Federal Contract Specialist, I understand the need for detailed processes, procedures, and policies. With $25,000 I will create a unique kitchen incubator with training space for culinary professionals ready to improve customer and employee experience. Follow Samia at @flavorsnation.

Bryan Traficante
Co-Founder, Garden In Minutes
 
Garden In Minutes was started by the Traficante family, Theresa, Tom & Bryan. As is the case with many working mothers, Theresa struggled to find time for her own passions including gardening in the busy day-to-day grind. Even after using an entire weekend to install a drip line irrigation system, Theresa still struggled to keep all her plants watered and alive. Her husband Tom, a serial tinkerer, decided to see if he could come up with a better solution and that's when he invented The Garden Grid™ watering system. Designed in a grid format, The Garden Grid evenly waters every square inch of the garden. Their son Bryan, a digitally-savvy millennial, teamed up with his parents to build GardenInMinutes.com and share their new way of growing a better garden with the world. Follow Bryan at @GardenInMinutes.
Kate Beever
Board Certified Music Therapist and CEO of Maine Music & Health

Kate Beever earned her Master's degree at NYU and worked at Sloan Kettering before moving back to Maine, where she has been a pioneer of the field of music therapy. Kate works with clients with brain injury, cancer, developmental disabilities, and depression; while also training healthcare professionals to use the arts. She has developed programs at a number of hospitals and hosted conferences at universities. She keeps an active schedule speaking and performing as a pianist and percussionist. Follow Kate at @MEmusic_health.