A Genesee Community College student has once again earned a prestigious honor from the Buffalo Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives (BNSME). Abby Wilcox received the Collegiate Sales and Marketing Award at the BNSME Sales & Marketing Awards Gala earlier this month at the Buffalo Hyatt. Wilcox, a native of Cooperstown, is a sophomore entrepreneurship student at GCC.
When she came to GCC in Fall 2013, Abby was already an entrepreneur. She had started her online, home-based cupcake catering business, aptly named "Coopcakes" after her hometown, in December 2012. She operates during the summer months, but bakes all year long. She came to college knowing she had a lot to learn.
"I went through the startup of my business kind of blind," she said. "I didn't really know what I was doing. That is one huge reason that I came here to GCC. I need to know how to effectively run my business."
Her success thus far contributed to her selection as the Collegiate Sales and Marketing Award winner.
As her Prof. Rick Dudkowski stated in nominating her for the award: "She has grown the business substantially over the past two years by implementing effective sales and marketing techniques. As a student involved in dozens of charitable organizations on campus, she has also provided her cupcakes at discounted prices for dozens of events."
At GCC, Abby has been active in founding the RAKtivists, which promotes Random Acts of Kindness on campus, particularly during RAK week in February. Abby is also a talented seamstress and will once again create a scene for the annual spring fashion show at GCC. The show, "Fata Morgana," is scheduled for April 25. She created a successful fashion show while a student at Cooperstown High School.
"This showed me that no matter what field of business I focused my energy in, I would always be successful due to my passion and drive for marketing and business," she wrote in her BNSME award essay.
Abby has served as vice president of GCC's Phi Theta Kappa honor society and been actively involved in the Business Forum, CEO and DECA clubs.
After graduating from GCC, Abby plans to pursue a pastry arts and management degree at the Culinary Institute of America after which she wants to open a French-American fusion bakery.
"I am extremely confident that Abby will do it," Dudkowski said. "Her product is delicious, she is extremely creative in her designs and customer service is very important in her business."
GCC congratulates Abby and looks forward to supporting her future success!
Abby's selection as BNSME Collegiate Sales & Marketing Award winner comes just two years after GCC graduate Samantha Vogt earned the award in 2013.
