Business - Business News

POSTED: Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008

Moka Joe owner is finalist for national business growth program

Trudy Scherting of Moka Joe Coffee has been selected as a finalist for the Make Mine A Million $ Business growth program.

Scherting will be competing with 24 other business women to win an awards package. The event will be held in Hollywood, Fla. on Thursday, Dec. 11. The event will feature female entrepreneurs from across the nation who will compete for business development packages that include money, marketing, mentoring and technology assistance to help their businesses grow into million-dollar enterprises.

Described as a cross between "The Apprentice" and "American Idol," the competition provides the 25 finalists the opportunity to present their business in a three-minute "elevator pitch" to a panel of business experts and a live audience. Fifteen winners will be chosen by the audience and judges who collaborate on the selection process.

Scherting started Moka Joe Coffee in her Bellingham garage roasting one pound at a time. The Bellingham company has now grown to 10,000 pounds per month and is being distributed throughout Washington and Oregon.

Moka Joe is a certified 100 percent Fair Trade, Organic, Kosher, Sustainably Grown wholesale coffee roaster. The company was founded in 2001 and has grown from gross sales of $6,000 a year in 2001 to $600,000 in annual sales in 2008.

For more information about how women can grow their businesses, visit www.makemineamillion.org.