Each year, the Conrey Center for Entrepreneurship, an initiative of Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, organizes a competition in which student entrepreneurs are given 90 seconds to present a business concept to a panel of professionals and academics serving as judges.
Titled “Titan Fast Pitch,” the competition is designed to celebrate the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that make a positive impact on the community — hallmarks of the Conrey Center.
Titans Julie Yun and Dhara Panchal, both computer science and engineering students, took second place for developing Novvhex, an AI-powered home security platform that detects suspicious behavior before theft occurs.
CSUF entrepreneurship student Daphnay Pino took third for developing Blink Clean, an eco-friendly, refillable double-sided stain remover pen.
The ingenuity, sense of purpose and vision displayed by the students are at the heart of the mission of the Conrey Center for Entrepreneurship.
These distinguishing elements were motivating factors for Jerry Conrey and his wife, Dr. Victoria Shook Conrey, to bequeath a $4.5 million gift to the College of Business & Economics to further the advancement of the entrepreneurship center.
The generous gift, one of the largest single contributions in support of entrepreneurship education at Cal State Fullerton, along with the couple’s decades of service to the center, prompted the College of Business and Economics to rename the center in their honor.
In July, the center was named for Conrey, who is the founder and agency principal of Conrey Insurance Brokers and Risk Managers, an Orange County-based, independent firm specializing in insurance and risk management.
Conrey attended Cal State Fullerton as a finance and political science major from 1981 to 1987.
“Our hope with this gift — and with the naming of the Conrey Center for Entrepreneurship — is that it becomes a launchpad for bold ideas,” said Conrey, at the naming ceremony in October. “We want this to be a place where students are encouraged to take risks, to learn from setbacks, and to create ventures that make a difference in our communities.”
Conrey said Cal State Fullerton was pivotal in shaping his own career path, and he sees this donation as a way to “pay it forward” for future generations of entrepreneurs.
Sri Sundaram, dean of the College of Business and Economics, left, thanks donor Jerry Conrey for supporting students and entrepreneurial
education at CSUF. (Photo courtesy of Cal State Fullerton)
“Over the years, both Vicki and I have seen firsthand, through scholarships, mentorship and engagement, the extraordinary promise of Titan students,” Conrey said. “It is both a privilege and a joy to give back in this way.”
Conrey sees entrepreneurship as a means of turning ideas into opportunities that not only make a profit but make a lasting impact.
He views entrepreneurial education as a touchstone for innovation and preparing students to succeed in competitive environments.
Conrey stressed mentorship and hands-on engagement as being critical to student success.
“Our hope is that this gift will help future generations of entrepreneurs pursue bold ideas and create ventures that uplift our communities,” he said.
The university’s expression of gratitude for the gift opened a line of communication between Conrey and the university.
Conrey and his wife were made to feel like family, the business leader said.
Through the relationship, Conrey learned more about the university on a broader level.
“They treated us really well and engaged with us and showed us all things that are going on that maybe the public doesn’t always see,” Conrey said. “I never knew about the music program and the Christmas concerts that they do and got exposed to that because the university acknowledged our gift. And so, we started to see the university on multiple levels.”
Sri Sundaram, dean of the College of Business and Economics, said the gift and renaming of the center represent a transformational moment for the college.
“Jerry and Victoria’s extraordinary generosity strengthens our mission to empower students and impact the Southern California community through entrepreneurial innovation,” Sundaram said. “Their legacy will inspire future Titans to pursue bold ideas, build impactful ventures and lead with purpose for years to come.”