Wednesday, Jul 1, 2015
Tina LeMar ’15 started a nonprofit called Sheltered Yoga to help the homeless and others
by Alexa Caplinger ’15
Tina LeMar ’15, who earned her Executive MBA from Rider, won the 2015 New Jersey Collegiate Entrepreneur of the Year Competition and $500 for her non-profit organization, Sheltered Yoga. The award ceremony took place May 1.
The competition, sponsored by the Gretalia Hospitality Group, Mercer Wealth Management, ZieglerWorld, and the Watchung and Hillsborough Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and hosted by Rider’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, recognizes exceptional entrepreneurial skill and creativity among students enrolled in New Jersey colleges and universities. Evaluation criteria include entrepreneurial spirit, obstacles overcome, concern for quality and customer service, current success and estimated potential for future success.
“I had the pleasure of having Tina in the capstone strategy class of her recently completed Executive MBA program,” says Dr. Lee Zane, assistant professor of Entrepreneurship in Rider’s Department of Management, who ran the event. “Tina is likable and clearly passionate about Yoga and helping others through her nonprofit.”
Incorporated as a nonprofit in March 2014, Sheltered Yoga provides individuals of homeless and women’s shelters, depressed schools, prisons, outreach programs and recently homeless residential communities with the necessary tools to help build their self-esteem and create a positive “can do” attitude through yoga, meditation and mindfulness. LeMar also runs a for-profit business, Yoga Bean Studios and Magazine, where she’s owner and editor-in-chief. She is a certified yoga instructor, health coach and personal trainer, as well as a teacher trainer.
“In my mind, Tina was not a traditional Executive MBA student,” Zane says. “When I asked her why she was working on the degree, Tina said that she wanted to learn how to run a larger organization. She has her sights set on accomplishing large goals with her nonprofit.”
In October 2014, Sheltered Yoga was chosen out of thousands to become one of only 15 companies to represent a new crowd-funding company based out of New York City.
"I am very grateful to Rider University Entrepreneurial Studies, the Rider EMBA program and the panel that picked Sheltered Yoga as their winner this year," stated LeMar. "It has truly made me move forward with confidence in my pursuit to help bring yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to disadvantaged communities, with the goal of raising their self esteem and confidence so they too may feel as grateful as I do about reaching goals and feeling accomplishment."
Rider students also came in second and third as Michael Young won second place with his business MJY Landscaping & Power Washing and Chad Walsh took third with his enterprise, Walsh Wrestling Shoes, LLC.
To learn more about LeMar’s organization, visit http://shelteredyoga.org.
