Leaders from Top 40 distributor Proforma (asi/300094) recently gave back by helping aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Proforma Founder Greg Muzzillo, CEO Vera Muzzillo, and senior analysts Hanna Leisie and Brian Roney engaged in the do-gooding by serving as judges of the University of Florida’s Big Idea Gator Business Plan Competition.

Hanna Leisie and Brian Roney, Proforma Senior Analysts; Greg Muzzillo, Proforma Founder; Vera Muzzillo, Proforma CEO

“This competition showcases great business plans, and we ask our judges not only to score these models but also to provide business mentoring and leadership,” says Jamie Kraft, director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of Florida. “We always invite Proforma because they have a demonstrated passion for business excellence and innovative technology. Many teams have benefitted from Proforma’s insightful feedback, strong understanding of entrepreneurism, and commitment to business ownership.”

The Big Idea Competition challenges students to grow their business ideas into well-formulated plans that could work in the real world. Held every spring, the four-month-long competition sees students create actual growth-oriented business models. The top four teams are awarded more than $40,000 in prizes.

“We are passionate about business success and ownership, and it’s a privilege to contribute to the next generation of business leaders,” said Vera Muzzillo. Added Roney: “The UF Big Idea Competition is an excellent source of business creation. It’s an honor to serve as a judge to assist these young businesses in fine-tuning their plans to bring their companies to market.”

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $368.9, Proforma ranked fourth on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry. The new list debuts in July.