Oakdale woman takes 2nd in competition

STOCKTON -- A Manteca company that makes high-security window and door screens won the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge on Wednesday night.

Rich Ison of Manteca, who operates Nx Stage Security, will receive $17,000 in cash and business services to advance the business, said Mark Plovnick, president of the San Joaquin Angels, an investment group.

In second place was Jamie Norwood of Oakdale, whose website www.digUSout.com helps people find products made in the United States. She will receive $7,000 in cash and services.

Norwood, Plovnick noted, was the spokeswoman in 2011 for Amalia's Cocina, her family business, which won the challenge competition in 2011.

A crowd of about 150 watched the event at the Stockton Golf & Country Club. They, along with a panel of judges, voted for the competitors in an "American Idol"-style format.

Each of the eight contestants in the last of two rounds of competition presented their business ideas.

"All the semifinalists we saw tonight were very good," said Plovnick, who also is director of economic development at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

This is the fourth year of the competition.