Omar Soliman
Omar Soliman | |
---|---|
Born |
United States | May 10, 1982
Education | Bachelor of Business Administration[1] |
Alma mater | University of Miami[1] |
Occupation | Founder and CEO at College Hunks Hauling Junk |
Known for | Co-Founder and Owner College Hunks Hauling Junk[2] |
Omar Soliman (born May 10, 1982) is an American entrepreneur, author,[1] television personality and co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk, a junk hauling and moving business headquartered in Tampa, Florida.[2] He is the co-author of the book Effortless Entrepreneur[3] and a frequent guest on Fox Business News[4] and MSNBC speaking on the topics of business and entrepreneurship.[5] Soliman is also the co-executive producer of the 2012 documentary Beware of Mr. Baker.[6]
Early life and education
Soliman was born and raised in Washington D.C., he started his marketing, sales, and deliveries career at the age of ten, assisting his mother in her furniture shop.[2] He attended Sidwell Friends School[7] and went on to attend business school at the University of Miami where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2004.[1]
Business career
Soliman founded College Hunks Hauling Junk with Nick Friedman in 2003 while they were attending college. After working that summer with the business, he returned to the University of Miami for his senior year of college.[2] In 2004, he entered the Leigh Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition in Miami,[8] a competition that showcased the best business plan ideas. His business plan won him first place in the competition and an award of $10,000. A year later after graduation, he went on to become a member of the advisory board of Marsh & McLenan,[2] a healthcare research firm in Washington D.C..[1] A short time later he partnered again with Friedman to revive "College Hunks Hauling Junk", then moving furniture under the name "College Hunks Moving."[9]
In 2009 Soliman appeared on the series premier of ABC's hit show Shark Tank to pitch a sister concept called College Foxes Packing Boxes. Soliman and Friedman turned down the Sharks offer of $250,000 for a 10% stake in their existing College Hunks business.[10][11] Soliman turned down the offer received from the Sharks as he and Friedman would have to turn over part control of the business.[12] Soliman was also the co-executive producer of the 2012 documentary Beware of Mr. Baker.[6]
In 2011, Soliman co-authored the book Effortless Entrepreneur with Nick Friedman and Daylle Schwatrz.[13]
Television
In addition to Shark Tank, Soliman has made numerous television appearances, including on the season premier of BRAVO's Millionaire Matchmaker.[14] He also appeared on AMC's "The Pitch in 2013[15] and on MTV's Jobs That Don't Suck in 2014. He was also on the series premier of CNBC's Blue Collar Millionaires in July 2015.[16]
Awards and recognition
In 2009 at the age of 27, Soliman was named to the 30 Under 30 List by Inc. Magazine.[17] He was also nominated by Ernst & Young for the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011.[18]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Successful Entrepreneur Shares Start-Up Experiences With Fellow Alumni and Students". University of Miami School of Business Administration. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Heath, Thomas (22 September 2008). "Building Piles of Trash Into Heaps of Cash". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ Fenn, Donna (7 September 2010). "Advice From College Hunks: How To Start A Company With Your Best Friend". CBS Money Watch. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "College Grads Forced To Start Own Companies To Find Jobs". Fox Business. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ Saha, Mousumi Kumar (2 April 2012). "Nick Friedman & Omar Soliman, The Founders Of College Hunks Hauling Junk". Success Stories. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- 1 2 Leydon, Joe (1 April 2012). "Beware of Mr. Baker". Variety Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ Heath, Tom. "Value Added: The Hunks’ Way of Doing Things". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ Gill, Dee (30 September 2008). "Hauling Junk With A Touch Of Class". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ Heath, Thomas (1 August 2016). "Duo behind College Hunks moving company ditch a digital path for old-school success". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ "IMDb Filmography Omar Soliman". IMDB. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ↑ Plumb, Tierney. (7 August 2009). "College Hunks Hauling Junk Founders Jump In Shark Tank". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ Mui, Yian Q. (6 June 2010). "Whatever Happened To – The College Hunks And Their Junk Business". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Effortless Entrepreneur". Random House. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Omar: Junk In the Trunk". Bravo. 19 January 2010.
- ↑ "IMDb Filmography Omar Soliman". IMDB. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ↑ "IMDb Filmography Omar Soliman". IMDB. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ↑ "30 Under 30". Inc. Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Lifetime Achievement Honoree and Award Finalists". Ernst & Young. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2012.