Making the World a Better Place, One Technology at a Time

Major: Business Administration
Class of 2017

“I want to work on startups on the cutting edge of technology, changing the world, one piece of tech at a time.”

George GarciaA 2017 graduate of County College of Morris (CCM), George Garcia III, of Randolph, is convinced that the good use of technology can make the world a better place. That’s why he and two other students developed the community-engagement app Wheatpaste, which they have been awarded $50,000 to bring to market.

“We see division in our communities today due in part to the political climate, but it had been growing long before that,” says Garcia. “With this app, we hope to make the community and small local businesses stronger.”

That vision blends with his background of supporting businesses on the local level, including serving as a member of the Randolph Economic Development Committee. To assist in that area, he put together a video with CCM President Anthony J. Iacono on the benefits the college reaps by being located in Randolph.

For his success at such a young age, Garcia – at age 22 – was named a young professional to watch by NJBIZ, earning a spot on its 2018 list of 40 Under 40 Award winners.

Regarding Wheatpaste, Garcia notes that in the past, people gathered at corner stores to socialize.

“Now people are hiding behind their computers,” he says. “The goal of Wheatpaste is to bring everyone together again. This is a social media app that gets people out of their houses.”

The app won the $50,000 first prize in the BulbHead Inventors Day for Aspiring Entrepreneurs annual contest at Montclair State University. Those funds will help launch the app in six New Jersey pilot towns – Randolph, Denville, Morristown, Montclair, Hoboken and Jersey City.

Prior to enrolling at CCM, Garcia attended High Point University in North Carolina. “I thought that I really wanted to start out away from home,” he says. But he decided to come back to New Jersey “because I wanted to be back in the Northeast, back in a fast-paced environment with opportunities around every corner.”

He notes that CCM was an especially good choice and that the education he received provided him with the knowledge he needed to start his own business.

“When I started Wheatpaste, that education provided a core understanding of marketing, economics and international business. It gave me a strong entrepreneurial foundation,” he says.

Regarding the app, he adds, “Wheatpaste was an idea that was hatched out of a need for stronger communities. We are envisioning Wheatpaste as the glue that holds your community together and that is what guides us in every decision that we make.”

After earning his Associate in Science in Business Administration from CCM, he enrolled at Montclair State University. His plan is to utilize technology to make an impact on the world.

“I want to work on startups on the cutting edge of technology, changing the world, one piece of tech at a time,” he says. “My goal is to continue work that helps people, small businesses and the world as a whole. I want to create one of the good tech companies.”