MTA recently announced the winners of this year’s MTA LEAD entrepreneurship program, Elie Benedek (‘20) and Benny Mermel (‘19). The program, spearheaded by Executive Director Shuey Jacoby, was developed to empower students with the ability to build on their entrepreneurial ideas and create meaningful and sustainable business projects, while gaining lasting business and communal leadership skills. Working in teams, students are mentored by industry leaders and have the opportunity to participate in lectures at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business.

Benedek, of Highland Park, and Mermel, of Monroe Township, developed “Safe Car,” an innovative technology that prevents both drunk driving and texting while driving, along with a business plan detailing their strategy for bringing the product to market. They presented their business plan to Sy Syms School of Business Dean Michael Strauss, who was extremely impressed by their efforts and will connect the two students with mentors who can guide them in the development of their product.