Ship Alumni set to be featured on Shark Tank

Tonight, January 17, at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT, ABC’s Shark Tank will feature Bro Glo, a male-focused self-tanner founded by two Ship alumni, Tom Phillips ’07 and Jaron Nalewak ’08 and their business partner Joseph McDevitt. The three will pitch their product to the panel of ‘sharks’ and potentially secure to leverage their business and further their brand’s outreach and recognition.
Bro Glo was created to solve a problem that men face: a lack of natural-looking self-tanners marketed specifically for their skin. While attending Shippensburg, Phillips and Nalewak didn’t know one another, but they later became brothers-in-law. Nalewak met his wife at Ship. Nalewak noted that his wife was always able to achieve a tan but that he struggled to do so without catching a bad sunburn. Nalewak saw a gap in the self-tanning business for men, and through collaboration, Nalewak, Phillips and McDevitt decided they wanted to fill that gap.
The founder’s water-based and streak-free formula dries quickly, feels lightweight and offers men a way to boost their confidence. The founders’ clever marketing strategies and social media campaigns helped the brand take off. What started as a small investment to produce 200 units has progressed into a successful business.
Phillips, Nalewak and McDevitt were thrilled when Shark Tank reached out to them about featuring Bro Glo. Their upcoming appearance is more than just an opportunity to pitch their product to some of the biggest investors; it’s also a chance to show off their hard work, determination and passion. “We started this as a side hustle,” Tom said. “We were balancing full-time jobs, family commitments and learning the ins and outs of entrepreneurship as we went. Now, to see it grow to this level is surreal.”
The development of Bro Glo wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. In the beginning, the founders had to do a lot of work to perfect their formula, maintain natural ingredients, build a reliable supply chain, and meet the demands of the business as it grew.  “We didn’t have all the answers in the beginning,” Nalewak admitted. “But what we did have was a passion for our idea and the willingness to learn from our mistakes.”
With time, their dedication paid off. Their strong connection and attention to their audience have fueled Bro Glo’s growth. “Our customers have been our biggest supporters,” Phillips said. “They’ve not only embraced the product but have also shared their stories, showing us how Bro Glo has made them feel more confident in their own skin.”
Beyond the great business opportunity, the founders hope that their Shark Tank appearance will inspire other business leaders and stand as a testament to what business innovators and entrepreneurs, such as those at Shippensburg University, can achieve when they put their minds toward attaining a goal. The founders all work full-time jobs: Phillips works in investing, Nalewak is an attorney and McDevitt is a luthier for his company, Fegley Violin. In addition to this, they all have families, and they support a successful side business. They set an example for anyone striving to pursue more than just one path in life. “When we started this, we never imagined we’d be pitching on national TV,” Nalewak said. “But it just shows that big dreams are achievable, even when you’re starting small.”
Phillips and Nalewak reflect on their time at Ship as a period that helped them build a foundation for themselves. Phillips, who was a finance major, learned how to think analytically and apply financial concepts to running a business. Nalewak, who was a criminal justice major and a member of the football team, still holds the connections that he made at Ship, acknowledging that the university provides him with a strong support system. “I’m good friends with Wes, Becky, Coach Burke and Coach Mac. And, every year, I show up to Ship to hire people at the hiring events for the company that I work for. The support system that I have has been amazing because they absolutely are like family.”
As the founders face the sharks, they’ve already won in several ways. Their brand has reached thousands of people, and their business journey shows that success is possible with dedication and a clear vision. “We hope it shows others that taking risks and chasing your dreams is always worth it,” Phillips said.
Watch ABC tonight, January 17, at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT, to learn more about Bro Glo and see the founders pitch the product. Their stories remind Ship students, alums and beyond that, through hard work, nearly any goal is achievable.