2022-2023 Capstone Cup Annual Report

DEMONSTRATING PERSEVERANCE RESILIENCY AGILITY

FROM THE DIRECTORS

Since its inception in 2014, the Capstone Cup has had a singular goal: to provide our students with a unique and valuable educational experience. As each year passes, we continue to not only be impressed as our students surpass the challenges laid before them, but also by the continued and growing support of our community.

With employers using the Capstone Cup to identify talent, we have wonderful stories of students landing interviews and jobs! We also now have more alumni coming back to participate as judges – and sharing their memories and experience.

As we take a moment to reflect on our singular goal, what we have come to realize is how that goal has resulted in a community of shared experience. The Capstone Cup is more than a singular event each semester, it has truly become a flagship experience for our students and a program that our local employers continue to come back for.

We could not be more thankful for our local employers' support and engagement through the years – their time and generosity is what makes the Capstone Cup a truly remarkable program for CBA.

Through its many iterations, one thing has remaind consistent - and that is the support and engagement of our local employers.

DR. ERIN PLEGGENKUHLE-MILES

DR. ERIN BASS

IT STARTED WITH THE CHALLENGE OF BRINGING ENERGY, EXCITEMENT, AND STRATEGY TO THE CLASSROOM. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ARE TYPICALLY FAR-REMOVED FROM THE STRATEGY PROCESS AND DECISION-MAKING THAT HAPPENS WHERE THEY WORK. YET, STRATEGY IS THE CORNERSTONE FOR EVERY ORGANIZATION. THE CAPSTONE CUP WAS BORN IN 2014 AND WAS DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM STUDENT TO YOUNG PROFESSIONAL. IT PUSHES THEM TO BE POLISHED WHILE SHOWCASING THEIR BUSINESS ACUMEN, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE TO MEMBERS OF THE OMAHA BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

The involvement of community partners is what truly brings the competition to life. The support of members of our local business community as judges or sponsors helps bring the boardroom to the classroom. This gives the competition a “real world” feel as our student present to “real” business people. But the benefits are not just felt by the students. Our sponsors and judges have a first-hand look at our students in action. We have had a number of our students’ land interviews from these presentations, with some eventually landing the job. And that’s ultimately what we’re here to deliver—a valuable experience that showcases the talent of our students and helps employers identify and recruit from this talent pool.

The competition has evolved since its inception thanks to the faculty that serve as the lifeblood of the event, including Dr. Brent Clark, Dr. Leif Lundmark, Mr. Ed Cochran, and co-directors Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles and Dr. Erin Bass. Each iteration is aimed at enhancing the student experience while achieving our goals of professional development and strategic thinking. Excitement and acceptance of the program has continued to grow each year. The faculty are committed to continuing to innovate and work with community partners to deliver a program that is not only a flagship for the university, but a flagship for showcasing young talent for Omaha’s thriving business community.

THE COMPETITION IN BRIEF

THE CAPSTONE CUP IS A SEMESTER-LONG COMPETITION COMPRISED OF A KICKOFF EVENT AND TWO ROUNDS OF COMPETITION. THE CAPSTONE CUP WAS BORN AT THE UNO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND IS UNIQUE TO OUR SCHOOL AND OUR IDENTITY AS A METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY FOCUSED ON PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS.

During the Capstone Cup, teams of undergraduate business students have to digest a complex business situation, develop a creative and practical solution, and build a presentation that communicates their analyses and recommendations to a panel of judges comprised of faculty, business community members, and alumni.

Every College of Business Administration student enrolled in an on-campus section of the undergraduate capstone strategy course (Corporate & Business Strategy) participates in this competition, impacting more than 125 students each semester.

"The Capstone Cup really gives students a chance to demonstrate their knowledge while also providing real world experiences. I really enjoyed the opportunity and hope more universities adopt this mindset."

THOMAS CHADER, SPRING 2022 PARTICIPANT

DISPLAY OF CBA TALENT

POSTER COMPETITION FORMAT

Round One took place as a poster competition (very similar to a science fair). Teams designed research posters that would effectively display their research, analyses, and recommendations as they verbally presented their findings to a series of different groups of judges. Each team was given 15 minutes to present and answer questions from judges, presenting a total of four times throughout the event. At the end of Round One, students and judges were provided a free lunch from a food truck paid for by the 2022-2023 Capstone Cup sponsors.

FORMAL SHOWCASE

Five or six teams from Round One were selected to showcase their strategic recommendations in a formal slide deck presentation that took place in the Mammel Hall auditorium. Teams were given 12 minutes to present, followed by a Q&A session from the panel of judges made up of employees from the 2022-2023 Capstone Cup sponsors.

EFFORTS REWARDED

To recognize students’ efforts, sponsors furnished a variety of amazing prizes for the first, second, and third place teams, as well as the finalist teams. Prizes included Yeti coolers, Bluetooth speakers, soundbars, massage guns, Amazon and Spotify gift cards, and a variety of strategy board games including Risk, Ticket to Ride, and Battleship.

MEGHAN THIES

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

COLIN GORACKE ACCOUNTING

TRAVIS GOOD ECONOMICS

BRET BARBER MARKETING

PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS

Since 2020, the Capstone Cup has been able to provide professional headshots for all students due to the generous support from the competition’s sponsors. Partnering with UNO’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), sponsor funds are used to invest in professional photos for all Capstone Cup competitors to further enhance the value of this experience for students. Entering the workforce with an updated headshot provides UNO CBA graduates with a competitive edge as they begin their careers.

BY THE NUMBERS

2,100+ 37% 4%

participants since 2015

of participants are female

of participants are international students

ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS

PARTNER WITH US

Over the years, we have been honored and pleased to partner with businesses and professionals across Omaha. Support has come in many forms, including sponsorship of prizes, distinguished judges’ time and attention, as well as valuable input. Without our generous partners, the Capstone Cup wouldn't be possible. In return for their contributions, valued partners are recognized through communication messages on our media channels and have an opportunity to access the best talent that UNO CBA has to offer. The Capstone Cup thrives on its partnerships with the local business community. For the 2022–2023 Academic Year, we welcomed twelve sponsors from the Omaha business community. These sponsors not only had the opportunity to get in front of our students, but also directly recruit for full and part-time positions. In addition to these sponsors, we also welcomed more than 100 judges from more than 30 local employers.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact:

Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles | erinpmiles@unomaha.edu

THANKS TO OUR 2022—2023 SPONSORS

FALL 2022 BUSINESS CASE

Each case is written by the Capstone Cup team and provides unique and current insights on the companies studies. Select cases are submitted for publication. Since 2021, business cases have been written on local companies. Representatives from these companies were interviewed and recorded in a podcast format, allowing the case to be provided to students in a multimedia format of a written report with accompanying audio clips. Representatives from these companies attended the Kickoff event each semester to field questions from students, and were also present for student presentations during Round One and the Finals event.

QUANTUM WORKPLACE: MAKE WORK BETTER EVERY DAY

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Quantum Workplace is a human resources technology provider intent on helping organizations grow by providing them with the smartest employee engagement, performance software, and talent solutions. Since its founding in 2002, Quantum Workplace has been a pioneer of workplace solutions and has partnered with thousands of organizations to improve employee, team, and business success. Quantum Workplace has experienced significant organic growth for the last several years based on continuing business with existing clients while also adding new customers

As Quantum Workplace looks to the future, its product suite, market position, and growth strategy must work together. As larger all-in-one HRIS companies attempt to enter the employee engagement software space and the projected demand for engagement and performance platforms persists, how can Quantum Workplace position itself for sustainable growth? Consultants have been tasked with developing a strategic recommendation for Quantum Workplace as it works to achieve its goals for growth for the future.

SPRING 2023 BUSINESS CASE

ROCKET CARWASH: ROCKET CLEAN, SPEEDY QUICK

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Rocket Carwash is an express car wash company that boasts a quick and quality clean for every customer. Beyond offering one-time car washes, Rocket Carwash offers an unlimited wash membership service for which members pay a monthly fee in exchange for unlimited washes and additional exclusive perks.

Upon the company's creation in 2013, owner and founder Danny White recruited current Vice President Conrad Sams to help realize the goal of building multiple express car washes in Omaha before undertaking a national expansion. With 15 car washes in operation and more than 40 locations at different stages in development and acquisition across the United States as of February 2023, that goal was beginning to become a reality. Although Rocket Carwash offers one-time washes, between 85 and 90 percent of customers across all locations are subscribed to the unlimited membership offering, which management realized was the best value proposition it can offer to customers beyond stellar customer service.

As Rocket Carwash looks to the future, its service offerings, market position, and growth strategy must work together. Similarities amongst industry competitors in unlimited membership offerings, high levels of community engagement, sustainable technology, and national expansion contribute to the competitive landscape of the express car wash industry. As the industry continues to bounce back from the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, how can Rocket Carwash position itself for sustainable growth? Consultants have been tasked with developing a strategic recommendation for Rocket Carwash as it works to achieve its goals for growth for the future.

MESSAGE FROM DEAN MICHELLE W TRAWICK

“THE CAPSTONE CUP IS APPLIED BUSINESS EDUCATION AT ITS FINEST."

- MICHELLE W. TRAWICK, DEAN, COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The Capstone Cup is a perfect example of what a culminating experience should look like for graduating business students and distinguishes our College of Business Administration from others in the area because of the real-world experience students have. At UNO CBA, we don’t just focus on textbooks and tests—we encourage students to participate in internships, we bring experts from the community into our classrooms, and we cap everything off with a real-world business case for students to explore. The Capstone Cup is applied business education at its finest

For students, the Capstone Cup is an incredible learning opportunity that students are able to talk about and apply in job interviews. Not only are students tasked with thinking strategically and applying everything they have learned during the past four years, but they are able to develop the collaboration and teamwork skills that employers value.

One of the things that I believe makes our CBA stand apart from so many others is the complete investment we have from the Omaha business community. By sponsoring this competition, local employers show that they value the business education we are providing because it shows up in the students they hire. This competition is a differencemaker in our community, and it could not happen without the generous support of our sponsors.

I want to thank our dream team of strategy faculty for all the effort they put in to create this experience for our students. The Capstone Cup is one of my favorite things we do here at UNO CBA—it’s an amazing thing to see and is a milestone to celebrate for our students.

"A key advantage of participating in the Capstone Cup is that it gives you the chance to make connections as you exit your educational career…it helps you to make connections with the sponsors and the client companies"

SKYLAR AREHART, SPRING 2022 PARTICIPANT

2022 FALL CHAMPIONS

COLLIN GORACKE, ACCOUNTING | MEGHAN THIES, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRAVIS GOOD, ECONOMICS | BRET BARBER, MARKETING

FALL 2022

Arjawan Al Balushi

Ghaith Al Saifi

Haya Al Siyabi*

Nolan Anderson

Alejandra Arellano*

Adel Atia

Francisco Baltazar

Bret Barber*

Claire Bean

Jadon Beister

Zach Betzold

Brandon Borgmann

Morgan Buzbee*

Jackson Clark

James Crotty*

Johnny Crump

Tyler Davis

Nicholas Dunn

Ashley Ellsworth*

Alma EspinozaAlejandro*

Cesar Fragoso

Elizabeth Gaddie*

Grae Gammel*

Rylie Gittins

Luis Gonzalez

Travis Good*

Colin Goracke*

Sophia Green*

Cody Hayworth

Andreas

Hermansson

Alan Hernandez

Kailey Jaros*

Grant Johnson

Ben Kastl*

Josiah Kaufman

Gage Kehn

Collin Koory

Rachel Leidy*

Chris Leute

Dawson LInder

Ryan Mack

Ken Madden

Harrison

Martindale*

Isaac McCoy

Ethan Morland*

Kayla Petersen

Josh Peterson

McKaylee Pettepier

Adrian Preciado

Noah Prochaska

Broc Richardson

Barry Robbins*

Paola Roblero*

Josh Rodriguez

Ashley Shickell

Zach Skar

Bennett Slater

Patrick Stacey-

Vargas

Nolan Sullivan

Meghan Thies*

Gage Thomas

Max Tomes*

Alex Wiese

Julia Wingrove

SPRING 2022

Hafedh Al Ghannami

Jacob Albers

Josh Arends

Akol Arop

Michael Atayi

Josh Bartels

Karen Bautista

Revilla

Rachel Beck

Michael Becker*

Josie Blake

Kyle Borchers*

Allen Britton

Katie Brown*

Marriah Buss*

Anna-Marie Castro

Zoe Chase*

Hunter Chilton*

Ryan Cleary

Kelsey Clifton

2022–2023 CAPSTONE CUP PARTICIPANTS

Chase Cosgrove

Haley Cox

Jake Craig

Ben Dalton

Julo De La

Montanya*

Trevor DeBuse

Morgan Dickey*

Jeffrey Dinges

Abby Dobbs

Liberty Donahoe

Carter Doose

Karlie Ellis

Erin Epp*

Ryan Etheridge

Jaden Felty

Maddie Figi*

Wendy Forlemu

Grant Frickenstein

Tyler Gach

Anthony Gaeta

Elizabeth Garcia

2023 SPRING CHAMPIONS

Joe Giandinoto

A'mya Gilmore

Brenda Gomez

Daniel GomezHurtado*

Samaiya Gould

Trevor Green*

Batool Haddad

Caden Hall

Mathew Halvorson

Kai Harris*

Noah Hartman

Melissa Hattam

Jake Herman*

Eddy Hernandez

Carson Hottovy

Elizabeth Howard

Joe Howard

Christian Howell

Kaw Htoo

Johnny Hula*

Lyndsay Hunter

Samira Ide Bana

Tyler Isenberger

Kenzie Jennnings

Ellie Johnson

Lydia Johnson

Jessica Joppa

Dani Jorgenson

Julia King

Travis Koesters

Kevin Konou

Meredith Korisko

Sam Kozak

Caleb Lampe

Zach Larson

Michaela Lentsch

Morgan Loyd

Samantha Lu

Joel Mancino*

Lily Matychuk

Joey Mayberger

Poe Meh

Sydney Meisinger

Alex Mena

Caleb Mickles

Malissa Miller

Connor

Mockenhaupt

Michael Morales

Tiki Naujoks

Huy Nguyen

Aran O'Leary

Mexis PanoGallardo*

Camee Parker

Kaylee Paulsen*

Blake Pedersen

Julian Perez-Ventura

Lester PerezAndrade

Nguyen Pham

Hugo Piles

Jacob Powell

Alvaro Quintana

Quinton Randall

Bryan RenteriaHernandez

Ethan Reule

Anyi Rodriguez

Jonathan

Rodriguez*

Madison Saggau

Dylan Sales

Brenda Sanchez

Juana Sauceda*

Scott Schamp

William

Scheopner*

Lucas Schliesman*

Brandon Schram

Zach Smith*

Mariah Steiner

Megan Steiner

Nicole

Stubbendick

Lar Su

Anahi Talamantes

Elizabeth Talamantes

Axel Tapia-Vargas

Max Thompson

Joscelyn Vincent

Tyler Vokoun

Scott Waggoner

Ehblu Wah*

Wyatt Webster

Jaden Wells

Matt West

Glen Williams

Seth Williams

Matt Ziegler

*Finalists

WILLIAM SCHEOPNER, MARKETING | MORGAN DICKEY, HUMAN RESOUCRE MANAGEMENT

ZOE CHASE, REAL ESTATE & LAND USE ECONOMICS | MICHAEL BECKER, INVESTMENT SCIENCE & PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

cba.unomaha.edu/capstonecup

CONTACT

Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles | Capstone Cup Director erinpmiles@unomaha.edu

Dr. Erin Bass | Capstone Cup Co-Director aebass@unomaha.edu

College

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