Academics - Business

WLC business students tackle a real-world challenge to help a local manufacturer better recruit and retain employees.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is committed to providing students with hands-on experiences – from researching coral reefs in Grenada to teaching children in Zambia about hygiene.

By the time students reach their senior year, they have learned academically and matured intellectually, which is why the culmination of their experiences presented through a capstone project is so powerful.

Students majoring in one of the business tracks at WLC must complete a capstone prior to graduating. This year, the capstone class was structured differently. “The student groups worked on the same problem for the same company,” said Heather Stelzer, assistant professor of business administration. “Not only does this give the company multiple, unique business proposals, but the students can see how their research and plans differ from each other.”

Alto-Shaam is a private, familyowned company that produces top-rated restaurant and commercial kitchen equipment. While its products are used in more than 90 countries, Alto-Shaam’s headquarters and manufacturing facility are located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

The Alto-Shaam team was impressed with the students’ creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as well as the respect and professionalism they exhibited during their research and presentations.

“Producing quality products requires top talent,” said Randy Avrit, director of human resources at Alto-Shaam. “And the competition for talent is high for Wisconsin manufacturers as new manufacturing jobs continue to be created with a shrinking pool of applicants.”

The project began with a presentation by the Alto-Shaam human resources leadership team, where WLC business students were given an overview of their challenge: how Alto-Shaam could better recruit and retain employees. In early October, the

three groups of students visited the facility, where they toured the plant and talked with several current employees about their experiences.

“When we were approached by WLC, we welcomed the opportunity to get a fresh set of eyes from students who represent our next generation of employees,” said Sarah Wittig, Alto-Shaam’s manager of human resources.

On December 10, the student groups presented their business plans to the Alto-Shaam human resources leadership team. Each group offered different solutions, from expediting the training process to modification of the company’s Gain Share program.

The Alto-Shaam team was impressed with the students’ creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as well as the respect and professionalism they exhibited during their research and presentations. “The students were thorough with their research and provided valuable recommendations for attracting, recruiting, and retaining quality employees,” said Avrit. “I can name

The nine WLC students who were enrolled in BUS 480 - their senior capstone class - pose with Prof. Heather Stelzer and human resources leaders from Alto-Shaam following the student presentations.

three suggestions that we can easily implement as soon as this afternoon.”

The students were randomly grouped and each brought a unique background and perspective to their group. “We were looking for changes that could have a big effect on the company,” said Lydia Glatzel, an accounting major who graduated in December. “We had some challenges getting there, but I think we accomplished that.” “Different talents, ideas and insights, and communication styles taught them active listening, identifying their own and others’ strengths and weaknesses, and how they can help each other during stressful situations.”

For Glatzel, she enjoyed interacting with people in the business community. “It is inspiring to meet people further along in their careers and to learn how they arrived in their current positions,” said Glatzel.

Experiential learning options, such as internships and capstones, present students with real-world problems and help graduating students stand out among other job applicants. As a matter of fact, most of WLC’s School of Business students have job offers prior to graduation, including Glatzel.

“The groups learned firsthand the power of human dynamics within the workplace,” said Stelzer. The relationship developed with Alto-Shaam during the project has led to discussions about how the college and the company can partner in the future to connect talented graduates with rewarding internships and careers.

“They did a remarkable job learning and growing,” said Stelzer. “It was a wonderful experience to see all their work come together in the end.”

WLC seniors Lydia Glatzel, Gunner Amelunk, and David Ullerich comprised one of three groups that presented business plans to AltoShaam. They are shown touring the plant and getting background information about the company from Sarah Wittig, Alto-Shaam’s manager of human resources.