UMaine Students Excel in International Business Challenge
Contact: Paul Myer, (207) 581-1992; Jason Harkins, (207) 217-4798
ORONO — Five Maine Business School graduate students representing the University of Maine at the 2010 Molson International Case Competition in Montreal, Canada recently performed well, finishing in the top half of 36 invited business school from across the globe.
The UMaine team finished 14th overall and was one point shy of making the semifinals. Historically, UMaine students have competed well in the event, which draws some of the best business schools around the world. Graduate students from nine countries gathered in Montreal to participate in a round-robin competition of business problem-solving this year.
The UMaine team placed behind South Carolina and Pepperdine, but ahead of Purdue, Pittsburgh, George Washington, Baylor and Kent State, according to Paul Myer, executive in residence in the Maine Business School, one of three team coaches.
With three hours to prepare, teams analyzed and evaluated unpublished business cases using the skills, knowledge and experience they had acquired from their respective MBA curriculums. Teams are judged on creativity, insight, substance and plausibility of their recommendations.
“I think these results speak well of the quality and intellect of our students in the Maine Business School,” Myer says. “They went head-to-head with some of the best business students with realistic business problem-solving challenges. They’ll be bringing that creative critical thinking with them when they enter the marketplace.”
Team members were Nicole Gogan of Orrington, Joseph Kellner from Hampden, Mass. and Bangor, Victoria Thornton of Lee and Kim Williams of Carrabassett Valley. Frederick Kaiser of Blue Hill was an alternate member of the team. Coaches also included business school faculty members John Mahon and Jason Harkins.
Selection for the team is competitive; students begin honing business analytical and presentation skills in the fall each year.