A Kalamazoo Success Story for MTU’s DECA Chapter 

by Dylan Dunneback

Earlier this month, 11 members of the Michigan Tech Collegiate DECA chapter attended the State Career Development Conference in Kalamazoo, MI, to compete in three different types of events: individual, team, and prepared business plans. In addition to the competitions, the MTU DECA Chapter also made tie blankets for charity. 

DECA students holding awards.

Below are the students who participated, as well as the events in which they placed: 

  • Jaylen Body (Marketing & Management): Finalist, Hotel & Lodging
  • Veronica Frystak (Marketing & OSM): 2nd place, Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
  • Dylan Dunneback (Marketing): 1st place, Restaurant and Food Service Management
  • Allyana Grochowski (General Business): Finalist, Human Resources Management
  • Zach Hooper (MIS & Engineering Management): Finalist, Entrepreneurship Operations
  • Sammy Perrone (Marketing): Finalist, Fashion Merchandising Marketing
  • Ethan Semenchuks (Engineering Management): 3rd place, Sales Management and Leadership
  • Gavin Walters (Engineering Management): Finalist, Marketing Management
  • Joe Anthony (Electrical Engineering)
  • Wilson Yax (Finance)
  • Isaac Pilgrim (Finance)

The following teams also placed:

  • Joe Anthony and Gavin Waters placed 3rd in their team event, Business to Business Marketing
  • Dylan Dunneback and Allyana Grochowski placed 2nd in their prepared business plan event, Digital Marketing Strategies
  • Jaylen Body and Veronica Frystak placed 2nd in their team event, Entertainment Marketing
  • Zach Hooper and Sammy Perrone placed 3rd in their team event, Marketing Communications.

Jaylen, Veronica, Dylan, Allyana, Zach, Sammy, Ethan, Gavi, and Joe all qualified for the International Career Development Conference in April 2024 in Texas. 

Roger Woods Selected for Deans’ Teaching Showcase

by Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning

Dean Johnson, College of Business dean, has selected Roger Woods, teaching professor in operations management and engineering management and affiliated faculty with the construction management program, for the Deans’ Teaching Showcase. Woods will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other showcase members and is a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Woods has taught 10 different classes with an emphasis on getting students to “Think!”, not just repeat information from lectures. As the primary faculty for BUS2300 Quantitative Problem Solving, Woods teaches business and nonbusiness majors that Excel is not just a calculator, but a communication tool. His emphasis on formatting details sends students off to be critical of other spreadsheets that don’t follow his “Cardinal Rules for Spreadsheet Modeling.” And, Woods’ infamous take-home exam challenges students to incorporate all the concepts, techniques and models in the context of an actual business. In addition to the exam’s 20 versions, each iteration has unique values based on random number generation. As any College of Business alum will note, completing the exam is a badge of honor.

Roger Woods

“Students don’t always appreciate his teaching until they have been out in industry — then they get it,” said Jodie Filpus-Paakola, coordinator of academic services.

Woods’ high expectations carry on to other upper-division courses. His hands-off approach to Advanced Project Management allows students to grapple with the question of which methods are appropriate to the presented scenario, instead of just applying all of the tools they have available. Woods also uses a combination of lecture, discussion, in-class exercises and quizzes to engage students in his Six Sigma class, which includes a variety of nonbusiness majors. From Woods’ “Question of the Day” to his useful/useless piece of knowledge, students engage in discussions and class activities. With all of his classes, he uses a variety of markers (black, blue and red) to create points of emphasis, which students appreciate.

“I truly want to thank you for your passion and how much you care about your students,” an alum wrote to Woods. ”Your excitement about the topics you teach fuels our fire and willingness to learn. I would also like to thank you for caring about your students far beyond what your job requires, it really makes all of the difference.”

Mari Buche, associate dean of the College of Business, said Woods plays a critical teaching role in the College: “For the majority of incoming business students, their journey to earning a tech-savvy business degree starts with Roger’s course. For students graduating with a supply chain/operations management degree or engineering management degree, their journey to a successful career is launched by his hands-on upper-division curriculum.”

Johnson emphasized Woods’ rigor combined with his dedication to student-centered experiential education: “While his Quantitative Problem Solving take-home final exam is legendary, students continually rave about his teaching ability and his dedication to the individual student. His Advanced Project Management class has consistently placed well in project management competitions, including first and second place awards this last year. His commitment to student-centered learning and experiential education directly support the College of Business’s mission and reputation.”

COB Marketing Students Excel in Regional Marketing Competition

Michigan Tech’s AMA (American Marketing Association) students recently participated in the largest regional AMA conference held at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater on October 26 and 27. The twenty AMA members from diverse academic backgrounds, including Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain and Operations Management, Management, and Marketing, competed with approximately 300 students from 25 national and international universities across six competition categories.

AMA students. Photo credit Dr. Junhong Min

Excelling in all categories, particularly in four prominent categories were:

  • AcuRite Digital Marketing Strategy Competition: 1st place was Lydia Sterly (marketing) and David Miller(marketing)
  • Sherwin-Williams Design Competition: 2nd place was David Miller(marketing), Stephanie Franco (marketing), Veronica Frystak (marketing)
  • Henry Schein Mock Interview Competition: 2nd place was Jaylen Body (management and marketing).
  • Colony Brands and Carol Wright Marketing Strategy:  2nd place was Nicholas Pate(marketing), Max Schramm (accounting), Veronica Frystak (marketing)

Nicholas Pate, the AMA President, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This past week was amazing – to be able to grow my marketing skills and learn a little bit about the future of AI and how it will play a role within the workplace. “Special thanks to Junhong Min, Matthew Monte, and Dan Green for providing unique insight and guidance on how to successfully execute within multiple marketing and sales competitions.”

Nicholas Pate, the AMA President, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This past week was amazing to be able to grow my marketing skills and learn a little bit about the future of AI and how it will play a role within the workplace.” He also states, “Special thanks to Junhong Min, Matthew Monte, and Dan Green for providing unique insight and guidance on how to successfully execute within multiple marketing and sales competitions.”

Dr. Junhong “Jun” Min, the advisor of AMA at Michigan Tech, shared his thoughts, saying, “This year, there was an almost two times increase in student participation compared to the previous year in the 2023 UWW marketing competitions. I hoped that the students would prioritize enjoying the new learning experiences over solely focusing on winning. Nevertheless, the Michigan Tech AMA students demonstrated remarkable self-motivation, an incredible dedication to competitions, and a strong sense of teamwork, assisting each other in securing victories in the competitions. I was very thrilled when Michigan Tech was announced eight times during this year’s AMA award ceremony.”

Max Schramm, Veronica Frystak and Nicholas Pate

SBDC Internship with Accounting/MIS Student Henry Basala

Accounting with Data Analytics and Management Information Systems Student, Henry Basala.

As a fourth-year College of Business student with a passion for helping others, I was
thrilled to begin my internship with the Michigan Small Business Development Center (MI
SBDC) last October. This role has allowed me to use the knowledge I have gained at Michigan
Tech to assist small businesses in their growth and development. It is my pleasure to share with
you some of the experiences that have shaped my internship journey so far.


In my role as a business consulting intern, my primary responsibility is to provide
comprehensive support to small businesses throughout the Upper Peninsula. From helping
them with their daily accounting and record-keeping tasks to conducting market analysis and
creating detailed reports, I get to provide a wide variety of assistance to these businesses.
Throughout my work, I am committed to ensuring that these enterprises have access to the
resources they need to thrive in this growing economy.


One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship is assisting entrepreneurs in writing
business plans. Collaborating with small business owners, I have helped transform their visions
into well-structured, actionable plans. These business plans serve as roadmaps, guiding them
toward sustainable growth and facilitating better decision-making. As well in many cases,
allowing the business access to capital to further business operations.

Additionally, I actively contribute to small businesses by providing assistance in
accounting and record keeping. Leveraging tools like Quickbooks and Wave Accounting, I not
only streamline financial processes but also devise effective management and collection
protocols. This facet of my role enables me to directly apply the knowledge I’ve acquired
through my major in a practical and impactful manner throughout my internship.

Furthermore, developing effective marketing strategies is a crucial aspect of my role. By
leveraging data-driven insights and understanding their target audience, we craft customized
plans that not only elevate their brand presence but also lead to higher customer engagement
and increased sales. The primary assistance I serve during this process is providing industry
and target market reports delivering comprehensive information of the industry.

During my internship, I have had the privilege of working with over 50 small businesses,
each with its unique set of challenges and aspirations. Being a part of their journey, witnessing
their growth, and contributing to their success has been incredibly rewarding. Recently, I was
presented with the opportunity to speak at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce. Addressing
the local business community, I assisted another consultant in emphasizing the vital role that the
MI SBDC plays in supporting small businesses. This experience was both humbling and
empowering, as it showcased the impact our consulting services have on local businesses. As
well, I was also able to see Governor Whitmer address the recent improvements made to

Michigan’s infrastructure at the UP State Fair. This provided me with the opportunity to see state
representatives discuss projects that will affect the clients I work with directly.
In conclusion, my work at the MI SBDC has been an eye-opening and transformative
experience. I must credit the MI SBDC team for being instrumental in my development as a
young professional in the business. My mentors have provided invaluable insights, sharing their
knowledge and expertise. Their guidance has been pivotal in shaping my consulting approach,
enabling me to deliver impactful results to the businesses I work with. Witnessing their success
has reinforced my commitment to supporting small businesses, knowing that they are the
backbone of vibrant and thriving communities.

The life of a business consulting intern

Professor of Practice Joel Tuoriniemi Passes Away

Joel Tuoriniemi

by Dean Johnson, Dean, College of Business

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Joel Tuoriniemi, professor of practice in accounting in the College of Business, on Tuesday (Sept. 19).

An open memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 24) at the Hidden Pine Barn, next to the Erickson Crowley Funeral Home on Pine Street in Calumet, Michigan. The Tuoriniemi family welcomes all members of the Michigan Tech community to attend, especially Joel’s current and former students.

Joel would often tell his students that he didn’t see teaching as a job; he simply showed up on campus each morning to do what he loved most — which was being with his students, all day, every day. “And,” he would say, “for some reason the University continues to put money in my bank account for it.” 

Joel approached all situations by saying, “If we ask what is in the best interests of the students, the answer on what to do is usually obvious.” He would simply tell everyone, “Just be nice.”

Joel is remembered by his colleagues and students for his dedication to always providing whatever was needed to benefit students. He often proclaimed he had the best job in the world, and it showed in his passion for teaching. His rhinoceros tattoo reminded him how to approach every class.

A native of the Keweenaw, Joel received his bachelor’s in business, concentration in accounting, from Michigan Tech in 1994, and his juris doctorate from Michigan State University in 1997. He completed postdoctoral studies in accounting at the University of Florida.

Joel started at Michigan Tech as an instructor in 2001, teaching Foundations of Taxation. As time went on, he also picked up Business Law, which was a perfect fit given his JD. In 2006, he was hired full-time as an assistant professor of business law, and in 2014 he became a professor of practice in accounting. His teaching ability spanned from introductory accounting to the MBA and MSA, to the Applied Portfolio Management Program. He conducted research in taxation, financial statement analysis and contractual bargaining power.

Joel earned the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the College of Business Teaching Award, and was a member of the University’s Academy of Teaching Excellence. He held memberships in the American Taxation Association and Taxation Section of the Michigan Bar Association, and was the Ed and Betty Robinson Faculty Fellow in Accounting. In 2020, President Koubek appointed Joel as the MTU faculty athletics representative.

Joel’s office reflected the important items in his life: photos of his wife Julianne ’95 and children Wyatt, Hanna and Hunter; thank-you cards from students; hockey and golf memories; accounting and APMP posters; and a Keweenaw County map.

Read Joel’s full obituary and leave a memory if you wish. The College of Business has provided an additional space for memories at Kudoboard.