Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Category: Academics

Huskies Place First, Second in THEProject Competition

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by Roger Woods, College of Business

Students in OSM4350 Advanced Project Management, led by Roger Woods (COB), participated in the 12th annual Western Michigan Project Management Institute (WMPMI) collegiate project management competition — known as THEProject — where they took home first and second place.

The teams gave their final presentations Monday (April 8) in Hudsonville, Michigan.

The Project, Team Name: Anchor Management
Photo credit: THEProject
Team Name: Anchor Management
Photo Left to Right: Travis Puesel, WMPMI THEProject Director with MTU Students: Easton Armstrong, Meredith Raaslo, Jacob Maurer, Blake Lewis, William Zinser, Alexander Bos

Students on the winning teams include:

  • First-Place Team — Anchor Management:
    Jacob Maurer (team lead), Blake Lewis, Easton Armstrong, Alex Bos, Will Zinser and Meredith Raasio
  • Second-Place Team — Lake Superior Salute:
    Gregory Lapetina (team lead), Connor Zavislak, Ethan Kennedy, Maggie Gallup, Ashley Haen and Simon Karnoe
THEProject Team Lake Superior Salute
Photo credit: THEProject
Team: Lake Superior Salute
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Roger Woods Selected for Deans’ Teaching Showcase

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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.”

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COB Marketing Students Excel in Regional Marketing Competition

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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
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SBDC Internship with Accounting/MIS Student Henry Basala

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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
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Student Impressions: Summer Study Abroad Germany

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Students in Germany with MTU flag
For three weeks over summer 2023, a group of Michigan Tech students across majors experienced Germany’s supply chain and logistics systems.

The second-annual faculty-led study abroad to Germany, hosted by Dr. Ulrich Schmelzle, assistant professor of supply chain and operations management, exposed Huskies to new cultural and industrial experiences that shape their personal and professional worlds. Read a recount of their travels:

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