Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Category: Awards

Business Huskies Honored for Academics

Published
By
Volleyball player makes a pass
College of Business student-athlete Carissa Beyer executes a pass.

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced the All-Academic and All-Academic Excellence Teams for the Fall 2022 semester. A total of 140 Michigan Tech student-athletes earned recognition with 94 Huskies on the All-Academic Excellence Team and 46 on the All-Academic Team.

Criteria states that the student-athlete must be an active member on the roster at the end of the season, not a first-year or a first-year transfer student. GLIAC All-Academic teams are comprised of those student-athletes that meet the criteria and carry a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0-3.49. GLIAC Academic Excellence teams are comprised of student-athletes that have a cumulative GPA of 3.50-4.0.

All-Academic and All-Academic Excellence Teams representing the Michigan Tech College of Business:

Men’s Cross Country Academic All-Excellence 

  • Clayton Sayen, Gr., Master of Business Administration, 3.87, Houghton, Mich./Houghton

Football Academic All-Excellence 

  • Gabe Frontuto, Jr., Master of Business Administration, 3.66, Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco
  • Collin Hicks, R-Fr., Finance, 3.67, Marquette, Mich./Marquette Senior
  • Patrick Kastner, R-Fr., Accounting, 3.51, Elmhurst, Ill./York Community
  • Louis Thom, Sr., Engineering Management, 3.88, Leonard, Mich./Romeo
  • Owen Watson, So., Engineering Management, 3.79, Otsego, Mich./Otsego

Football All-Academic

  • Will Ark, Sr., Master of Business Administration, 3.12, Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon
  • Hunter Beuchel, So., Finance, 3.06, Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills
  • Steele Fortress, Jr., Construction Management, 3.25, Spring Arbor, Mich./Parma Western
  • Kolby Hindenach, R-Fr., Construction Management, 3.39, Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw
  • Brady Ingbretson, So., Finance, 3.30, Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa
  • Kevin Lee, Sr., Business Administration, 3.16, Warren, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate
  • Will Marano, Jr., Management, 3.25, Dearborn, Mich./Edsel Ford
  • Liam McDonough, So., Engineering Management, 3.31, Green Bay, Wis./West DePere
  • Jacob Newman, So., Finance, 3.23, South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon
  • Bryce Pietrantonio, R-Fr., Construction Management, 3.31, Kingsford, Mich./Iron Mountain
  • Brendan Stephens, R-Fr., Construction Management, 3.30, Trenton, Mich./Allen Park
  • Connor Worthington, So., Construction Management, 3.30, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven
  • Scout Wunder, Sr., Construction Management, 3.44, Escanaba, Mich./Escanaba

Soccer Academic All-Excellence

  • Julia Pietila, So., Marketing, 3.96, Hartland, Mich./Hartland
  • Alicia Shatrau, Gr., Accounting, 3.62, Brighton, Mich./Brighton

Volleyball Academic All-Excellence 

  • Carissa Beyer, Sr., 3.54, Finance, Appleton, Wis./Appleton North

About the College of Business

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

Continue Reading →

2023 Bob Mark Business Model Pitch Competition Winners

Published
By
Three students stand with certificates

By Eugene Brown Agyei (Husky Innovate), Shannon Rinkinen (COB)

On Jan. 19, eleven Michigan Technological University students across disciplines pitched their business models to a panel of judges comprised of faculty and business professionals. In it’s sixteenth year, the business pitch competition is a tribute to the late College of Business Professor of Practice Bob Mark and helps nurture Michigan Tech’s entrepreneurial spirit. The tradition is a highlight of Innovation Week activities.

In the end, Bayle Golden (master’s in engineering management) emerged as the top award winner with SafeROW, a startup focused on solving child abductions. Golden also earned the Social Impact Award, sponsored by Elham Asgari, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship in the College of Business.

Presenting Tall and Small Designs, an innovation for finding the right clothing fit, was Jordan Craven (management information systems), who earned second prize as well as Audience Favorite and Breakout Innovation Award, sponsored by the MTEC SmartZone and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Third prize went to Asia Motta (engineering management) with the Droplet, a device to keep houseplants alive.

Ideas spanning health, education, and sustainable power generation were also pitched by Huskies.

Business Model Awards

Presented by the College of Business with thanks to sponsors Rick and Jo Berquist, and Dan and Jane Green for sponsoring the Audience Favorite award.

  • First Prize—Bayle Golden with SafeROW ($2,000)
  • Second Prize—Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs ($1,000)
  • Third Prize—Asia Motta with The Droplet ($500)
  • Honorable Mention—Rehab (Ruby) Alhajjar with The Water Solution ($250)
  • Audience Favorite—Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs ($250)

Social Impact Award

Sponsored and presented by Gates Professor Elham Asgari, College of Business.

  • Winner—Bayle Golden with SafeROW ($1,000)

Breakout Innovation Award

Presented by Patrick Visser, chief commercial officer, MTEC SmartZone.
Sponsored by MTEC SmartZone and Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

  • Winner—Jordan Craven with Tall and Small Designs ($1,000)

Special Thanks

Special thanks to those who dedicated time and resources to make the competition a success.

Sponsors:

  • Dean Johnson, dean, College of Business
  • Elham Asgari, Gates Professor, College of Business
  • Rick and Jo Berquist
  • Dan and Jane Green
  • MTEC SmartZone and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Judges:

  • Jay Meldrum, executive director, Keweenaw Research Center; MTU liaison to the Grand Traverse Area
  • Eric Roberts, MTU alumnus; executive director, 20Fathoms
  • Elham Asgari, Gates Professor, College of Business
  • Dan Green, MTU alumnus and entrepreneur; principal, BlackFin Group
  • Adrienne Minerick, professor of chemical engineering; affiliated professor of biomedical engineering; president, American Society for Engineering Education
  • Patrick Visser, chief commercialization officer, MTEC SmartZone
  • Michael Cleveland, P.E. and MTU alumnus; mentor in residence at Michigan Tech
  • Lawrence W. Staley, MTU alumnus; director of engineering (retired 2019), Parker Hannifin Corporation

Visit the Husky Innovate Events page for upcoming opportunities.

About the College of Business

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

Continue Reading →

Huskies Win at Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge

Published
By
Winners of the Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge pose with their checks
Jordan Craven (bottom, center) and Rourke (top, left)

By Jessie Stapleton, Shannon Rinkinen

On Friday, November 11, four Huskies representing three teams pitched their business ideas at Michigan State University during the Michigan Collegiate Startup Challenge (MCSC), competing for more than $12,000 in cash prizes. MCSC is Michigan’s university-level business model competition specifically designed for student entrepreneurs across the state. The second-annual MCSC, sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, fosters entrepreneurship by encouraging commercialization of ideas.

Twenty semifinalists representing nine schools pitched their ideas, including the following Michigan Tech teams:

Craven took first place, winning $5,000, for Tall and Small Designs, a retailer software service providing form-fitting mockups of online clothing products for consumers. Sylvain, of Integrated Molecular Innovations, an electrochemical biosensor for at-home detection of T4 thyroid levels, earned fourth place, netting $1,000.

Students spent the first portion of the day pitching their ideas to judges. Ten startups were selected to move to the finalist showcase round.

Hosted by Michigan State, the pitch competition was a collaboration between Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Mid-Michigan College, Northern Michigan University, and Wayne State University.

About the College of Business

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

Continue Reading →

Business Students Earn First, Third, and Audience Favorite in Idea Pitch Competition

Published
By
Students winners of the Idea Pitch Competition pose with certificates.
Winners of the Idea Pitch Competition representing the Michigan Tech College of Business—Alex Bos (second from left); Asia Motta (third from left); and Noel Kamdem-Tegue (third from right)

Congratulations to Idea Pitch Competition winners representing the Michigan Tech College of Business (COB): In first place—Anastasia (Asia) Motta with The Droplet; in third place—Alex Bos with The SELF Couch; and the audience-favorite—Noel Kamdem-Tegue with Black Earth Rising, a food truck.

Continue Reading →

COB Announces Faculty Awards in Research, Service

Published
By

Each year the Michigan Tech College of Business recognizes faculty for their accomplishments in the areas of service and research. A faculty panel of past recipients guides the selection process. This year’s honorees are:

Jenny Apriesnig–Service

This year’s Service Award went to Jenny Apriesnig, assistant professor of economics. A faculty member in the College since 2018, Apriesnig took on the advisor role for Michigan Tech Collegiate DECA last fall. Under her leadership and mentorship, the group reactivated and saw early success. Highlights include: Six students competing and placing at the state competition in February and four students competing in the national conference in Baltimore in April, with two earning a top 10 placement.

The organization now has 13 members and is looking forward to growing.

Apriesnig’s above-and-beyond efforts were noticed by her students, too—many of whom nominated her for Tech’s student organization advisor of the year, another award she received this year. Nominees noted that she traveled with the group to various functions across the country and held one-on-one mentoring sessions to ensure each student felt prepared and supported ahead of their competitions and presentations.

Many College of Business students were active in DECA during their high school careers, and were eager to continue their endeavors during college.

Professor Jenny Apreisnig holding a plaque in front of a step and repeat
Jenny Apriesnig

“Jenny’s dedication to support DECA students is appreciated by everyone in the College of Business; she is an outstanding role model for our students,”

Mari Buche, associate dean, Michigan Tech College of Business

William Breffle–Research

Many of Associate Professor of Economics William (Bill) Breffle’s research papers are published in top environmental economics journals, including the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, The American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Land Economics, Ecological Economics, and Environmental and Resource Economics. Breffle has also published in policy journals such as Contemporary Economic Policy and Urban Studies. Two of Breffle’s journal articles were selected for International Library of Environmental Economics and Policy book volumes as “important and influential essays.” Another publication he co-authored is listed among the top 200 most influential research papers in the discipline of environmental and ecological economics. Impressively, according to Google Scholar, his research has been cited more than 1,500 times.

portrait of Dr. William Breffle
Bill Breffle

During the first half of his 30-year career, Breffle’s research centered on the valuation of economic damages caused by injuries to natural resources, such as mining injuries, releases of organics, and oil spills. Research teams across 15 states that included him secured more than $700 million in settlements for restoration and remediation. More recently, his research has investigated pressing topics related to sustainability and carrying capacity, especially focused on the Great Lakes, but also climate change issues as far away as Laos and Uganda. Blending his teaching with research, Breffle’s co-authors frequently include students. 

“Dr. Breffle’s selection for the COB Faculty Research Award is a reflection of his career-long commitment to academic discovery. His research has informed policy decision-makers on national issues for more than 20 years.

“MTU students are fortunate to learn from a person who sits at the forefront of his profession,”

Dean Johnson, dean, Michigan Tech College of Business

About the College of Business

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

Continue Reading →