Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Business Huskies Honored for Academics

Published February 6, 2023

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.

Give Back to the Pack Giving Challenge is February 8-10

Published February 6, 2023

By

Mush! Hike! All Right! Let’s Go! Give Back to the Pack is a 48-hour giving challenge taking place over Winter Carnival (Feb. 8-10). Huskies from around the country and world will unite to make an impact in the lives of our current and future students. Funds big or small will directly impact student experiences and scholarships.

Celebrate Winter Carnival 2023 from wherever you are and Give Back to the Pack

You can play a special role in the effort by serving as a College of Business Give-Back Ambassador. You already know how critical the College of Business (COB) is to Michigan Tech, so we need you to spread the word to your network. Your role as ambassador is to actively generate excitement about giving back to the College of Business via your social platforms and digital avenues, like text messages. Become an ambassador today by entering your email to this website, and you will receive your Ambassador Toolkit: https://giveback.mtu.edu/

“College of Business students make me so proud! How can I not give back to the community that made me so successful?”
Marie Cleveland ’82

Multiply your impact with these matching opportunities sponsored by generous College of Business donors:

College of Business Leadership Scholarship Challenge

Bob ’66 and Suzi Tripp will generously support the COB Leadership Scholarship. For every five donors, an additional $5,000 will be unlocked up to a total of $25,000.

College of Business Starter Match x 2

Mary ’73 and Kerry ’72 Irons will generously match up to $2,500 for Michigan Tech’s College of Business.

College of Business Match x 2

Marie ’82 and Mike ’82 Cleveland will match up to $10,000—funds will support Michigan tech business students through the following opportunities: Sam B. Tidwell Learning Center, student entrepreneurship, student marketing research, the Management Information Systems (MIS) fund, the Applied Portfolio Management Program (APMP) fund, and the student economic outlook project.

College of Business Match x 2

Support the greatest needs of the College of Business—Dan ’90 and Anne-Marie Batten will match up to $5,000.

View COB’s Give Back to the Pack website.

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.

2023 Bob Mark Business Model Pitch Competition Winners

Published February 2, 2023

By

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.

The Business of Being a Husky: Becoming a Leader at Michigan Tech

Published February 2, 2023

By eskughn

Group of students stand in front of Chicago's "Bean". — Emily (fourth from left) stands with other American Marketing Association members along with Professor Junhong Min (far right).

Emily Kughn stands in front of a Michigan Tech sign — This blog is by Emily Kughn, marketing and management dual major, and student ambassador.

Back in 2018, the summer before my senior year of high school, I began looking at colleges. I remember getting an email from a strange place called Michigan Technological University. My dad informed me that “MTU” was an excellent university, and we decided to come for a campus visit. Little did I know that when we made the 534-mile trek up to the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan Tech would become my home for the next four years.

I’m really proud of my path in college—I began as an overwhelmed first-year student far from friends and family, and grew into a person who welcomes challenges and changes. I attribute this success to my willingness to try new things and numerous leadership positions on campus.

“I grew into a person who welcomes challenges and changes.”
Emily Kughn, Michigan Tech business student

My Leadership Experiences

Some of the leadership positions I have held as a Michigan Tech student include: treasurer of the American Marketing Association; Young Women Leaders Program mentor; Orientation Team Leader; College of Business teaching assistant; house manager and overall Winter Carnival chair for Delta Zeta sorority; and Women’s Rugby Club public relations chair, president, and captain.

I am grateful to attend a university that provides students with so many opportunities to be involved, stand out, and lead. Michigan Tech’s size is perfect—you will never feel as if you blend into the crowd, and the different ways and possibilities to develop into a leader on campus are endless.

“Michigan Tech’s size is perfect—you will never feel as if you blend into the crowd.”
Emily Kughn, Michigan Tech business student

If you don’t know how to get started on a path to leadership, my advice is to start making connections:

Say hi to people in your classes.
Meet with your professors during their office hours.
Attend free campus events.
Go to K-Day in the fall.
Join student organizations (before holding a leadership position in a student org, you must first become a member).

Also, nobody becomes a leader on their own. It happens as a result of learning from mentors and being built up by those around you. I am fortunate to have had so many people on campus assist me in my path to leadership, including Michigan Tech Marketing Professor Jun Min. From my first time meeting him, he instilled passion in me, made it known that he believed in me, and was always there for advice and mentorship. Every student within the College of Business is lucky to have professors who go above and beyond their job description. They truly care about their students’ leadership development.

Leadership Lessons

Photo of the Michigan Tech Women's Rugby team — Michigan Tech Women’s Rugby Club gathers for a team photo after conference playoffs.

My involvement has taught me so many lessons and developed me into a strong leader. The Women’s Rugby Club is one student organization that I have been a part of since my first semester here at Tech, and I credit it with developing me into an all-around better person.

In life, I think it’s extremely important to find something you are passionate about. It is much easier to develop into a leader when you have a strong passion for the subject at hand. In college, my passion has become rugby. When I first became a captain for my team, I struggled to speak up and feel like my voice mattered. Despite facing adversity, I kept learning. Over time, my confidence grew and I learned how to be a strong leader. To me, leadership will always be done by learning, empowering others, and building them up. I am so proud to say that in my last game as a captain, we took home some hardware (for the first time) by placing fourth in the conference playoffs in Oshkosh, Wisconsin! Michigan Tech and the College of Business have helped to foster these leadership experiences. As I look forward to graduation in April, I am thankful that I can take all of my leadership lessons with me into my career and personal life.

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.

The Business of Being a Husky: Three Ways I Balance Life in College

Published January 17, 2023

By habasala

Students

By Henry Basala, accounting with data analytics and MIS dual major and student ambassador

Balancing academic demands and personal wellbeing is one of the most difficult tasks students face while attending college. With classes, homework, clubs, work, and beyond, sometimes it seems like there aren’t enough minutes in the day. Especially at such a prestigious university like Michigan Tech, Huskies handle a demanding course load. This is why it is important to find the right mix of school and personal life. Here are three ways I balance life at Tech:

Three people pictured hiking — Blog author Henry Basala (right) recharges with friends during a homework hike break.

Take Breaks

One way I prioritize my mental well-being is by taking breaks. As simple as it sounds, this is critical for me. It’s easy to get caught up doing schoolwork for multiple hours straight. While it is necessary to complete lessons, taking a break from doing my accounting or studying for MIS exams is crucial for keeping a steady head during the hectic semester schedule. Some ways I like to take breaks include watching Netflix, playing Wii with my friends, or scrolling social media.

Ask for Help

This is something I took for granted at first—asking for help is one of the most important tools to thrive as a college student. Everybody struggles, everybody fails at times, and everybody has bad days. Michigan Tech has a Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being as well as staff and professors who are eager to help you. Whether it is homework support or just someone to talk to, reach out for help when you are struggling. There will always be someone here for you.

It is pivotal to use the resources you have to help you in times of need.
Henry Basala, Michigan Tech accounting and MIS student

Establish Wants and Needs

Another way I like to manage this tricky task of school-life balance is by prioritizing my wants and needs. While at college, your school life and personal life will sometimes conflict. There will be times when you want to go out, but need to do school work, and times you want to do school work and need to take a break. Identifying wants and needs will help you find the right groove of both to balance your time in college.

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.