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Students Compete in UNL Union Pacific Case Competition

Four teams of undergraduate students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln competed in a preliminary Union Pacific Case Competition March 4 at the College of Business Administration. The competition challenged the teams to take on a case that examined the capacity of the railroad at a specific port and which business opportunities would provide the most value and return for the company.
 
“I enjoyed being a part of the case competition. The coaches and judges gave expert advice on what we did right and what we can improve on,” said Dave Dudney, a senior marketing major from Gretna, Nebraska. “I wish I had done something like this sooner, because it gave me the opportunity to take what I’ve learned in the classroom and actually apply my business knowledge to a real-world situation.”
 
Dudney and team preparing for competition
Dudney (second from left) and team preparing for competition
The students received three hours to research the case and prepare their recommendation before presenting to the judges. The judges included Mike Dickmeyer, senior business director for domestic intermodal sales at Union Pacific, Rob Simon, associate professor of practice in marketing, and Steve Welton, assistant professor of practice in marketing.
 
“Overall, I believe each one of the students learned something new from the competition,” Dickmeyer said. “I was impressed with their presentation skills. The teams did great research, presented their proposals well and were very knowledgeable and professional throughout the entire process.”
 
The winning team of Trevor Burr, sophomore accounting major from Kenesaw, Nebraska; Tucker Krantz, junior management and marketing major from Centennial, Colorado; Colter Meisner, senior management and marketing major from Madison Lake, Minnesota; and Taylor Moore, junior finance major from Chanhassen, Minnesota, advanced to the regional competition.
 
Dudney and team preparing for competition
Dickmeyer talking with students
“We are excited to go to the regional competition and represent UNL,” Moore said. “I am looking forward to the experience because it will give us the opportunity to improve our strategy and time management as well as network with Union Pacific and the other teams.”
 
Union Pacific will host its fourth annual regional case competition April 1 in Omaha at the Union Pacific headquarters. The competition features teams from Iowa State University, Kansas State University and University of Nebraska at Omaha.
 
“The case competition actually gives students a glimpse of what I do every day,” Dickmeyer said. “It’s important for students to gain this experience so when Union Pacific or any other company interviews and hires them, they already have a taste of what they will be doing on the job. Having the skills to put a compelling case together, present the proposal and sell it to their boss or the vice president will be essential in their careers.”
 
Other participating teams included:
Runner Up Team
  • Adam Froendt – junior finance, economics and management major from Omaha, Nebraska
  • Lance Hiebner – junior actuarial science major from Lincoln, Nebraska
  • David Krueger – sophomore management major from Normal, Illinois
  • Camille Sippel – sophomore economics major from Groton, South Dakota
 
  • Anne Bachman – junior marketing major from Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Joe Gomez – junior international business major from Omaha
  • Derek Hudson – senior accounting and marketing major from Omaha
  • Brad Nauman – senior business administration major from Davenport, Iowa
 
  • Kaden Bruggeman – junior business administration major from Kearney, Nebraska
  • Dave Dudney – senior marketing major from Gretna, Nebraska
  • Nate Stevens – senior marketing major from Kearney
  • Dylan Urias – senior marketing major from Grand Island, Nebraska
Published: March 11, 2016