UNM SBI Teams Win National Awards

Student team leaders Jarred Panger and Alex Mansfield

 

Congratulations to students from the Anderson School of Management for earning top prizes at the Small Business Institute’s Project of the Year competition in New Orleans. 

Anderson students earned two third place honors after competing against more than 75 SBI teams from across the nation in three different project categories at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.  The awards included a student team guided by Dr. Dimitri Kapelianis and student team leader, Alex Mansfield, who took third place honors in the Graduate/Specialized category for their project developing a strategic marketing plan for Explora! Science Center and Children’s Museum in Albuquerque.  This is the third year in a row that Dr. Kapelianis’ student teams have won national awards. 

“I have found my experience collaborating with the UNM SBI to be deeply rewarding,” said Dr. Kapelianis.  “Everyone benefits.  My students acquire practical skills by working with local businesses and non-profits on important strategic challenges. Our local client organizations benefit when Anderson MBA students bring a fresh perspective and keen insight to their business plans. And the experience keeps my teaching grounded in the practical realities of marketing strategy.”
 
The second UNM award was a third place finish in the Graduate/Comprehensive category. The student team project for American Realty was guided by Adjunct Professor Holly Hitzemann and led by student team leader Jarred Panger.  Professor Hitzemann says the SBI program provides students real-world training for their future careers through this unique experiential learning opportunity. 
UNM SBI director Stacy Sacco says working with the SBI is a unique opportunity for local businesses. “Participating firms receive in-depth business consulting for nearly four months and a professional, scalable business plan to guide their future,” says Sacco. 

Since the founding of UNM SBI in 1978, it has assisted more than 700 businesses, including start-ups, expanding businesses, nonprofit organizations and family enterprises.  Every semester, 15-20 student teams comprised of 3-5 students are guided by a UNM Anderson faculty member to work with local client businesses and assist them with strategic planning, financial analyses and marketing research studies.  To find out more about UNM SBI go to: https://sbi.mgt.unm.edu/.

Stacy Sacco New SBI Director

 

Stacy Sacco, Anderson School of Management Lecturer and Associate Director of the UNM Small Business Institute (SBI) will be assuming Dr. Raj Mahto’s role as the Director of the program as of Monday, April 20, 2014. 

“I’m looking forward to taking a larger role in moving the SBI programs forward and building on the many accomplishments Dr. Mahto, the participating professors and student teams have achieved. We have a strong team of dedicated professors and SBI staff including David Hammitt and Tyler Briggs to insure the seamless continuity of this valuable program,” says Sacco.

 

The SBI provides a select group of local small businesses and nonprofit organizations consulting assistance with critical projects such as marketing, strategy, financing and business plans, working with several Anderson School of Management classes and national databases each semester to bring an outside perspective to small business owners. 

 

Since its founding in 1978, the SBI has assisted over six hundred organizations and positively impacted the local economy. 


 

 

 

Anderson Students Take Top Prizes At National Competition

Starlight FUNiture owner Eric Nelson surrounded by graduate students who captured first prize in Las Vegas.

Congratulations to Professor Dimitri Kapelianis and his Starlight FUNiture LLC student team (Max Ebnother, Stacie Nowell, Peter Ray, Kevin Roybal, and Drew Wayner) for winning the National Championship (1st prize at the graduate level) in the Small Business Institute’s Case of the Year Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The team won in the most competitive, comprehensive consulting category.

At the undergraduate level, Speakeasy LLC team ( Jennifer Walker, Christine Shields, Andres Perez, and Maximo Lopez), won 3rd prize (Business Plan Category).  This is the second year in a row that teams from Anderson have won.

At the same venue, the UNM Small Business Institute program was also awarded the prestigious ‘Showcase Program of the Year’ award.

Kudos to all!