A champion was crowned in a competition that had students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point collaborating with the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to help find funding solutions for local tourism efforts.
The inaugural Case in Point Business Solutions Competition had four teams, made up by 19 students, working on a specific challenge from the local bureau: “How might our organization increase revenue from our partnership program, thereby diversifying our income stream?”
The Case in Point competition began last month as students met their teammates, coaches, judges and the client to hear about its problem at a kick-off meeting on March 6. After a month of research, the teams pitched their solutions to judges and prize money was awarded for the best presentations during the Case in Point finals on Wednesday, April 10 in the Dreyfus University Center Alumni Room. [Event Photos]
From corporate partnership packages to social media paid content to a pop drop on New Year’s, four teams of UWSP students presented ideas to a panel of judges on how the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau could diversify its income stream.
The winning team earned the Case in Point Cup and $2,500 in prize money to split. The second-place prize was $1,500, while the third-place team earned $1,000 and honorable mention took home $500.
The Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau represents and promotes all of Portage County, creating a positive economic impact and enhancing the area’s quality of life. Tourism contributed approximately $245.9 million to the local Stevens Point economy in 2022. By joining the SPACVB’s Partners in Tourism program, local businesses can be included in the Visitors Guide and other print and digital promotions. Partnership fees currently contribute 9% of the SPACVB’s annual income.
“The enthusiasm and creativity these student teams are bringing to the table is impressive,” said Sara Brish, executive director of the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Diversifying our income stream is a key priority and I am excited to consider the students’ fresh perspectives on how we can achieve that goal.”
The students analyzed this challenge using Design Thinking, an innovative approach that emphasizes understanding the user’s or customer’s priorities and needs through interviews and observations. By participating in Case in Point, the students gained valuable experience while helping to improve the community. At the same time, participants built key skills associated with an entrepreneurial mindset: creativity, problem-solving and teamwork.
“We challenge every student to think like an entrepreneur,” said Kevin Neuman, head of Sentry School of Business and Economics at UW-Stevens Point. “From small companies to large, from nonprofits to government, the world needs leaders who know how to think like entrepreneurs.”
Each team had a coach to guide them through the problem-solving process. Judges included local professionals from Sentry School Corporate Partners organizations including Aspirus, Sentry, Skyward and Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.
Case in Point is a part of the Think Like an Entrepreneur programming in the month of April from the Sentry School of Business and Economics. Students can learn from entrepreneurs at events on campus and in the community, build creative-thinking and problem-solving skills in competitions as well as participate in activities hosted by the UWSP Student Entrepreneurship Club. Think Like an Entrepreneur is supported by a generous gift from alumni Mark ’85 and Julie Smiley ’87.
First Place: Reed ‘Em and Weep
(Coach Reed Stratton)
Kody Hellenbrand
David Kaminski
Avery Koepsell
Nathan Sankey
Anthony Spatoulas
Second Place: To Be Continued
(Coach Mikkalyn Hafner)
Arianna Bartoli
Haley Densow
Anthony Eiden
Savana Hurlbutt
Brooke Peterson
Third Place: Case Closed
(Coach Tim McKeough)
Stacie Groser
Josh Heuss
Angelica Stahl
Alex Suscha
Honorable Mention: Patrick’s Stars
(Coach Patrick Gatterman)
Michael Brierton
Jadyn Clarner
Sara Haroldsen
Daniel Harris
Kylee Houfe