From creating a custom food truck app and a members-only WhatsApp group to leveraging an internship program and building a library of resources, student groups shared step-by-step implementation plans during the 2025 UW-Stevens Point Case in Point Business Solutions Competition. [View Photos]
Case in Point provided 20 students who applied with hands-on consulting experience, working in teams to develop innovative solutions for a local partner, the Central Wisconsin Food Truck Association (CWFTA). This year, five student teams, coached by faculty mentors, addressed the question: “How might we identify the value proposition of CWFTA membership and design a strategy to showcase it to existing and aspiring food truck entrepreneurs in Central Wisconsin?”
This year’s winner was crowned on Friday, Feb. 28 in the Dreyfus University Center Alumni Room as teams pitched their solutions to a panel of industry professionals and community leaders serving as guest judges. Prize money totaling $5,000 was distributed among the teams and the winning team was recognized for its creativity, strategic thinking and presentation skills, with its recommendations having the potential to directly impact CWFTA’s growth and engagement efforts. The winning team earned the Case in Point Cup and $2,500 in prize money to split, while the second-place team received $1,500, and the third-place team earned $1,000.
Established in 2023, CWFTA is dedicated to helping mobile restaurants in Central Wisconsin thrive through partnerships, mentorship and advocacy. Co-founders of CWFTA and co-owners of the Purple Basil food truck, Taylor Okerlund ’20 and Carolina Corral ’24, represented the client.
“We were thrilled by the students’ enthusiasm, even before they knew the topic,” said Okerlund. “These students are going beyond their coursework to support a local organization and gain invaluable real-world experience.”
The Case in Point competition is open to all UW-Stevens Point students and hosted by the Sentry School of Business and Economics. The extracurricular event prepares students for success in professional business careers and is supported by a generous gift from alumni Mark ’85 and Julie Smiley ’87. Now in its second year, the competition previously challenged students to help the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau boost revenue through its partnership program.
“Our students consistently rise to the challenge, applying classroom knowledge to solve real business problems,” said Kevin Neuman, head of the Sentry School of Business and Economics. “The Case in Point competition fosters critical thinking, teamwork and professional growth, all while benefiting our local community.”
Special thanks to the judges: Scott Steele (Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., retired), Olivia Molle ’21, MBA ’22 (Sentry), Gabrielle Falkey (Stone Press Food Truck) and Carolina Corral (Purple Basil/CWFTA). And thanks to our coaches this year: Franciane Reinert Ce, Corey Huck, Jordan Juliani, Sean Jordan and Timothy McKeough.
Champion: The Hucksters (Corey Huck – Coach)
Gerrit Brinkman
Mike Brierton
Danielle Wettstein
Sophia Bley
2nd Place: Recipe for Success (Jordan Juliani – Coach)
Emma Mullin
Brook Peterson
Ethan Lebeck
Nathan LaRue
3rd Place: Case of the Munchies (Sean Jordan – Coach)
Alexis Barker
Kylee Houfe
Garrett Staszak
Yeleng Yang
Honorable Mention: The Franberries (Fran Reinert Ce – Coach)
Allison Loch
Jack Blair
Josh Heuss
Mylee Nickel
Honorable Mention: Q the Music (Tim McKeough – Coach)
Marisa Urban
Blake Lobner
Kyle Vandeleygraaf
David Kaminski