MBA 755 - Cornerstone Research Group
Business Plan Competition

Course Overview

Project Description:

Student teams create a competitive strategy for an organization from an integrated, cross-functional perspective. They also determine the industry’s competition and other environmental forces in order to develop the organizational strategy. This year’s students had the chance to enhance their skills with real-world applications for the commercialization of new technologies, entrepreneurship, and business expansion. The students were challenged to analyze and address issues that start-up companies encounter when trying to penetrate new market. The students worked closely with Cornerstone Research Group, a local research company that specializes in development, design, and application of products, mainly for the military. CEO and founder, Pat Hood, was interested in finding commercial applications for existing products. The teams work also potentially contributed to the entrepreneurship and job creation in the Dayton area. The competition was held between five teams on the most creative, innovative, and thorough business plan. In addition the plan was to be presented and judged by of five local investors and business professionals. It was up to each team to be creative in formulating innovative product ideas to which these technologies could be applied.

Cornerstone Research Group: http://www.crgrp.net/

 

Professional Assistance

Judges:

Orval Cook, Senior Advisor, Alpha Capital Partners
David Gasper, President, Initial Point, LLC
Pat Hood, President, Cornerstone Research Group
Lou Luedtke, President National Composite Center
Kirk Tyson, President, The Perpetual Strategist

Judges Comments:

“The students had a chance to experience how to commercialize high-technology, and they also had the opportunity to learn how to research and implement strategies in a short period of time. The students did a great job encountering new technologies and were able to explore new avenues for development. ”

- David Gasper, President, Initial Point, LLC

Student Teams

CoolTag

Julie Birchfield
Abby J. Morris
Jaime E. Richardson
Michelle L. Sarmiento
Jennifer L. Williamson
Korrin M. Ziswiler

Instant Awards

Matthew T. Hancock
Sheena M. Lambert
Jasper E. Omolo
Paul W. Roberts
Melissa A. Starry

Paper Rolls

Allison A. Bisignani
Rhonda M. Borgerding
Heather A. Hartman
Ashwin P. Ramesh
Brain J. Wirick

PowerCooler!

Janet M. Cross
William J. Gantt
David A. Gilliam
Manasi V. Kakade
Ashley B. Keen
Amanda Olsen

Veriflex Racing

Judy L. Brinegar
Todd M. Flesch
Chris M. Hinders
Irda Hoxha
Timothy R. Kramer

 

Student Comments:


“Classes throughout the MBA program teach us their own piece of the puzzle, and then this project in the capstone class brings all of the pieces together. We worked with real products, without pre-determined answers, and the correctness of our business plan depended on our research and presentation.”

- Paul Roberts

“This business plan competition was one of the most gratifying projects that I have participated in during my academic career. The application of the comprehensive skill set acquired during the Master’s program at Wright State University helped to solidify concepts that are crucial to becoming successful in the business world.”

- Korrin Ziswiler

 


Veriflex Racing - (L to R) Back row: Irda Hoxha, Todd Flesch
Front Row: Chris Hinders, Judy Brinegar, Tim Kramer


Paper Rolls - (L to R) Back row: Brian Wirick, Ashwin Ramesh
Front Row: Heather Hartman, Rhonda Borgerding, Allison Bisignani


Instant Awards - (L to R) Back row: Melissa Starry, Jasper Omolo
Front Row: Matthew Hancock, Sheena Lambert, Paul Roberts


CoolTag - (L to R) Back row: Korrin Ziswiler, Jaime Richardson, Julie Birchfield
Front Row: Jennifer Williamson, Michelle Sarmiento, Abby Morris


PowerCooler! - (L to R) Back row: Ashley Keen, Amanda Olsen, Manasi Kakade
Front row: David Gilliam, Janet Cross, William Gant