MBAs Win Whitman Competition

By Jacqueline Molik Ghosen

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A team of four MBA students in the University at Buffalo School of Management took the top prize of $2,000 in the annual Whitman Case Competition at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.

Chris Maugans, JD/MBA ’14, of Tonawanda; Ryan McGraw, MBA ’13, of Liverpool; David Charron, MBA ’13, of Portland, Maine; and Todd Carter, MBA ’13, of Troy, Ohio, were the members of the winning team.

Don Harter, associate dean of master’s programs at Whitman, presented the winners’ check and a certificate of achievement to the UB School of Management team.

Thirteen teams from MBA programs across North America, including University of Ottawa, Syracuse University, Carleton University and Simon Fraser University, entered the competition, sponsored by the Whitman Graduate Student Organization.

Competitors analyzed a business case about Spencer’s Retail Limited, a retail chain located in India that faced strategic decisions on positioning, in-store communication, and geographic and customer group focus.

The UB School of Management team was selected as one of eight finalists to present their analysis and recommendations on March 22 in Syracuse.

Travel expenses for the UB team were provided through a donation from School of Management alumnus Steven C. Verney ’80, MBA ’81, vice president, Allstate Insurance Co. in Chicago, and a matching grant from Allstate.

The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and economic impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit mgt.buffalo.edu.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB’s more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.