UB MBAs take second place in prestigious Whitman Competition

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A team of four MBA students in the University at Buffalo School of Management took second place at the annual Whitman Case Competition at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.

Chris Maugans, JD/MBA ’14, of Tonawanda; James Finlay, MBA ’14, of Chicago; Christi Lundahl, MBA ’14, of Webster; and Michael Pinnola, MBA ’15, of North Babylon were awarded $1,250 for capturing second place.

This is the fourth consecutive year a UB School of Management team has finished in the top two at the prestigious case competition.

Eighteen teams from MBA programs across the country entered the competition, sponsored by the Whitman Graduate Student Organization. Eight teams, including two from the UB School of Management, were selected to participate in the finals on March 21.

Competitors analyzed a business case about Indraprastha Ice and Cold Storage Ltd., a cold storage company based in India, and its current value proposition. The second place UB team recommended strategically reducing the company’s pricing structure to increase demand and a long-term shift in its business model.

Travel expenses for the UB teams were partially funded through a donation by alumnus Steven C. Verney ’80, MBA ’81, executive vice president and chief risk officer at Allstate Insurance Co., 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 also has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report 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.