Strategic and Global Management Students at SUNY Potsdam Take Home Prize in College Competition
The members of the winning team for the SUNY Potsdam Business Plan Competition posed for a photo along with their trophy and product prototype. The student group included (from left): Ryan Wassmer, Brock Chasey, Tyler Gould, Grayson Jackson, Ethan Carr and Oliver Malit.
SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Business Administration recently hosted its 62nd Business Plan Competition, which challenges students to develop an entrepreneurial business plan fulfilling the need of a specific group of consumers.
Four teams in the capstone Strategic and Global Management class spent the fall semester developing a business plan and original product pitch, starting from scratch. The competition was introduced in 1993 by Professor Dr. Edwin J. Portugal to give business administration students the opportunity to work intensively and collaboratively in teams to create a real-life business plan. The teams present their final strategic business plans in front of external judges, who take the role of venture capitalists.
This semester’s winning team included:
- Ethan Carr ’26 of Massena, N.Y.
- Brock Chasey ’26 of Macedon, N.Y.
- Tyler Gould ’26 of Rochester, N.Y.
- Grayson Jackson ’27 of Carthage, N.Y.
- Oliver Malit ’26 of Potsdam, N.Y.
- Ryan Wassmer ’27 of East Patchogue, N.Y.
The winning students coordinated their schedule to meet every week outside of class to develop their business plan and prepare for the competition. Their plan was based around a proposal for a revolutionary smart GPS trackable golf ball that could connects to users’ phones, allowing them to find the ball even in the deepest leaf piles, saving golfers the time and money that comes with losing golf balls season after season.
The 22 students in the class were randomly assigned to teams at the start of the semester, with members bringing different sets of skills to the table.
“The original intent was for students to directly experience the stimulation of working in teams, the exhilaration of innovative thinking, the excitement of public speaking, and the challenges of coordinating team members’ unique talents,” Portugal said.
In creating the business plans, students learn to set goals, come up with a realistic schedule, develop a team contract of expectations, own up to their responsibilities and be accountable to the team.
“This semester was a great experience for me. This was my third class with Dr. Portugal, so I knew what needed to be done for our team to be successful. In the beginning of the semester, our team set two goals: to win the competition and have all members get a 4.0 in the course,” said Tyler Gould, who served as team manager for the winning group. “The whole team was motivated all semester, hitting every deadline and exceeding expectations, which pushed us ahead of other teams when it came time for the competition. I’m proud of everyone for buying into Track-A-Ball, from the start of the paper to the final presentation and coming to class every day ready to work.”
“Looking back on our presentation and the entire project, I feel genuinely proud of what we accomplished, especially winning. We spent the semester developing and improving our idea, and seeing everything come together at the end showed how much progress we made,” said Ethan Carr. “Presenting it made me realize how much thought and effort actually went into the project, and winning really confirmed that our work paid off. I also want to thank Professor Portugal for teaching and coaching us throughout the semester. He set us up for success, and we’re all grateful for that. Overall, it was a long and challenging assignment, but definitely a meaningful one.”
“This semester, I feel I learned more in this course than in any other I have taken. Although the semester-long project was challenging, it pushed me to stay disciplined, manage my time effectively and engage with the material with a strong sense of urgency. I believe this style of project-based learning and healthy competition is one of the most effective ways to develop practical skills and retain key insights long after the course ends. Overall, I truly enjoyed this class, and I would confidently recommend it to any of my peers in the future,” said Brock Chasey.
“Strategic and Global Management was my fourth class with Dr. Portugal. I’ve really enjoyed all his classes, especially this one. The semester-long project is very engaging and competitive, making it a class to look forward to. The competition and project required a lot of practice and teamwork, which was not a problem for our team as we worked very well together and had a great team manager. Overall, I would recommend this class to anyone that wants to grow, learn and gain real experience,” said Grayson Jackson.
“Looking back on our semester-long project, what stands out to me is how simple the frustration of losing the ball on the golf course inspired us to design a solution that blends technology with sport. From early brainstorming sessions to prototyping and market analysis, every major step demanded collaboration, creativity and persistence,” said Oliver Malit. “The competition became the ultimate test and display of our vision, pushing us to refine our pitch and communicate the value of our product with clarity and confidence. Track-A-Ball is proof of what a dedicated team can achieve when passion meets purpose.”
“This semester was one to remember! It was filled with great time and great laughter. Creating Track-A-Ball made me realize all the little things that go into making a successful business. Going from product ideas to product presentation is a journey I will not forget,” said Ryan Wassmer. “I am thankful for my teammates for their creative abilities and insights to get to our product presentation. Their different approaches to our idea made our product more successful. I am happy I had professional teammates that were able to overcome certain obstacles when presented to them. This made the process much easier and memorable to achieve.”
The teams’ strategic business plans for the competition integrate the students’ understanding of the business functional areas of accounting, finance, management, marketing, information systems, legal environment of business, human resource management, and operations management. The business model canvas, developed by Alexander Osterwalder, is used as the theoretical framework.
School of Education and Professional Studies Interim Dean James Cruikshank served as a judge this semester. Cruikshank noted: “The student presentations were exceptionally professional and thoughtfully executed. Each team demonstrated a strong command of presence and a deep understanding of the product they were pitching, and I was particularly impressed by how confidently and thoughtfully they responded to judges’ questions. Their composure under pressure and their ability to articulate both the product and the underlying business plan model made it clear how diligently they had prepared.”
“This competition provided an invaluable applied-learning experience—one that strengthened their understanding of business planning, market analysis, product viability and effective communication. It was a privilege to serve as a judge and to witness firsthand the sophistication and readiness these students displayed,” Cruikshank added.
Leading up to the competition, the students were mentored by Dr. Alan Hersker, manager of special projects for the SUNY Potsdam president.
“I had the privilege of doing a practice run with the teams before their presentation. Even at that stage, I was impressed with their professionalism, creativity and commitment to excellence. These are students who will clearly make an impact in their fields. I’m proud to have them represent SUNY Potsdam.” Hersker said. “At SUNY Potsdam, we pride ourselves on our focus on applied learning and preparing our students for successful and rewarding careers after graduation. Dr. Portugal’s Strategic Business Plan Competition is one of the best examples of how this happens.”
Dr. Michelle R. Martin-Atwood, an academic advisor in the Advancing Completion through Engagement (ACE) Program, also served as an external judge.
“Each group conducted themselves with the highest degree of professional competence and decorum. The product concepts themselves were remarkably innovative, many addressing tangible societal needs and supported by well-conceived prototypes,” Martin-Atwood said. “Having taught many of these students when they first matriculated at SUNY Potsdam—several of whom will graduate in the coming semester—it was profoundly gratifying to witness their substantial intellectual and personal development. Their expanded confidence strengthened oratorical skill, and steadfast dedication to this demanding project unmistakably reflect the caliber of education they have received at SUNY Potsdam, particularly within the business administration program, whose rigor and disciplined pedagogical approach are clearly manifest in their work. It was a distinct honor to serve as a judge and to observe, with immediate and informed insight, the students’ exemplary level of preparedness, refinement and professional maturity.”
SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Business Administration offers flexible bachelor’s and master’s degrees in competitive fields, and provides students with an understanding of how for-profit and non-profit organizations function efficiently and effectively in the global marketplace. The College offers its undergraduate business administration program both at the Potsdam campus and in Watertown, N.Y., at Jefferson Community College. Its Master of Science program in management is offered 100 percent online, to serve graduate students around the world. For more information, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/BusinessAdmin.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.