SIFE team competes in “Walgreens Wrangle”

November 15, 2006
Contact: Paul K. Logsdon, Director of Public Relations and Publications, 865-2815 ext. 7292

Springfield, MO. — Five members of the Evangel University Students in Free Enterprise team participated in the 2006 “Walgreens Wrangle,” a marketing case competition hosted by Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark., November 9-11. The competition included 16 teams from universities in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. Evangel finished one point shy of making the final four.

Evangel’s team consisted of Leah Hindy, sophomore management major from Springfield, Mo., Lori Schumacher, senior management major from Stoughton, Wis.; Jonathan Roepcke, senior accounting and management major from Rio Rancho, N.M.; Mi-Sun “Sunny” Kim, senior management and marketing major from South Korea; and Andrew Carrier, senior psychology and management major from Temple, Pa.

They were assisted by a home-based team that included Faith Dressler, senior marketing major from Overland Park, Kan.; Andrew Gustafson, sophomore marketing major from Blaine, Minn., Suzanne Pace, senior management major from Ozark, Mo., and Evangel Assistant Professor of Communication Chip Stanek.

The teams were presented a real case study about Southern Aluminum (SA), a company in Magnolia that custom designs and manufactures lightweight banquet and pedestal tables, picnic tables, and portable stages for the hospitality industry, churches, and educational institutions. The event included receiving SA marketing materials, interviews with the CEO/president and the marketing team, and a tour of the SA manufacturing plant.

In just 36 hours, competitors had to conduct research and then develop and present a reasonable, workable and creative marketing plan to help SA be more effective in using their website, trade shows, and direct marketing approaches to target sales to the U.S. hospitality industry.

“Our team did an excellent job of working together as a team to research the issues and present their solutions,” said Assistant Professor of Business Bernie Dana who accompanied the team. “This was a real-life, learning experience and they missed being in the final round of competition by only one point.”

This competition was funded by Walgreens and Sherwin Williams Paint Company. These companies sent representatives who also acted as mentors for the teams. The mentor for Evangel’s team was Roger Macaulay, Walgreens manager of the Dallas West District.

SIFE is a global, nonprofit organization that has student teams on more than 1,600 university campuses in 40 countries. SIFE offers these students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

Evangel SIFE team L-R: Jonathan Roepcke, Sunny Kim, Leah Hindy, Andrew Carrier, Lori Schmacher, Bernie Dana, and Roger Macaulay.