Capstone Cup
Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Annual Report
WELCOMING A NEW CO-DIRECTOR: MS. ASHLEY VARILEK
The competition has evolved since its inception thanks to the faculty that serve as the lifeblood of the event, including Dr. Brent Clark, Dr. Leif Lundmark, Mr. Ed Cochran, Mr. Connor Berg, Ms. Kiley Phelps, Mr. Sanith Ray, Mr. Erik Peterson, [current] director Dr. Erin PleggenkuhleMiles, former co-director Dr. Erin Bass, and the newest co-director Ms. Ashley Varilek. Each iteration is aimed at enhancing the student experience while achieving the goals of professional development and strategic thinking Excitement and acceptance of the program has continued to grow each year The faculty are committed to continuing to innovate and work with community partners to deliver a program that is not only a flagship for the university, but a flagship for showcasing young talent for Omaha’s thriving business community
Ms. Ashley Varilek
The Capstone Cup is excited to welcome Ms. Ashley Varilek as its new co-director! Ms. Ashley Varilek has served as a Capstone Cup judge in the past during her 7 year tenure with Sojern but has recently made a career change becoming a CBA instructor She has a BSBA in Financial Services and Marketing from Creighton University and an MBA from the University of Denver alongside over a decade of industry experience. She brings a refreshed perspective to the Capstone Cup and will continue to grow it with Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle Miles.
As a longtime supporter of the Capstone Cup I’ve witnessed students grow into creative, strategic thinkers through real-world consulting experiences As we enter a new decade of the Capstone Cup, I’m excited to build on this strong tradition by fostering relationships with our sponsors, volunteers, and alumni to enhance its impact for future CBA graduates!
- MS. ASHLEY VARILEK
THE COMPETITION IN BRIEF
The Capstone Cup is a semester-long competition comprised of a kickoff event and two rounds of competition. The Capstone Cup was born at the UNO College of Business Administration and is unique to our school and our identity as a metropolitan university focused on preparing our students for success.
During the Capstone Cup, teams of undergraduate business students have to digest a complex business situation, develop a creative and practical solution, and build a presentation that communicates their analyses and recommendations to a panel of judges comprised of faculty, business community members, and alumni.
Every College of Business Administration student enrolled in the undergraduate capstone strategy course (Corporate & Business Strategy) during the fall and spring semesters participates in this competition, impacting more than 150 students each semester
I had such a great time competing in the Capstone Cup! It was an awesome chance to bring my energy into public speaking and problem solving, and I loved getting to collaborate with my peers. The whole experience was super rewarding and exciting - Rafel Perez (Fall 2024 2nd Place)
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
FALL 2024 WINNERS
Left to Right: Jerry Brito-Mendoza, Human Resource Management
Ishani Adidam, Business Analytics
Kathia Dimas, Legal Studies
Christopher Atkinson (Not Pictured), Business Finance
Left to Right: Hannah Bro, Business Finance
Kelli Smith, Management & Leadership
Kristin Maddux, Marketing
Lauren Richter, Accounting
SPRING 2025 WINNERS
FUTURE CAREERS
Many students from the 2024-2025 Capstone Cup have had success finding their future career. The following students are committed to their respective positions upon graduating.
Carissa Gottschalk: Campus Talent Acquisition Advisor, Valmont (Omaha)
Charles Castle: Tax Associate, Hancock/Dana (Omaha)
Kathia Dimas: Public Policy Fellow (Washington D.C.)
Luke Muse: Outsource HR Associate, Lutz (Omaha)
CAPSTONE CUP WINNER TO GRADUATE ASSISTANT TO PROJECT MANAGER: KALEB HECKENS
The Capstone Cup Graduate Assistant is the ‘engine’ that makes this event go Kaleb Heckens joined the team in Fall 2023 and hit the ground running In his time as the Capstone Cup Graduate Assistant, Kaleb wrote the case briefings under the guidance of the Capstone Cup Director (Erin Miles), coordinated with case partners, students, and volunteers, and in general made sure things went as planned. Kaleb also redesigned the Capstone Cup website, worked on a promotional video, changed the structure of the annual report, and more all while completing his MBA, designing a microcredential, finishing a graduate research project, and winning Graduate Assistant of the Year.
In the summer between his first and second years of the Graduate Assistantship, Kaleb interned at sponsor and previous case company, Right at Home He completed numerous projects from organizing market penetration data to assisting with a mergers and acquisitions project Now, he plans to join Right at Home as a Project Manager where he will get to work on technology and marketing initiatives. He credits the Capstone Cup and the experiences gained from it in helping him stand out in the application process Kaleb is excited to come back and judge in future semesters!
PARTNER WITH US
Over the years, the Capstone Cup has been honored and pleased to partner with businesses and professionals across Omaha Support has come in many forms, including sponsorship of prizes, distinguished judges’ time and attention, as well as valuable input Without our generous partners, the Capstone Cup wouldn't be possible. In return for their contributions, valued partners are recognized through communication messages on our media channels and have an opportunity to access the best talent that UNO CBA has to offer The Capstone Cup thrives on its partnerships with the local business community
For the 2024–2025 Academic Year, the Capstone Cup welcomed 15 sponsors from the Omaha business community. These sponsors not only had the opportunity to get in front of our students, but also directly recruit for full and part-time positions. In addition to these sponsors, we also welcomed more than 100 judges from more than 30 local employers
“The Capstone Cup gives the students a taste of how the business world operates – operating in teams and rallying together to solve real business problems using each member’s expertise. I enjoy seeing the progression of the teams from the first round to the final and watching them incorporate the feedback along the way just as a business leader would expect ”
- Brian Woolfolk, Executive VP & Head of Institutional Division at Pacific Life
The Capstone Cup competition is a truly rewarding experience. Not only do you develop valuable skills that last a lifetime, but you also gain a deeper understanding of teamwork and collaboration I feel much more confident and prepared both professionally and personally after participating
- Kelli Smith (Fall 2024 1st Place)
SPRING 2025 BUSINESS CASE
SUPPORTWORKS: REDEFINING THE CONTRACTOR INDUSTRY
In 1975, Greg and Nancy Thrasher started Thrasher Foundation Repair, a now popular local foundation repair company. With decades of experience developing foundation solutions for Omaha citizens, the Thrashers and a small group of individuals created Supportworks to redefine the contractor industry Since its inception in 2008, Supportworks’ mission has been to champion contractor success through genuine relationships and radical support. Supportworks has since built three brands to expand this mission, the most prominent being Foundation Supportworks.
Foundation Supportworks delivers products, tools, and support that helps foundation and concrete repair dealers’ businesses grow. Today Foundation Supportworks has over 130 dealers with more than 5,000 employees across its network. As the high price of materials, labor shortage, increase in homeowner age, and private equity consolidation threaten its industry, Foundation Supportworks partnered with UNO’s Capstone Cup to help address one or more of these issues
“Participating as the chosen company for UNO's Capstone Cup student competition is a win on every level. The UNO College of Business has created an incredibly effective program for their students to solve real-world business issues, and their care and commitment towards their students is evident. The competition is incredibly well-organized and, as the company, you have the opportunity to participate at every stage, all the while getting brand exposure to hundreds of students and their innovative ideas that are focused on your business needs.”
- Tiffany Seevers, Vice President of Human Resources at Supportworks
- Erica Fava
My favorite part about the Capstone Cup was being able to implement ideas you learn about in class into a real world environment
Amiah Swartzendruber
Elyssa Szewczyk
Andrew Tabaka
Jenna Targy
Austin Taylor
Eli Tekdogan
Jocelyn Tena
Blake Thiele
Sam Thompson
Alisa Torres
Carson Tvrdy
Josh Varner
Zion Ward
Sammi Weidler
Jacob Weiland
Joey Wemhoff
Nick Wiebelhaus *
Seth Wineland
Ethan Wittler
Lexi Wohlenhaus
Pedro Zayas Vargas
Junkeng Zhu
Hannah Zueter
Gabe Zurek *
SPRING 2025 PARTICIPANTS
Josue Acosta
Takaki Adachi
Jesse Adame
Ishani Adidam *
Carnell Aflagah
Bryan Aguiar Kuntz
Majd Al Subhi
Ahmed Al Masoudi
Anakaren Alamillo Mercado
Will Alexander
Amalia Almanza *
Dawson Anderson
Myles Anderson
Ximena Anguiano Cortes
Casey Apker
Ivan Atayde
Christopher Atkinson *
Thea Aufdenkamp
Adam Baessler
Johnnah Bailey
Trevor Barajas
Cameron Baratta *
Samantha Barrett
Jaden Beaugard
Arlette Becerra-Regino
Jacob Beier
Reina Berend
Jenish Bhandari
Logan Bojanski
Sam Borsh
Abby Brady *
Glenda Bricko *
Jerry Brito-Mendoza *
Carter Brozak
Alfredo Bruguera
Aden Brummer
Madison Brunsing
Caiden Bryant
Max Bunde
Trent Burkhalter
Russell Butler
Chris Byhre
Daniel Cady
Jack Cannon
Isaac Carpenter
Junior Casillas
Katheine Castellanos *
Charles Castle *
Maria Chaidez-Rodriguez
Malia Chantiam
Alecia Claar
Joslyn Collins
Kamila Cortes *
Emma Daley
Rae Dar
Mackenzie Demuth
Angelina Diego
Keely Diercks
Kathia Dimas *
Quyen Dinh
Brantson Doiel
Cameron Downey
Justin Duncan
Tyler Eedy
Nicole Eichhorst
Alexander Ellefson
Cassidy Espinoza
Guillermo Espinoza
Joey Estee
Gavin Fair
Emma Farritor
Erica Fava *
Diego Figueroa
Sean Finn
Andrew Galligan
Danielle Galvan
Adam Gamerl
Fabian Garcia-Vargas
Ross Garner
Karen Gaytan
Jennifer Giron
Jack Glup
Anthony Gonzalez
Austin Goodrum
Cole Gordon
Dawson Goss
Alex Greer
Maggie Gundersen
Ben Hagedorn
Mohamed Haji
Jacob Hammes
Abigail Hammond
Austin Hampshire *
Bradley Harrison
Logan Hauschild
Bryan Hernandez
Ella Hoegh
Kyle Houston
Theresa Howard
Noah Huxhold
Kami Huynh
Jaeden Johnson *
Nolan Johnson
Hannah Joslin
Carley Keller
Anna Kelley *
Emma Kirvan
Joshua Kitzke
Liam Kizer
Mitchell Krause
Emma Kreager
Abby Kreie
Kristin Kreps
Sophia Krzyzanowski
La Ksay
Alayna Kuhn
Faith Kutschkau
Martin Lago
Brok Laney
Torie Laubenstein
Nathan Leutzinger
Katherine Lindgren
Joon Liu
Salvador Lopez Luna
Miguel Lopez
Trinity Love
Fabiola Madrid Corral
Charles Madsen
Bergan Mahoney
Kandy Marcos
Jack Markus
Emily Martin
Jacob Matthews
Olivia McAleer
Keegan McArtor
Mike McDermott
Kolten McMackin
Heysi Miranda
Gabrielle Misiunas
Lauren Mogensen
Madeline Mogus
Jaquelin Montiel-Gonzalez
Leigha Moore
Tanner Moore *
Jackie Morrissey *
Luke Muse *
Isaac Ndagijimana
Lucas Neill
Nathan Nelson
Amy Nguyen
Ella Nilsson
Robert Nizzi
Jada Nuzum
Dylan O'Gorman
Jack Oloughlin
Jack Olson
Lena Olson
Ali Owliaee
Ny Paljor
Klayten Palu
Yash Patel
Colin Peetz
Macy Persinger
Brennan Pint
Nadia Podkovich
Moe Poe
Tristan Poellot
Shelsey Portillo
Asa Pospisil
Hala Rashoka
Brandon Rasmussen
Collin Ray
Addisyn Ray
Daisy Renteria
Jamari Richards
Tyler Robert
Arielle Robertson
Jacob Rockow
Kimberly Rodriguez-Garcia
Ashton Roenfeldt
Lavinia Romito
Daniel Ross *
Clayten Roth
Cole Rowley
Austin Roy
Sophia Rubenstein
Leslie Saavedra Bojorquez *
Zakaria Salha
Andrea Sanchez *
Areli Sanchez-Garibay
Diana Sanchez-Godoy
Jeniffer Sandoval Monroy
Huja Sange
Emily Schroeder
Alex Seagren
Reem Serbi
Gavin Shea
Alex Shellberg
Lilly Shephard
Max Sikora
Madeline Simon
Hayley Smith
Sergio Smith
Riley Smith
Darian Sokpa
Sam Sorensen
Silas Sorilla
Jarlin Soto-Jimenez
Aidan St Amant
Sabrina Steele
Liesel Steinle *
Blake Stenger
Mikaela Stock
Howard Stubstad
Jack Swanson
Hikaru Takahashi
Hailey Teller
Grant Thomas
Wes Thompson
Jace Thompson
Zach Urdahl
Keegan VanPelt
Ellison Vavra
Jennifer Vazquez
Savanna Vervynck
Brandt Vomacka
Khanh Vu
Nicholas Walkley
Grant Waszak *
Leighton Webb
Lillian West
Amy White
Cole Whitehill
Alexis Wiggins
Jason Willis
Madeline Wilson
Myint Win
Maralyn Woods
Alexander Young
Jackson
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