On February 20, I had the opportunity to represent Ross at the UNC Marketing Case Challenge, where 48 participants from 19 business schools competed to create a social media and mobile strategy for Darden Restaurants (who owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Capital Grille and Seasons 52). In only six hours, my team of Jasmine Fontaine from UNC (Kenan-Flagler), Marimer Moldonado from Indiana (Kelley), and Jamaica Wood from Virginia (Darden), read a case, brainstormed solutions, and created a presentation that we proposed to the Darden marketing team and UNC professors. After two rounds of presentations, our strategy won 1st place! It was an incredible experience working with teammates from different schools. As the newly elected VP of Case Competitions for the Ross Marketing Club (with Courtney Tomljanovic, also an MBA1), I hope to bring more case competitions to Ross next year as well.
My team - "Bahamaritas" - and our big check.
Participants in the judging room.
On an unrelated (and extremely belated) note, here's a photo of my team from the Leadership Crisis Challenge in January at Ross. Frank Lan, Julie Chang Creekmore, Kyle Smith and I were one of three teams that represented Section 1 to respond to a crisis situation (involving ethical and environmental issues) over the course of two days.
Team Rainmaker at the Leadership Crisis Challenge in January.
On an even more unrelated note, we're finishing up spring break right now. I'm currently visiting my family in New Jersey for a few days after a trip to Grand Cayman. One week from today, I will be leaving for Kigali, Rwanda, where I will be spending five weeks working with three other Ross students on our MAP (Multidisciplinary Action Project) for the Koinonia Foundation. MAP kickoff begins on Monday, so more to come soon! Feel free to contact me at alvh@umich.edu with any questions in the meantime.
Eric and I on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
Really blue water near Stingray City.
