CIBED launches Muck Family Global Case Competition

The first annual Muck Family Global Case Competition was held on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Ohio University Athens campus.

Launched by the Center for International Business Education and Development (CIBED), the competition showcased the talents of students from various disciplines, focusing on a critical issue linked to the 9th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal which emphasizes the need for resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and the fostering of innovation.

Ohio University student, Brandon Shinkawa, expressed the significance of bringing this event to campus. 

"As a student in the Bobcat Consulting Group, I have been afforded the opportunity to experience these types of competitions because of the immense support from CIBED and the Muck Family," Shinkawa said. "Our mission at these competitions is to learn, analyze, and assess how other competitions around the country effectively provide value to students, and then adapt and implement these strategies to provide this same global experience to Ohio University students."

“The generous gift from the Muck Family has encouraged and inspired CIBED to take the next steps in creating global access with global impact via our case competition”, said CIBED Director Dr. Andrew Pueschel. “This experiential learning opportunity embodies how our students can learn, discover, engage, and work together to provide solutions that make our world a better place.”

"GreenTech Solutions," a fictional technology manufacturing company based in a rapidly growing industrial hub called "EcoCity," set the stage for the competition. Participants were tasked with formulating strategies that promote sustainable growth within an industrial sector, leveraging technology and innovative infrastructure models to achieve environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

OHIO faculty served as presentation judges and the Bobcat Consulting Group, a global consulting focused student organization sponsored by CIBED, coached participants in an “Ace the case” pre-competition training session. Teams were invited to consult experts, utilize academic resources, and explore successful industry initiatives as inspiration and preparation for delivering high-level, robust proposals. Students were awarded a total of $5,600.00 in prize money.

“Planning is already underway for a Spring 2026 competition that will expand its reach to more participants,” said Stephanie Sharp, CIBED director of Operations and Student Development. “The Bobcat Consulting Group is participating in competitions around the United States, and we look forward to learning more so we can grow our event into an invitational for students around the globe.”