A trio of Wilson College of Business students made their marks on the national stage in March, capturing second place at the Operation Stimulus Supply Chain Competition held at Colorado State University.

Colin Spies (‘25), Sawyer Jacobson (‘24) and Nathanial Madden (‘24) made up the well-rounded team. Spies currently works part-time in procurement, Jacobson drew from his finance education background, and Madden has expertise in marketing – skills that covered a lot of the competition’s challenges, including financial breakdowns, supply chain options and, ultimately, the case presentation.

“I really feel we did the best we could with the team we had,” Madden said. “I personally felt we had a winning product, but second is still a very, very huge accomplishment. I’m really proud of the group. We did our best, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Now in its 41st year, Operation Stimulus is the longest-running supply chain and logistics student case study competition in North America. It attracts students from colleges across the country, including California, Texas, Georgia, and more. 

The competition presents a distribution and logistics issue within a fictitious company, and teams are tasked to find both short-term and long-term solutions to the problem, then present their cases to a panel of judges for 20 minutes.

UNI's presentation highlighted a transition from diesel semi-trucks to concentrated natural gas trucks in the short term, followed by a shift to electric semis for long-term sustainability. Their proposal was backed by a financial analysis, showcasing feasibility and viability.

After being selected for the finale, the team had to adjust their presentation in just 90 minutes to accommodate a last-minute twist, then present on stage in front of a crowd and judges.

“The big thing our finish shows is that even though we’re from a smaller school, we can compete against these bigger schools around the country,” Spies said. “Being able to get second shows that UNI has the ability to win at these larger competitions.”

Reflecting on the journey, the team emphasized the real-world applicability of the experience. The competition served as a bridge between classroom learning and practical execution.

“The competition puts you in those high-pressure situations,” Madden said. “You can do your projects and assignments, but as far as real-world experience, when you have a three-week window to put together and present a case such as this in front of CEOs and other industry experts, it builds confidence, and it really helps reinforce those tools you learn in the classroom.”

Beyond the competition itself, the team took a moment to extend their gratitude to Chris Schrage. Her unwavering support, including driving the team to Fort Collins and preparing them for their case presentation, was instrumental in their success. 

The team’s success served as a high-quality addition to their individual resumes, helping with future job opportunities and networking with industry professionals. All three emphasized the importance of extracurricular involvement as a pathway to personal and professional growth.

“This experience is a great resume builder for students who need to get involved,” Jacobson said. “The Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) student organization allows us to have this opportunity to compete. It helps with job interviews later because employers mention this experience. It’s a talking point, and employers want to see students be involved.”