Smith Hosts Second Annual Joseph M. Wikler Case Competition

The second annual Joseph M. Wikler Finance Case Competition was held on Friday, April 29, 2005, at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Six teams of four to five undergraduate students participated in this years competition, chosen from 2004-5 BMGT 440 class teams. This year's winners are Hallie Aaron, Megan Cantor, Emilie Hendershot, Alisa Michnik, and Jack Seng (pictured, left).

The Joseph M. Wikler Finance Case Competition provides an opportunity for students to showcase their abilities, while simulating roles in the financial management profession. Much like the Smith MBA Case Competition, students will be given a limited time (Tuesday, April 26 until their presentation on Friday) to develop a solution and strategy for a real-world organization's current issue. To support their strategies, undergraduate students are asked to provide financial analysis using formulas and calculations learned in the classroom. Cash prizes are awarded to each member of the winning teams. First place team receives $1,000; second place team $500; and third place team, $100.

A team of industry and academic professionals judged the students. This years judges include Joseph Wikler, Eric-Vincent Guichard, managing director and CEO of Gravitas Capital Advisors LLC, Neil J. Pinsky, CFA, managing director at R.W. Baird, Susan White, Ph.D. and Michael Cichello, Ph.D., finance teaching professors at the Smith School.

Joseph Wikler sponsors the competition. Mr. Wikler is a director of Oppenheimer Funds and a consultant for T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Value Fund. He also serves as a director for a number of other private and non-profit organizations. Wikler has been professionally associated with Professor Lemma Senbet, chair of Smith's finance department, since their days as directors of Fortis Funds, which was acquired by Hartford Life. Wikler initiated the competitive program in consultation with Professor Senbet, who then led the adoption process with finance faculty, naming Susan White, teaching professor of finance, as the faculty coordinator.