UMD Students Tackle Real-World Supply Chain Challenges at ChainReaction Case Competition

College Park, Md. (Oct. 27, 2026) – The Center for Social Value Creation (CSVC) at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted the ChainReaction Case Competition, challenging students to develop solutions to real-world supply chain challenges. The competition encouraged participants to apply strategic thinking and problem-solving skills while considering financial, operational, and environmental impacts.

Students were tasked with developing a supply chain strategy that balanced four key performance indicators: cost, lead time, fill rate, and carbon emissions. Teams evaluated supplier capacity, transportation options, and inventory management to create efficient and adaptable solutions while considering the trade-offs between competing business priorities.

To help students prepare, CSVC hosted a virtual workshop on October 19 led by Dr. Maria Zhang. Drawing on her experience in international purchasing, importing, and freight operations, Zhang shared insights into how industry professionals approach supply chain decisions. The session emphasized evaluating trade-offs, building flexible analytical models, and developing effective strategies.

During the final competition, four teams presented their recommendations to a panel of judges, demonstrating their ability to analyze complex information and communicate strategic solutions. The judging panel included Kayla Kim, Senior Associate, Procurement at L3Harris Technologies, and Rorie Campbell, UMD Doctoral Student and Business Management Analyst at Northrop Grumman. Teams were evaluated on their analytical models, ability to quantify trade-offs, and strategic recommendations.

Team 6, consisting of Giovanna Cirilli and Mae Howlin, earned first place, while Team 3, consisting of Steve Tai, Nika Nemirovsky, and Denis Njoroge, was named runner-up. Both teams demonstrated an understanding of supply chain strategy and the importance of balancing competing business priorities.

The competition reflects CSVC's commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to address meaningful business challenges. By encouraging participants to consider financial performance alongside environmental and operational impacts, ChainReaction demonstrated how future business leaders can create value for both organizations and society.