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A team of ������ý���� undergraduate students placed first in this year’s national Small Business Institute (SBI) Consulting Project of the Year Competition, which recognizes the best student consulting projects across the United States. On the competition's graduate level, ������ý����'s team finished third.

The win gives ������ý���� its seventh national title across both the undergraduate and graduate divisions since ������ý���� began participating in the competition in 1998. Over that time, the University has tallied a total of 24 finishes in the top three nationally across the two divisions. The winners were announced at the annual Small Business Institute Conference in Florida.

"I am so impressed with the talent of these student winners and their ability to get up to speed on issues in an unfamiliar area, engage with the project client and develop practical recommendations to help improve the client's situation," says Dr. Ron Cook, professor emeritus of entrepreneurial studies and the director of ������ý����’s SBI program. "Thanks also go out to the SBI's corporate sponsor, Gretalia Hospitality Group, and the team's volunteer mentor, alumnus David Molnar, who served as a valuable resource for the students as they worked on this project."

The undergraduate team consisted of junior Ryan Toleno, an entrepreneurial studies and finance dual major, and senior actuarial science major Bobby Geller. They produced the consulting report as part of Cook’s class in the fall 2025 semester. In the course, students act as consultants to small firms or organizations.

This year's client was Gretalia Hospitality Group, a restaurant management and consulting company owned by John Procaccini ’97 and Zissis N. Pappas ’01. Gretalia also serves as the corporate sponsor of ������ý����'s SBI. The students developed recommendations to create a compelling brand identity for Epico, a startup luxury coffee brand being developed by the company.

"This project was an incredible opportunity to take concepts from the classroom and turn them into a real-world experience that truly benefited both our development and the client’s business goals," Toleno says. "Working with Gretalia Hospitality Group provided me with a level of professional growth that cannot be achieved through a textbook or classroom."

The graduate team included Scott Wood '17, '25, Wade Hyshaw '24, Grant Hampton and Burhanuddin Bharmal '25. Bharmal earned his Master of Accountancy and Wood his Master of Business Administration in 2025; the other two students are pursuing their MBA degrees. Their report, produced for the Pennsylvania-based Autism Cares Foundation last spring, evaluated and recommended nearby counties for possible geographical expansion.

"Working with a real business adds a layer of accountability that exemplifies how skills such as critical thinking and communication help an organization with fewer resources than big business," says Wood. "The skills being honed, the connections being fostered and the service being provided for small businesses are invaluable in today’s climate.”

SBI consists of colleges and universities worldwide. Membership allows for student teams to provide consulting directly to small businesses and entrepreneurs as part of their education. Produced under expert supervision, the field-based student consulting projects emphasize practical and affordable solutions to real problems confronting businesses, nonprofits and other organizations. Clients of previous ������ý���� projects include ZieglerWorld, Spruce Industries, Inc. and Vanquish Fencing, Inc.

Students praised the guidance of Cook as well as David Molnar ’76, who has served as a volunteer mentor to the teams for several years. A former vice president of sales of Heraeus Sensor Technology, he and Cook held weekly meetings with the team to provide feedback on their projects.

"We are so grateful for the guidance of Dr. Ron Cook and David Molnar; their mentorship was crucial in helping us deliver a result we’re proud of and achieving this national win for ������ý����," Toleno says.