Since the first Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition in 2006, Lakeland College has sent a team of business students to apply their knowledge and skills.
The competition is open to full-time students enrolled in business diploma or degree programs at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.
During the competition, teams must analyze a newly published business case and prepare a recommended course of action. Presentations are judged on teams’ application of business, management and academic principles, and on skills related to teamwork, problem-solving, analysis, public speaking and communication.
Teams wouldn't be able to compete without sponsorship. One of the team's major sponsors for the past five years has been Servus Credit Union.
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| Team 2012--3rd Place | View More ∇ |
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Their decision to ignore the obvious and search for the unexpected paid off for Lakeland College’s entry in the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition. The team of Natasha Zeitz, David Dahl, Jenna Dudding and Jaclyn Paslawski placed third in the 11 team competition that ended Saturday in Lethbridge. In addition to the recognition the business students at the Lloydminster campus received, they also pocketed an award of $1,500. First place and $4,000 went to Medicine Hat College’s entry while NAIT’s team earned $2,500 for finishing in second place. The challenge for the teams in the case competition was to develop a business strategy for Bridge View Custom Cabinets, a fictional cabinet-making company. After ten hours in the “war room” on Friday where the students have no contact with faculty advisors or the public, Lakeland’s team of second-year students emerged with a PowerPoint presentation outlining a strategy to solve the company’s marketing and growth issues. One problem was that the company only accepted cash or cheque for payment. Lakeland’s team suggested using Square, an electronic payment service that accepts credit cards through mobile phones. Friday night was spent finalizing the team’s 12-minute presentation which was delivered to judges Saturday morning.  “The first solution we discussed seemed too obvious. We thought everyone would use that solution so we decided to go another direction and find something different, which was using smart phone technology as a way to take payment,” says Zeitz, the team’s captain. “The team really stepped out of the box with their solution and their presentation,” says Doreen Der, the team’s faculty advisor. “Their presentation was excellent and they handled the judges’ questions very well.” Zeitz admitted that the competition was stressful but because of their preparation and great teamwork, it didn’t take long to determine a plan of action. In fact, they were the first team done on Friday. “This was one of the best weekends of my entire school year. Yes, it was nerve-wracking but it was a great learning experience and it was fun. It allows you to take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-life situation,” she says. Lakeland’s team was sponsored by Servus Credit Union, Hawkings Epp Dumont LLP/Smith and Roby, Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Carol Davison, and Lakeland College Business Department. “We appreciate the support we received from our sponsors and also the guidance we received from Doreen. We definitely couldn’t have done it without her. She didn’t let us quit – she kept pushing us to get better and it paid off,” says Zeitz. In photo: With Doreen Der are students David Dahl, Jaclyn Paslawski, Natasha Zeitz and Jenna Dudding. |
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| 2011 Team Lakeland | View More ∇ |
 From left to right are: Macy Lovberg, Taylor Weighill, Misha O'Donnell, Renee Toms, Ryan Verboom, Launa Burgess and Roxanne Booth. (Missing from the photo: Doreen Der, faculty advisor) Sponsored for the fourth consecutive year by Servus Credit Union. |
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| 2010 Team Lakeland | View More ∇ |
 From left to right are: Chantelle Thompson, Katelynn Bell, Amy Eyben, Matthew Tilsley and Jobbie Cheung. Staff advisor Doreen Der is far right. Sponsors are Lakeland College's Business department, Servus Credit Union, Farmhouse Inn and Home Hardware. |
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| 2009 Team Lakeland | View More ∇ |
 Janaye Lightfoot (team captain, bachelor of financial services), Nicole Kaastrup (bachelor of commerce), Louis Watt (bachelor of commerce), Janey Nydokus (professional accounting), Annette Jimmy (business administration) and Doreen Der (faculty advisor) were Team Lakeland 2009. Pictured at right from the top clockwise are: Janey Nydokus, Janaye Lightfoot, Nicole Kaastrup and Annette Jimmy. Missing from the photo are Louis Watt and Doreen Der. As part of their preparation they did case presentation sessions March 13 & 20 for anyone who wanted to come and see what the competition was all about. It also provided them with an opportunity to practice presentations. Sponsors were Lakeland College, Servus Credit Union, and Thunderchild First Nation. |
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| 2008 Team Lakeland--2nd place & $1,500 | View More ∇ |
 After a tense 90-minute deliberation period, judges awarded Lakeland College students second place in a provincial business case competition held March 27 - 29 in Calgary. Team Lakeland – sponsored by Common Wealth Credit Union’s Young and Free program – was one of 11 teams in the competition that analyzed and presented a case on the sustainability of Jamie Kennedy Kitchens based in Toronto. Lakeland’s contingent included Lacey Hauck (team captain) and Kristine Alexander, both fourth-year students in the bachelor of commerce degree program, Peggy Lovell, a third-year student in the advanced business degree program, Lindsay Nuspl, a second-year student in the management diploma program, and instructor Doreen Der as coach. |
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| 2007 Team Lakeland | View More ∇ |
 Melissa Ermantrout, Linda Gratton, Brandon Hames and Katie Lafreniere were Team Lakeland 2007. They were one of 14 teams challenged with creating a growth and global marketing strategy for lululemon at last weekend’s business case study competition in Edmonton. “It was a good learning experience. Our students made a good effort, but they didn’t place in the top three,” said Mark Cryderman, one of two faculty coaches. He was joined by Doreen Der. Dean Lee Swanson also took in the event. One of the judges was the Western Canadian regional manager for lululemon. The company sells yoga inspired athletic wear and was founded in Vancouver. The team was sponsored by Lakeland College and the Lakeland College Students’ Association. Pictured from left to right are: Melissa Ermantrout, Doreen Der, Linda Gratton, Brandon Hames, Katie Lafreniere and Mark Cyderman. Cryderman and Der were the staff advisors. |
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| The first team--2006 Team Lakeland | View More ∇ |
 Andrea Craig, Jaime Ingram, Kagan Kneen, Janice Petersen, Nicole Rubin and Chase Scarf were the first Lakeland College representatives Lakeland College 2006 business case competition teamat the inaugural Dean's Business Case Competition. They worked on a case for the Apple iPod. Photo (left to right): Doreen Der, Jamie Ingram, Kagan Kneen, Andrea Craig, Chase Scarf, Nicole Rubin and Janice Petersen. The team was sponsored by Lakeland College and the Lakeland College Students' Association. |
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