Global talent converges on WFU School of Business Marketing Analytics Summit

4.7.2016 Business Analytics, Center for Retail Innovation, General, Marketing, News Release, Retail, School News, Supply chain
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Student teams solve real-world business problems

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Student teams from around the globe will travel to Wake Forest University School of Business for the 26th annual Marketing Analytics Summit, hosted by the School’s Center for Retail Innovation. The event is a student-run case competition held in conjunction with the Inmar Analytics Forum, a symposium featuring executives and thought leaders from multiple industries. The Summit, held April 11-12, offers students the chance to compete for $50,000 in prizes.

Six undergraduate and eight graduate teams, including two from the School of Business, will offer innovative ideas to solve real-world business challenges posed by presenting sponsor Inmar. “The ability to provide marketing insights gleaned through data analytics provides the hands-on experience the students are seeking, coupled with their unique perspective on the market that organizations like Inmar value,” said Roger Beahm, WestRock executive director of the School’s Center for Retail Innovation. “Attracting a global pool of top talent to pitch their ideas to hundreds of executives takes the networking at the Summit to a new level.”

Graduate teams participating include Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School, Michigan State University Broad Graduate School of Management, Penn State University Smeal College of Business, University of Rochester Simon Business School, University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management, Washington University in St. Louis Olin School of Business, and Wake Forest University School of Business.

The undergraduate teams represent Drexel University LeBow College of Business, University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, Universidad Panamericana IPADE Business School, University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School, Utah State University Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, and Wake Forest University School of Business.

Teams will give an initial presentation at Wake Forest University’s Farrell Hall on Monday, April 11. That evening, undergraduate winners will receive their awards, and the top two graduate team finalists will move on to the next round of the competition.

On Tuesday, April 12 the graduate teams will present their data-driven marketing solutions to a panel of industry judges and the 600+ executives at the Inmar Analytics Forum at the Benton Convention Center. The audience vote will represent 20% of the judging.

Speakers at the Inmar Analytics Forum will include Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health, in addition to Ray Kurzweil, noted author and futurist, as well as numerous breakout sessions in three focus tracks: promotion analytics, supply chain analytics, and healthcare analytics. Also speaking at the conference are several School of Business faculty members:

  • Roger Beahm, executive director of the Center for Retail Innovation and professor of marketing
  • Jeff Camm, associate dean of Business Analytics and Inmar Presidential Chair in Business
  • Rick Harris, Sisel Faculty Fellow and professor of economics and finance
  • Kenny Herbst, Sisel Faculty Fellow and associate professor of marketing

To learn more about the Inmar Analytics Forum, please visit https://inmarforum.com.

Media contact: Stephanie Skordas at skordas@wfu.edu or 336.758.4098.