NJSGA Caddie Scholar Leads Team To Marketing Summit Victory

On April 7, 2015, a team of four undergraduate students from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland placed first at the 2015 Wake Forest University School of Business Marketing Analytics Summit. Essex Fells Caddie Scholar Jack Rupple, led the team to an $8,000 prize as team captain.

The senior marketing major has previously competed in two Summit competitions, including 2013 when the Terps were victorious. This is the eighth consecutive year that the University of Maryland has been selected to attend the Summit in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“In previous years, I learned to sit back and understand what was happening around me. Absorb everything and then make a decision,” Ruppple recounts. I also learned from past teammates how to lead under immense time pressure without pushing anyone to the edge.”

In the past, the Summit was a 36 hour competition, the case being assigned to the teams at the start of day one. This year, the selected teams were given the case ten days before arriving at Wake Forest and presenting in two rounds in front of about 600 industry professionals.

“This year, I learned that the culmination of hard work, talented teammates [whom he commends as brilliant], and cohesive talents can lead to something really special.” Rupple’s teammates were Ashley Jager, senior marketing major; Michael Barnnett, junior marketing and supply chain management double major; and Bridget McManus, junior marketing and accounting double major.

When asked what advice he would give to future competitors, his answer was time management. “Hit the ground running. The trick is to research, research, breakthrough, play devil’s advocate, research, and then affirm your conclusions. It was difficult with the amount of information, our school work and different schedules.”

He humbly recalls that the team members knew they had presented something special the moment they finished the presentation.

Rupple, who will graduate this May, is looking into positions in marketing consulting, brand management, and innovation.

(Photo: source)