Illinois State University’s College of Business (COB) proudly celebrated the achievements of 18 talented students who participated in the 3rd annual Caterpillar Case Competition, hosted by the Young Professionals Peoria Chapter. Held from October 13–24, in a hybrid online and on-campus model, the competition challenged students to solve real-world business problems centered around global supply chain disruptions and the impact of tariffs.
Three teams represented Illinois State: Blueprint Battalion, Normal Caterpillars, and the winning team, Supply Chainiacs.
Abdullah Alikhan, corporate treasury senior finance analyst at Caterpillar and Business Impact Committee chair, shared his insights: “Caterpillar exists to build a better, more sustainable world, guided by our Values in Action: Safety, Integrity, Excellence, Commitment, and Teamwork. Caterpillar’s Young Professionals employee resource group builds a strong team culture. Our Business Impact committee gave students insight into Caterpillar’s values and opportunities for growth and networking. Even though the challenge was tough, and we were short on time, everyone did an awesome job. Big thanks to the Illinois State students and faculty for making it such a great experience!”
Illinois State was invited to compete in the competition this year thanks in part to a recent COB alum Jessica Laughlin, who is a Finance Services Division accounting associate at Caterpillar and the Case Competition lead: “During my time as an ISU student, I had the privilege of participating in a Women’s Leadership Case Competition, supported by the University and State Farm Hall of Business. This experience provided invaluable professional development opportunities, equipping me with transferrable skills directly related to my role at Caterpillar. Seeing the benefits of case competitions, I wanted to motivate students to participate. It’s a great way to learn about Caterpillar’s business and build valuable skills for employers. I co-hosted an informational session with a colleague to inform students about the competition and its benefits, and I left the session energized by the students’ eagerness to participate. Witnessing their hard work and detailed analysis come to life on the final day of the competition was truly rewarding. It made me proud to be an alum.
“As always, Go You Redbirds!”
Supply Chainiacs Take First Place
The Supply Chainiacs impressed judges with their strategic thinking, teamwork, and data-driven solutions, earning first place in the competition. The team included Ethan Gockel, Jack Gockel, Jacob Braunschweig, Tanaya Cummings, Abby Vandiver, and Olivia Criss.
Abby Vandiver, business education major, reflected on the collaborative nature of the challenge: “What surprised me most was how much I learned from collaborating with my team and getting to see firsthand how the company navigates through supply chain challenges, especially the ripple effects of tariffs.”
Finance major Jacob Braunschweig said: “Caterpillar surprised me with the high amount of quality, professionalism, and safety that they hold. I was also surprised by how a random group of Illinois State students with a variety of majors can come together, using each of their unique strengths, to deliver an executive presentation that is organized, quantitatively evaluated, and reaches the best possible solution relating back to Caterpillar’s core values.”
Accounting major Tanaya Cummings added: “I was surprised at how quickly and smoothly my team worked together, considering the shorter deadline; it felt like a real-world problem I could potentially face within a company.”
Marketing major Olivia Criss expressed pride in her team’s performance: “During the competition, I wasn’t necessarily surprised but prouder of all the teams’ performance. We all tackled the issue very well with our solutions, even though it was very difficult and a packed answer!”
Blueprint Battalion Builds Skills for the Future
The Blueprint Battalion team demonstrated strong analytical and presentation skills throughout the competition. They had wonderful participation and ease during the Q&A with the judges following their formal presentation. Their team included Caleb Lenning, Lauren Campomanes, Caleb Stevens, Brayden Lovell, Allison DeBolt, and Reese Peters.
Allison DeBolt, double major in finance and risk management and insurance said: “One thing from this experience that I will take with me is the skill of effectively analyzing complex problems under pressure and turning them into clear, impactful, data-driven solutions.”
Brayden Lovell, junior finance major, joined the competition shortly after transferring to Illinois State: “I chose to participate in the CAT case competition just looking for a way to get involved within the College of Business. It was to my surprise how much this would enhance my professional experience, analytical thinking, and problem-solving ability.”
Caleb Stevens, finance major, appreciated the real-world relevance: “Participating in this competition enhanced my learning on the real problems that the corporate world is facing due to tariffs and how to produce an executive presentation and summary for management—which was amazing to be able to do while being a student.”
Caleb Lenning, sophomore accounting major with a business analytics minor, who plans to complete a fifth-year graduate degree at Illinois State said: “I was surprised about how technical the case was, and the entire reason I love case competitions is taking up a challenge that you might not feel ready for and working with your team and mentors to present the best of your work.”
Normal Caterpillars Embrace Real-World Challenges
The Normal Caterpillars team excelled at presenting financial data that was technical, detailed, and yet expertly explained to a wide audience. The team members include Emma Levy, Andrew Hummel, Steel Martin, Daniel Garcia, Tyler Miller, and Chris Schwuchow.
Finance major Tyler Miller said: “As a student who hasn’t had a chance to learn from an internship, this opportunity gave me the chance to tackle real-world problems and implement what I have learned from inside the classroom.”
Emma Levy, finance major, added: “I was most surprised by how thinking through a hypothetical situation could feel so real and meaningful, showing how our ideas could translate into an actual business impact.”
A Transformative Learning Experience
The Caterpillar Case Competition offered students a unique opportunity to engage with industry professionals, tour the Caterpillar Visitors Center, and present their solutions to real business challenges. Through collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, COB students demonstrated the power of experiential learning, which aligns with their Strategic Plan Goal 2: Offer a Quality Education.
Congratulations to all participants for representing Illinois State University College of Business with excellence, innovation, and Redbird pride.