SUNY Potsdam Teams Win Trophies at International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition

SUNY Potsdam Business Administration Student Teams Win Honors at International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition

Potsdam, NY (05/09/2025) — Student teams from SUNY Potsdam's Department of Business Administration recently won trophies at the intercollegiate International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition (IBESCC) sponsored by the Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Some teams competed virtually, while others traveled to California to present in front of judges composed of corporate ethics compliance officers, corporate executives, academics and business owners from around the world.

Two SUNY Potsdam teams competed virtually in the competition, among 250 students on 49 teams representing 32 universities who took part overall. Each team presented their arguments and made ethical recommendations for corporations during the competition. Teams were split by graduate and undergraduate levels, virtual and in-person groups, and divided into 36 divisions.

The presentations consisted of a 25-minute presentation, followed by another 25 minutes of questions from judges, a 10-minute presentation only, and finally a 90-second business ethics elevator pitch. A unique feature of IBESCC is inclusion of the United Nations global sustainability principles.

The SUNY Potsdam team named PowerPlay Consulting presented virtually, and was composed of Payton Felix '26, Ryan Mahlmeister '26, Sean O'Gorman '25, and John Werber '25. The group won a first place trophy in the 90-second pitch category, and a second place trophy in the 10-minute presentation category. The PowerPlay Consulting team argued for a fair and ethical treatment of Uber drivers, recommending operational flexibility with a dual-wage approach for full-time employee drivers and for part-time independent contractor drivers.

The second team, dubbed Optimal Solutions Consulting, was composed of Grayson Jackson '26, Ben Lagoner '25, Jake Lynch '25, Owen Walsh '25 and Ben Welch '25. The group won a second place trophy in the 90-second pitch category. The Optimal Solutions Consulting team argued for the use of all-natural hemp as food packaging material to replace plastics that contribute to the degradation of the environment.

"I am proud of our students who overcame the challenge of competing virtually. While some of the students were familiar with virtual presentations because they have taken several online business courses, others were not," said Dr. Ed Portugal, who served as the faculty advisor. "One team coordinated their virtual presentation with members in different locations on campus, and the other team was in the same classroom in front of their own computer camera. Over several weeks before the actual competition, the two teams identified a corporate ethical problem, wrote a research paper, prepared a PowerPoint presentation, and held several practice sessions simulating the virtual competition."

"I found it relatively easy to lead our Powerplay Consulting team effectively, largely because we are a group of like-minded individuals -- business majors with a shared interest in the economic side of industry and a common background in competition," said Sean O'Gorman, who served as team manager. "That foundation fostered a natural sense of discipline, communication and mutual respect, which translated seamlessly into our teamwork. We carried that same competitive edge and strategic mindset into our presentation on the ethical dilemma surrounding Uber's classification of drivers as independent contractors. The virtual competition was an intense and dynamic experience. We had to remain sharp and adaptable, as the questions were unpredictable mirroring the pressures and critical thinking demanded in real-world business scenarios."

"Preparing for the IBESCC competition was both challenging and rewarding. Since it was online, we had to be extra intentional about communication and coordination, especially across different schedules and time zones," said team member John Werber. "It took a lot of focused planning, late-night Zoom calls and constant feedback to refine our arguments and presentation. But the most important part was building trust within the team. Everyone brought different strengths, and once we figured out how to work together, we really started to grow. IBESCC pushed us to think deeply about ethics in business, and it showed me how much you can achieve when a group is committed to a common purpose."

"Preparing for this competition was challenging but also a great experience. We were able to focus on our own parts for the competition, making sure we were accountable for our own work to make our whole team successful," said team member Payton Felix. "Being online competing against other teams made us strive to be more prepared. With our team practicing consistently throughout the semester, that made us try hard to achieve our goal. During the competition, I believe we felt more confident in answering questions and presenting our topic to the judges. This experience really helped me improve on my presentation skills, and I was able to learn so much from the judges while they gave us feedback."

"Working on this project was a meaningful and challenging experience. It required me to think critically about how business decisions affect workers, especially in the gig economy. I researched complex issues such as labor classification, employment law and ethical responsibility. Our team focused on Uber's current model and developed a two-path employment solution that balances flexibility with worker protections," said team member Ryan Mahlmeister. "Collaborating with others taught me the value of clear communication and combining different viewpoints to build a strong case. I improved my skills in research, writing and public speaking. More importantly, I gained a deeper understanding of how ethics can shape business strategy and leadership. This experience helped me see the importance of making decisions that support both people and performance."

"Competing in the LMU online competition was a great experience. The group worked hard on our topic, and provided great insight on how it will benefit the world during our presentations. All of us were passionate throughout the months leading up to the competition," said Jake Lynch, who served as team manager. "Going into the competition, we were confident in our presentations; with the practice and feedback we got from each other, we knew we had everything we needed to succeed. I am proud of our team; we came in second for the 90-second pitch. Along with that, we presented a serious topic in today's world. With thorough research, we had all the tools to back up the recommendation of implementing hemp to stop the use of plastics in food packaging."

"I had the opportunity to present during the 25-minute presentation in the 2025 LMU competition and thought it was a great experience. Our group, Optimal Solutions Consulting, had to present online in front of judges. The five of us had to prepare a PowerPoint, memorize a script, and present an ethical issue," said team member Owen Walsh. "We chose the ethical issues with microplastics. We did plenty of research, learning many valuable takeaways, and ultimately decided to implement hemp packaging instead of single-use plastics. This would help save the environment and human health. I thought we were prepared for the competition and were ready for any questions the judges threw at us. All the research, meetings and brainstorming paid off in the end, making it a great experience for us and a good insight on being professional in a business setting."

"During this semester, our group had to work closely together to get information and structure our presentations. Our group was very close, which made it feel like it wasn't for a class, helping us to communicate much more," said team member Ben Lagoner. "I feel the preparation helped us gain a ton of experience on how our futures will look at points. This class has helped us to prepare for presentations in front of unfamiliar faces and helped us to gain skills with technology that we will be needing for years to come."

"While preparing for this competition, I noticed the amount of communication necessary to succeed in the competition. Fortunately, I was consistently talking with my group members, due to our connection of all being on the lacrosse team. When going through our preparations, I focused on smooth transitions between team members and making sure we all had a general knowledge so we would be able to answer any questions," said team member Ben Welch. "After reading the competition guidelines, I noticed that the time period for questions was nearly as long as the time we took to give our presentation. This stood out to me because the long time period for questions required all group members to have a solid understanding of the entire process of hemp packaging production. Although I focused on the financial aspect of our project, I knew it was important to understand the history of hemp and the process of creating a hemp package in order to have a complete understanding of the industry."

"The business ethics competition was a great experience. I was a part of the team Optimal Solutions Consulting and we focused on Greiner packaging and presented them with the opportunity to switch from plastic-based materials in food packaging to a more alternative hemp-based packaging," said team member Grayson Jackson. "We researched the legal, ethical and financial aspects of this opportunity for weeks. The competition was held over Zoom with judges in Los Angeles. The first round of the competition was a 25-minute presentation followed by a Q&A. The next day we had a 10-minute presentation and a 90-second pitch. This competition forced us to think critically and communicate clearly with each other and the judges. In total, it felt great to promote a solution that's both responsible and realistic."

SUNY Potsdam's Department of Business Administration offers flexible bachelor's and master's degrees in competitive fields, and provides students with an understanding of how for-profit and non-profit organizations function efficiently and effectively in the global marketplace. The College offers its undergraduate business administration program both at the Potsdam campus and in Watertown, N.Y., at Jefferson Community College. Its Master of Science program in management is offered 100 percent online, to serve graduate students around the world. For more information, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/BusinessAdmin.

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