Florida Tech MBA Class Is Finalist in Natural Gas Alliance Competition

MELBOURNE, FLA.— A Florida Institute of Technology MBA student-led team called “Clear Choice” is a finalist in an America’s National Gas Alliance (ANGA) Collegiate Energy Challenge. Three finalist teams were chosen from among teams at 16 universities who participated in natural gas marketing campaigns in November. ANGA will pay all expenses to bring Nathan M. Bisk College of Business Associate Professor Andrew Cudmore, faculty adviser, and five of the 20 participating students to Washington, D.C. Dec. 11 and 12 to compete for the Scholastic Achievement Award (SAA) $5,000, $3,000 or $1,000 prizes.

The challenge for Clear Choice was to implement an integrated marketing campaign educate and inform the community about natural gas. Team members also measured the effect of the campaign on public opinion of natural gas usage and development.

The team staged an outdoor, on-campus event called the Clear Choice Natural Gas Expo as the centerpiece of an integrated marketing project, the ANGA Collegiate Energy Challenge. The event offered fun, informative and educational activities, and natural gas industry and transportation exhibits. An exit survey measured awareness and changes in perception about natural gas usage and development.

“This class was one of the best experiences for me in the last 21 years of teaching,” said Cudmore. “These students are committed, organized, creative, positive and hard-working. It was a great collaborative effort and teaching them was a pleasure.”

The Florida Tech team was supported by EdVenture Partners, which provided guidance throughout the project as well as feedback on each element of the marketing campaign.