Rider business students finish third in national consulting competition

A team of Rider University graduates placed third in this year’s national Small Business Institute Consulting Project of the Year competition.

Established in 1976, the Small Business Institute (SBI) provides college students with invaluable learning opportunities through direct client interaction and analysis. Since the University first began participating in the competition in 1998, Rider has tallied a total of 40 top 10 finishes between the undergraduate and graduate divisions.

“I am delighted that the students’ hard work was recognized, and that Rider continues to perform exceptionally well in this competition,” says Dr. Ron Cook, professor of entrepreneurial studies and director of Rider’s SBI program. “It’s a testimony to what can happen when our outstanding students work together to propose useful, implementable solutions for the client.”

This year’s team, made up of Kaitlyn Kurfuss ’23, Lindsey Mulrooney ’23, Doris Martin ’23 and Ryan Dougherty ’23, was tasked with crafting a consulting report for Wolf Tree Wilderness Therapy of Ithaca, New York, as part of Cook’s fall 2022 consulting class.

Wolf Tree offers Wilderness Therapy programs and Mindful Outdoor Experiences within the psychotherapy and wilderness therapy industries. The students’ report offered innovative strategies to strengthen and optimize Wolf Tree’s brand presence in the wilderness therapy sector, with the goal of broadening its client base and boosting revenue.

“Being able to work with Wolf Tree Wilderness Therapy was so insightful,”  says Kurfuss. “Working with a real business and helping them reach their end goals is something a textbook can’t teach you. I learned how to manage a business, while focusing on marketing, finances and the legalities of owning a business.” 

David Molnar ’76, Rider’s entrepreneur in residence, also shared his expertise with the team. With a wealth of industry knowledge, the former vice president of sales at Heraeus Sensor Technology held weekly meetings with the students, serving as a dedicated mentor.