Northwestern Business/Economics

05/26/2026

We're excited to share the latest edition of the Business & Economics Department Newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it!

Shared with Dropbox

05/13/2026

At the beginning of May, we concluded an 8-week project (March-April 2026) with the corporate marketing team at Red Lobster as part of the Spring 2026 Consumer Behavior class (an upper-level marketing class).

In this project, six teams of 3-4 student worked as mini-marketing agencies that were tasked with conceptualizing and developing marketing campaigns to help Red Lobster effectively reach Gen Z consumers. The project involved several interactive sessions with Red Lobster, including a kickoff session on March 11, sessions on April 13 and April 17, and a final presentations session on May 1.

The Red Lobster marketers evaluated the final presentations and although they selected one overall winning team, they were very impressed with the work done by all the teams and sent gifts for everyone. Among other things, this project has provided a unique opportunity for our students to apply what they've learned in class in a real-world scenario and given them a chance to interact and collaborate with highly experienced and knowledgeable professional marketers.

“Big thanks to Dr. Mjumo Mzyece for challenging his students to bring bold, creative ideas to the table! Their take on Gen Z gave us new inspiration and a fresh lens on how we show up for younger guests.” -- Heather Timm (Senior Director, Advertising & Media), Cassidy Martin (Senior Brand Marketing Manager), Adelia Heidrich (Associate Brand Manager)

05/08/2026

Last week, YouTuber joined Dr. Han-Yen Kao's Managerial Economics class for a special treat. Students tasted authentic Taiwanese breakfast items and pitched business ideas of selling Taiwanese breakfast in U.S. markets.

From dan bing (Taiwanese egg crepe), iced black tea, teppanyaki noodles, to pork-and-egg sandwich, students explored flavors while applying economic thinking to managerial decisions—pricing, differentiation, and target markets.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for a fun (and delicious) way to experience how culture and economics come together!

05/06/2026

Dr. Mzyece's Integrated Marketing Communications class welcomed guest speaker, Dirk Nicol, CEO & Founder of Majentics. Dirk shared insights on "IMC in the Age of AI: When your customer is a machine, what happens to marketing?" - a highly relevant topic and the class that sparked great discussion and engagement throughout the class. It was a fun full-circle moment for Dr. Mzyece to connect with Dirk who was his boss when he worked at IBM's Research Triangle Park campus in North Carolina!

05/05/2026

The Cost Accounting class recently took another field trip, this time to Vision Builders in Sioux Center. Lucas Kurtzleben spoke with students about job costing and how the company works toward cost and labor efficiencies. We are grateful for local businesses taking the time to invest in our students and share their practical experience with them. Vision Builders Inc.

05/01/2026

Mariah Zomermaand, Kari Hickman, and Kendra Gort recently visited Dr. Vonk's Entrepreneurship class. All three are local business owners and they shared about startup, growth, and faith in business. We appreciate their willingness to invest in our students by sharing their real-world experience.
Petals & Perks, Pat's Jewelry Centre, Three:Twelve Boutique

04/29/2026

Dr. Song's Strategic and Ethical Management class was fortunate to have Catherine Bloom visit recently. She made a lasting impact as she challenged students to find work at the intersection of passion, strengths, and value. The class ended with a special moment of Catherine praying a blessing over the seniors. We are so grateful for Catherine's wisdom and honest, heartfelt sharing. Interstates

04/28/2026

Kley De Jong recently visited Professor Breen's Entity Tax & Law class. He spoke with the class about drafting a will and estate planning. His insights were especially helpful as students complete their assignment to create their own wills. We are grateful for the expertise and real‑world perspective Kley shared with our students. De Jong

04/24/2026

Faculty members from the Business Department recently toured Pella Windows & Doors in Sioux Center and enjoyed learning more about Pella’s operations, the work being done there, and the career opportunities available to students. Thank you for a wonderful visit -- we look forward to partnering in the future.
Pella Windows and Doors

04/21/2026

The Business Club recently traveled to Sioux Falls for tours of Empire Motorsports and Silencer Central, where students gained valuable insight into the realities of running a business, including managing fluctuations in demand. Each visit included a guided tour and opportunities for students to ask questions and engage directly with industry professionals. We are grateful to both organizations for their time and willingness to invest in our students’ learning experience.

04/16/2026

Professor Post recently visited the accounting class at MOC–Floyd Valley, where she shared insights into the accounting profession, career opportunities in the field, and what it’s like to major in accounting at the college level. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with local schools and invest in the next generation of accountants. Thank you to Miss Van Es for the warm welcome!