Mercyhurst sweeps awards at annual PA Sports Business case study contest
Mercyhurst University was well represented at the PA Sports Business Association’s recent case study competition and conference as Associate Professor for Sport Business Management Dr. John Parente received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award and senior Colby Leandro earned the Outstanding Student Award. Further, the university took first place with its case study presentation.
Joining Leandro in presenting the winning case study, titled “A New Era of Pennbriar,” were Abigail Kane and Alyssa Szychowski.
Leandro is a double major in Sport Business Management and Data Science. He is also among the top 2024 Mercyhurst commencement award winners, having earned the Frank Barry Leadership Award.
“We were tasked with crafting innovative strategies to revitalize the Pennbriar Sports and Fitness Complex, aiming to reestablish it as the ultimate fitness and recreation hub for Erie's vibrant community,” Leandro explained. “Our proposal, which focused on expanding cardio-room class offerings, introducing a cafe, and integrating a tech room, was all seamlessly tied together with an emphasis on the need for modern marketing and social media tactics and designed to resonate with the 18-to-50-year-old demographic while ensuring a return on investment. This experience allowed each of us to employ the knowledge we've gained in the classroom to a real-world case, further enhancing our skills in research, business, sales, and marketing.”
Meanwhile, Parente called Colby “as steady as they come. He embodies everything you want from students. He pushes himself, looks for alternate pathways, and is the best example of a servant leader I have seen from a young person.”
A total of six Mercyhurst students participated in the case study event, held April 12 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Besides Leandro, Kane, and Szychowski, there were Megan McKay, Cory Scull, and Roman Cerminara. Students John Krahe and Avik Agrawal joined their classmates at the subsequent conference.
“I’m proud of them all,” Parente said. “They did a great job. The bigger story here is that they created distinct pathways to reach the same goals. I love that it illustrated ‘you can get there from here.’”
Peter Zohos, dean of the School of Business & Applied Business, was gratified by the university’s impressive showing at the annual event. “Dr. Parente has built a noteworthy program,” he said. “He takes great care to make sure that every student is prepared for the real world as evidenced by the jobs they get and the competitions they partake in. With the foundations the students get in the business core coupled with the relevant program curriculum, our students are set up well for great careers.”
PHOTO: (L-R) Jay Perkins, Pennbriar Sports & Fitness Complex owner, joins case study winners Abigail Kane, Alyssa Szychowski, and Colby Leandro.