Georgetown MBAs Win 2017 Fuels Institute Case Competition
According to Georgetown University, three McDonough School of Business MBA students recently won the 2017 Fuels Institute Case Competition following to their proposal on incorporating liquefied natural gas into the U.S. transition to autonomous vehicles.
Held in Denver, the 2017 Fuels Institute Case Competition asks each competing student team to create a plan for introducing a new fuel source and light-duty vehicle configuration into the market, as well as develop a market strategy that could enable an alternative fuel and vehicle to enter the market and satisfy consumers in a cost-effective manner.
The Georgetown team featured three MBA students: Corey Curnutte ’18, Mary Fay ’18, and Jesse Spodak ’18. The McDonough team’s model relied on liquefied natural gas (LNG) to autonomous, light-duty vehicles for shared use in cities. According to the team’s presentation, LNG presents low and stable prices, energy density and an already developed infrastructure within the United States, and thus is a good option as autonomous cars rise to prominence in the country.
Twelve student teams from nine schools competed in the Fuels Institute Case Competition, with three teams of finalists presenting their cases in Denver. Finalists fielded questions from more than 100 professionals in the fuels and vehicle and transportation industries, who then judged the teams and selected the top model.
“The three [teams of finalists] did a tremendous job,” said John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Fuels Institute. “I was incredibly impressed by the poise of these student teams. They were tasked with answering market transition questions that industry professionals have been struggling to answer for years, and they all provided some fresh insight that can help move these other projects forward. It is refreshing to see young, emerging professionals tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the market today.”
The Georgetown team won $5,000 for their winning presentation.
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Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
