Author: Maddie Koss

  • Lacy School of Business Students Drive Real-World Change with Indianapolis Vision Zero Initiative

    Lacy School of Business Students Drive Real-World Change with Indianapolis Vision Zero Initiative

    At the Lacy School of Business, our students don’t just learn about data analytics – they apply it to real-world challenges that make a tangible impact on our community. This fall, a group of senior students partnered with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) to contribute to Vision Zero, the city’s ambitious initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2035.

    Through this collaboration, students worked on multiple projects analyzing live traffic data to identify high-risk areas across Indianapolis. One focus area was Michigan Road, where a significant number of traffic-related fatalities have occurred. By examining detailed data – including traffic speeds, patterns, and street usage – students developed actionable recommendations for improving safety, such as where medians or other traffic-calming measures could be most effective.

    Another project brought students directly into the heart of the city, in Fountain Square, where they studied the effects of a “road diet” that reduced lanes to slow traffic and installed urban safety devices. Using speed guns and pre/post observations, students tracked vehicle speeds on roads with and without medians, giving them direct insight into how street design influences driver behavior.

    “This project allowed students to see firsthand how data, design, and human behavior intersect on our streets,” Dr. Jason Davidson, assistant professor of management information systems, said. “They weren’t just analyzing numbers – they were observing, learning, and contributing to solutions that could save lives.”

    For Natalie Bayes, a statistics major and data science minor, the opportunity to participate was both exciting and eye-opening. “I’ve never done research before, so when I heard about the Vision Zero partnership, I reached out to Dr. Davidson right away,” she said. “I was really excited to be onsite, collecting data and using speed guns – not just working with numbers on a spreadsheet.”

    The New Jersey native was particularly impacted by the hands-on nature of the work. “Working with the Department of Public Works gave me a perspective on how the city operates,” she explained. “I got to work closely with the traffic signal engineer, and it was fascinating to conceptualize what goes into traffic planning. There are things you don’t think about, and it was fun to contribute to solving real problems.”

    Students presented their findings and recommendations at the City-County Building in early December, creating dashboards and actionable insights that directly inform the DPW’s ongoing safety initiatives.

    Vision Zero reflects Indianapolis’ commitment to creating streets that are safe, equitable, and accessible for everyone – whether walking, biking, driving, or using public transit. By partnering with local government on these initiatives, LSB students are not only learning critical analytical and research skills – they are actively helping shape a safer, smarter city.

    “Hands-on learning is so important,” Natalie added. “If you stay in the classroom, you lose sight of the ‘why.’ Applying what you learn to real-world situations is exactly what you’ll do in every career.”

  • From Courtroom to Classroom: Professor Hilary Buttrick’s Journey in Teaching Business Law

    From Courtroom to Classroom: Professor Hilary Buttrick’s Journey in Teaching Business Law

    For Professor Hilary Buttrick, the path to teaching business law wasn’t a straight line – it was a slow realization that the things she loved most had been pointing her toward the classroom all along.

    As an English major at DePauw University, she loved writing and worked as a peer tutor at the university’s writing center. But as graduation neared, she didn’t yet have a name for the career she was meant to pursue.

    “Someone suggested I look into law school,” the associate professor of business law recalled. “No one in my family had ever gone to law school, so I didn’t really know what it would be like. But it seemed like a way to leverage my strengths in writing and the skills I learned through studying at a liberal arts college.”

    Law did exactly that. It took her to Indiana University McKinney School of Law, then to a successful career in business litigation at Ice Miller. She loved the intellectual rigor, but she also felt pulled toward something more people centered. “Law is all about arguments, and it can be very contentious” she said. “But at its core, it’s about service. Clients come to you in vulnerable moments, and your job is to help them navigate uncertainty.”

    That understanding of service – meeting others where they are – became the thread that ultimately brought her to the Lacy School of Business.

    “When an opening came up to teach at Butler, right here in my backyard, I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world,” the New Harmony native said. “The energy of working with young professionals in the classroom is by far the best part of my workday.”

    Those early days weren’t without nerves, though. Moving from courtroom to the classroom required a new kind of advocacy – one that wasn’t about winning an argument but helping students learn how to build one. She quickly found her stride by leaning into what had drawn her to law in the first place: curiosity, creativity, and the willingness to see a problem from all angles.

    “Sometimes there isn’t one clear right answer,” she explained. “My goal is to help students craft the best possible argument, even for a side they don’t personally agree with. It’s about creativity, problem solving, and service.”

    Over the past decade, Professor Buttrick has watched LSB transform – growing in size, expanding its experiential learning opportunities, and pushing students to think in bigger, more interdisciplinary ways. That evolution is part of what pulled her back to LSB after a period away. “I missed my colleagues, the students, the quality of the work, and the intellectual engagement,” she said. “LSB is a special place where students are inquisitive, respectful, and motivated – and that energy is contagious.”

    As Associate Dean of Academics, Professor Buttrick’s work also includes helping students through some of their most overwhelming moments. It’s meaningful to her in a way that echoes her roots in litigation. “Sometimes students come to me with what seems like an insurmountable problem,” she said. “My role is to help them untangle it so they can thrive. Helping students develop strategies to succeed is deeply satisfying.”

    In the classroom, she brings real-world cases to life through hypotheticals, scenarios, and playful debates – inviting students to test ideas and learn by doing. The impact is real. Several students, who never considered law until taking her course, went on to apply to law school and attributed that decision to her guidance. Those moments stay with her.

    “I really believe in the potential of our students to do great things,” she said. “Preparing students to ask questions, think critically, and make well-reasoned decisions is why I teach. Watching their progress and growth over their time at Butler makes me really hopeful about the future.”

    Outside her work at LSB, Professor Buttrick stays grounded by spending time with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and two cats. She enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and trying new recipes in search of the perfect chocolate chip cookie. “Being with my family and nurturing curiosity are what keep me energized,” she said.

    For students exploring the intersection of business and law, the professor offers simple but hard-won advice: “Ask questions. One of the greatest traps is thinking you have it all figured out and being entrenched in one perspective. Be willing to hear other ideas and change your mind – it’s how you grow.”

  • Thinking Like a Business Leader: Inside First-Year Business Experience and Top Dawg

    Thinking Like a Business Leader: Inside First-Year Business Experience and Top Dawg

    Before most first-year students have even settled into campus life, they’re handed a challenge: Here’s a real company. Here’s a problem. Now go figure out what to do about it.

    That’s the heartbeat of the First-Year Business Experience (FBE), a course that throws students into the world of business from day one, letting them learn by building, creating, presenting, and discovering. It’s the class that nudges them out of the familiar and into the mindset of someone who asks hard questions, digs for answers, and thinks like a business professional from the start.

    Teams begin the semester by diving into a publicly traded company – an intentional decision that gives students access to real data and real insight.

    “We choose publicly traded companies because students can dig in and find real research,” Brenda Geib-Swanson, Lecturer of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, said. “They don’t know what they don’t know yet, so exploring everything – from marketing to logistics to organizational structure – opens their eyes to how businesses actually operate.”

    This year, every company touched the logistics industry: shipping, fuel, warehousing, and the many layers of supply chain work that shape how products move through the world. For many students, it’s the first time they’ve seen how interconnected business truly is.

    The turning point of the semester comes during the final four weeks, when teams enter what Professor Geib-Swanson calls the “sustainability sprint.” After uncovering a sustainability issue within their chosen company – whether it’s emissions, waste, inefficiency, or something less obvious – they begin ideating a bold, research-backed solution. They sketch, test, revise, and refine, often discovering that the solution they start with is not the one they end up championing.

    “Sustainability is a hot topic, and we want them to think creatively,” Professor Geib-Swanson said. “This is where they practice ideation, problem solving, business writing, and business presenting. Even if they won’t become entrepreneurs, they still need those skills.”

    For first-year exploratory business student Charlotte Potts, the sprint revealed a challenge she didn’t expect to enjoy. “I’m not a numbers person, so the toughest part was getting them right,” she said. “But I ended up handling the cost-benefit analysis, and seeing everything come together – and actually be accurate – felt really rewarding.”

    By the end of the sprint, every team produces a research poster, a one-minute elevator pitch, and a full 4–7 minute presentation. Each class section votes on a winner, and those teams advance to one of the most anticipated traditions of the semester: the Top Dawg First-Year Competition, where section winners pitch to a panel of business professionals. The ultimate Top Dawg earns an automatic A and bragging rights that last long past finals week.

    “It’s really fun,” Professor Geib-Swanson said. “The energy, the ideas, the excitement – students surprise us every year with how far they take this project.”

    By the end of the semester, the transformation is unmistakable. Students who walked in unsure of what business school might look like leave with real experience in ideation, creativity, innovation, and complex problem solving. They’ve researched real companies, uncovered meaningful sustainability challenges, and learned how to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently. They’ve stretched themselves, surprised themselves, and discovered something essential about who they are and who they’re becoming.

    For many, Top Dawg is the defining moment – the culmination of a semester of hard work, curiosity, and creativity. For others, it’s simply the spark – the moment they realize they are capable of thinking like a business leader long before they’ve completed their first year.

    “It’s important to be open to learning as much as you can. You’ll get out of this what you put into it,” Charlotte said. “Problem-solving, teamwork, communicating – these are skills I know I’ll use in future classes and in my career.”

  • Passion, Purpose, and Play: Manolo Ferreres’ Journey in Business and Soccer

    Passion, Purpose, and Play: Manolo Ferreres’ Journey in Business and Soccer

    When Manolo Ferreres first stepped onto Butler’s campus, he carried more than a suitcase and a soccer ball – he carried a dream.

    Growing up in Deltebre, Catalonia, Spain, he had already built a life steeped in discipline and ambition, balancing his studies in economics with his passion for soccer. Moving to the United States meant stepping into a world that was entirely new: a different culture, different people, and new expectations. “At the beginning, it was kind of difficult,” he recalled. “Everything was new. But over time, people here made it easier. The professors, the classmates – they were always willing to help and guide me.”

    Choosing the Lacy School of Business wasn’t just about academics. For the senior economics major, Butler offered the chance to grow as a student, as an athlete, and as a future professional. “I saw the opportunity to step up my career,” he said. “To combine my studies in economics with soccer, while learning in an environment that pushed me to be my best.”

    Manolo’s journey was shaped not only by those around him but also by the international perspective he brought to campus. Adapting to a new country meant embracing change while staying connected to his roots. “I realized it was important to bring your own knowledge, keep your mind sharp, and adapt to your environment,” the center-back said.

    This mindset translated seamlessly to his entrepreneurial work with ESUS Soccer Company, an international company he co-founded while still a student. The company’s mission is to open doors for international players, helping them secure U.S. college soccer scholarships while combining athletic excellence with academic achievement. Through ESUS, Manolo connects young athletes with top NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA programs, matching them with opportunities that align with their skills, ambitions, and long-term goals.

    “It’s about more than soccer,” he explained. “We’re helping players grow as athletes, students, and people. They improve their game, earn a degree, and experience a new culture. It’s a chance to reach their full potential on and off the field.”

    ESUS also provides an elite program in Spain, where players train and compete with professional and semi-professional clubs over a 10-month season, participating in more than 35 official matches and training multiple times per week.

    Recently, the company acquired an international tournament in Manolo’s hometown, giving players from around the world the chance to compete and connect within the Spanish soccer culture. “We’re creating opportunities for players to grow, to learn, and to succeed,” he said. “It’s about helping them find their path, just like Butler helped me find mine.”

    The lessons Manolo has learned at LSB have been instrumental in building his business. Classes focused on communication, presentations, and practical problem-solving have helped him refine his English, convey ideas clearly, and sell his vision to others.

    Balancing rigorous coursework, soccer, and entrepreneurship requires discipline and focus, but Manolo thrives on it. His days are meticulously planned, from early morning soccer practice to classes, then to managing ESUS, and finally evening study sessions. “It’s a lot, but every moment counts. You learn to focus on what’s in front of you and give it your best.”

    Despite his busy schedule, Manolo finds balance through music and creativity. He writes and performs songs, plays guitar, and enjoys spending time with friends – activities that recharge him and spark new ideas. These moments of personal expression mirror the creativity he brings to both his studies and his business endeavors.

    Manolo’s journey at LSB and with ESUS illustrates a powerful truth: growth happens at the intersection of challenge, curiosity, and action. He encourages others to take risks, follow their ambitions, and embrace the unknown.

    “If you have an idea or a dream, you have to take the leap,” he said. “Start, learning along the way, and keep improving. You’ll never know what you can achieve until you try.”

  • Butler Entrepreneurship Named 2026 TechPoint MIRA Awards Finalist for Community Impact

    Butler Entrepreneurship Named 2026 TechPoint MIRA Awards Finalist for Community Impact

    Lacy School of Business (LSB) is proud to announce that Butler Entrepreneurship has been named a 2026 TechPoint MIRA Awards Finalist for the Community Impact Award, recognizing organizations that are transforming Indiana’s tech and business ecosystem.

    Launched in January 2025, Butler Entrepreneurship is more than a program – it’s a campus-wide movement that empowers students, faculty, and alumni to transform ideas into ventures that create measurable social, economic, and community impact. Rooted in the belief that business can be a force for good, the program equips students with the skills, mentorship, and resources they need to launch ventures that generate revenue, create jobs, and strengthen local communities.

    “Imagine a student arriving on campus with a spark of an idea, unsure if it can go beyond a class project. Butler Entrepreneurship transforms that spark into real change,” Nick Smarrelli, Director of Entrepreneurship, said. “From their first day to graduation, students engage in experiences that cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets, launch authentic ventures, and create measurable social, economic, and community impact.”

    Since its launch, Butler Entrepreneurship has grown into a cross-disciplinary engine of innovation, supporting more than 70 student-owned businesses, partnering with 40+ community organizations, and connecting students with 100+ alumni and industry mentors. Student ventures have generated six-figure profits and have contributed meaningfully to local commerce, employment, and community well-being.

    Key initiatives demonstrating the program’s impact include Launch HOPE, where students mentor entrepreneurs from marginalized communities, helping them access resources and grow ventures that drive meaningful outcomes. Through Building Indiana’s Tech Future, students leverage AI tools and collaborate with alumni founders, engineers, and investors to bring tech-enabled solutions to life. Community partnerships like the Healthy Care, Healthy Costs Data Challenge & Accelerator and Rolltack Ventures’ First-Year Pitch Competition give students hands-on experience addressing real-world challenges in healthcare, financial literacy, and workplace innovation.

    In addition to its campus initiatives, Butler Entrepreneurship is helping lead the way in connecting universities and fostering intercollegiate collaboration. The program has partnered with Notre Dame graduate Adam Andres, as well as CICP, Rolltack Ventures, and 16Tech, to host an intercollegiate entrepreneurship conference and competition in late February. This effort brings together student innovators from multiple universities to share ideas, compete, and build networks that extend Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Butler Entrepreneurship will also participate in the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Conference on January 26, supporting the community by educating and preparing the next generation of leaders to take over Indiana’s most important businesses.

    Student-run ventures under Bulldog Enterprises, including Chimba Bowls, Blue’s Closet, Butler Brew, and Blue Roll Media, generate revenue, employ peers, and reinvest profits locally. Highlights include Chimba Bowls expanding to a second location, Blue’s Closet diverting over 2,200 pounds of clothing from landfills and donating 800 pounds to local nonprofits, and Butler Brew achieving a six-figure net positive while supporting campus and community causes. Every student-run venture in the Real Business Experience donates at least 10% of profits to local nonprofits, totaling nearly $20,000 over three years to support food banks, scholarships, and community programs.

    Butler Entrepreneurship bridges students with mentors, investors, and peers through programs like the Private Ventures Association (PVA), Minority Owned Business Initiative (MOBI), and community events including Elevate Sprint Week, Bark Tank, and the First-Year Pitch Competition. Alumni founders from Salesforce, High Alpha, and Elevate Ventures serve as mentors, judges, and investors, creating a strong ecosystem that extends Butler’s impact far beyond the campus.

    The program has ambitious goals for the coming years: launching the Butler Accelerator, a year-round hub connecting student founders with mentors, investors, and seed funding; doubling participation in programs supporting minority and marginalized entrepreneurs; piloting new student-run ventures in health tech, sustainable retail, and AI-enabled education tools; and expanding national recognition by sharing Butler’s open-source entrepreneurship framework with other universities.

    With these initiatives, Butler is positioning itself as the Midwest’s most accessible university-based startup ecosystem, nurturing the next generation of socially responsible leaders ready to make an impact in Indianapolis and beyond.

    The MIRA Awards gala will take place on April 24, 2026, at The Palladium in Carmel, celebrating Indiana’s brightest innovators, impact makers, and tech leaders. Butler Entrepreneurship is honored to be recognized among these outstanding changemakers.

    “This recognition is a testament to the creativity, passion, and dedication of our students, faculty, and community partners,” Nick said. “Together, we’re building ventures, building leaders, and building a stronger, more equitable community.”

  • Dr. Matthew Lanham Named One of Poets&Quants’ 50 Best Undergraduate Professors

    Dr. Matthew Lanham Named One of Poets&Quants’ 50 Best Undergraduate Professors

    We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Matthew Lanham, Assistant Professor of Business Technology and Analytics for Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, has been named one of Poets&Quants’ 50 Best Undergraduate Professors for 2025.

    This recognition honors faculty who demonstrate outstanding teaching excellence and a profound impact on their students’ lives. Dr. Lanham’s teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning, student growth, and real-world application, preparing students to think like leaders and problem-solvers.

    “Nobody deserves this award more than Professor Lanham,” Max Sanders, senior accounting major, said. “He is kind and caring, fun, and enthusiastic. You can tell when he teaches that he just wants to make us all better individuals, inside and outside of the classroom. Butler University is insanely blessed to have a professor as good as Professor Lanham.”

    Dr. Lanham joined Butler University in 2025 and teaches Predictive Analytics and Prescriptive Analytics. His research focuses on predictive-prescriptive integration and Data-for-Good initiatives, which he brings directly into his courses through team competitions and applied projects. He also founded the National Data4Good Analytics Competition, giving students worldwide the chance to work on social-impact cases while completing professional certifications.

    In addition to this national recognition, Dr. Lanham has received numerous teaching and leadership awards, including:

    • INFORMS Data Mining Society Teach Award (2025)
    • INFORMS Senior Member (2025)
    • Salgo-Noren Outstanding Master’s Teaching Award at Purdue University (2024)
    • Co-Chair of the Meeting of Analytics Program Directors
    • Two-time recipient of Purdue’s Transformative Impact Award

    Dr. Lanham’s dedication to his students goes beyond the classroom. He describes what he enjoys most about teaching business students:

    “They’re hands-on doers, eager to test ideas and take risks, and I find myself learning from them as much as they learn from me. Someday, one of them might even convince me to leave the classroom and help run a business together.”

    When asked what makes him stand out as a professor, Dr. Lanham reflects:

    “A zeal for outcomes. I care deeply that every student leaves my course with tangible evidence of growth – certifications earned, projects delivered, and confidence gained. Grades matter less to me than transformation. My approach is to coach, not just to teach, and to measure success by the lives my students change afterward.”

    Read more about Dr. Lanham and the full list of honorees on Poets&Quants.

  • Building Business from Scratch: Inside Butler’s Real Business Experience

    Building Business from Scratch: Inside Butler’s Real Business Experience

    You walk into a classroom, and it hits you: by the end of the semester, you won’t have merely learned about business – you’ll have built one from scratch. That’s the challenge sophomore students face in the Lacy School of Business’ Real Business Experience (RBE), a program that doesn’t just teach entrepreneurship – it throws you into it. 

    Teams of six, randomly assigned across majors, take on CEO, CFO, and CMO roles. Over the next few months, they brainstorm ideas, prototype products, manage budgets, handle suppliers, and sell to real customers. Mistakes aren’t hypothetical; they’re costly. Every decision matters. Every setback teaches a lesson. 

    “It’s innovative in a way that Butler does it,” Brenda Geib-Swanson, Lecturer of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, said. “At the start, it’s a class. By the end, it’s a business. And the learning comes from what goes wrong. Teams will face chaos, they’ll hit walls – but those moments are the ones that teach them the most.” 

    For Toni Jazvic, CEO of PawPrints Flags, those lessons came fast. Her team’s idea, a Butler-themed garden flag, seemed simple at first. But when their initial design failed, they had to scrap it completely and started over. 

    “Not knowing what you don’t know until you’re doing it, it looks so easy on paper,” the exploratory business and biology major said. “Every decision mattered. And the moment we sold our first flags? That’s when I really believed our idea could work.” 

    Emily Clark, CEO of Butler Cases & Co., faced her own real-world obstacles. Her team wanted to produce three different styles of Butler-branded eyeglass cases but quickly realized their budget couldn’t cover them all. 

    “We had to drop one style to stay within budget. It’s the kind of thing textbooks don’t prepare you for – you live it,” the accounting and marketing major said. 

    RBE isn’t just about making a product – it’s about experiencing every facet of running a business. Butler provides each team with a $1,000 loan to start their business, and students are responsible for repaying it, managing sales, and donating 10% of profits to a local charity. Faculty and professional mentors guide – but never take over – letting students make the big decisions and live with the consequences. 

    “I try really hard to give them bumpers at the beginning, but they’re wide. I want them to have room to make mistakes, pivot, and problem solve,” Professor Geib-Swanson said. “That’s where the growth comes from.” 

    By the end of the semester, these teams have more than a grade – they have businesses they’ve built themselves. 

    Toni reflects on what she’s learned about leadership: “The value of delegating to a good team – you can get more done. Seeing my team execute ideas I couldn’t have done alone – that’s been incredible.” 

    Emily echoes this: “I’ve learned I cannot do this on my own. It’s about finding your strengths and building around them.” 

    All of that effort culminates at the RBE Marketplace, where the Butler community can see and buy what these students have created. On Friday, Nov. 14, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the lobby of Dugan Hall, 28 student-run businesses will showcase their products in person. This is the chance to see that ingenuity, creativity, and perseverance in action. For those who can’t attend, online storefronts remain open until Sunday, Nov. 30. 

    Over the past year, RBE students have started 63 businesses, generating more than $59,000 in profits – $6,000 of which went straight to local charities. It’s proof that these are real companies, built and run by real students, with tangible impact on both the community and their own experience. 

    “At the end of the day, it’s not about the products they sell or the profits they make – it’s about giving students the tools to think critically, solve problems creatively, and lead with confidence,” Professor Geib-Swanson said. “They leave this class not just knowing business – they know themselves.” 

    The PawPrints Flags Team
    The Butler Cases & Co. Team

  • Data4Good: Using Data as a Force for Good

    Data4Good: Using Data as a Force for Good

    This Friday, October 31, marks the registration deadline for the 4th Annual National Data4Good Analytics Competition – a national platform where undergraduate and master’s students apply data and technology to solve real-world challenges. The Data4Good Competition is open to undergraduate and master’s students across the U.S. Teams compete within their regions for cash prizes, with regional winners advancing to present at Johns Hopkins University’s Carey School of Business.

    While the name highlights analytics, the deeper story is about stewardship: how we use our skills and knowledge to serve others and make meaningful impact. This competition goes beyond technical ability. It’s an invitation to strengthen consulting-style problem solving, analytical expertise, and collaboration through purpose-driven projects. Participants engage in professional development sessions, earn free industry certifications, and connect with leading corporate sponsors – all while using data for good.

    Since its founding in 2022, Data4Good has brought together students, educators, and industry leaders to collaborate on data solutions that create social impact:

    • 2022: Students partners with SIL Global to create captions for children’s Bible stories in low-resource languages.
    • 2023: Teams improved healthcare documentation using AI models to structure physician-patient transcripts from a Prediction Guard client.
    • 2024: In collaboration with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), students analyzed grief data to support families of fallen service members.
    • 2025: This year’s challenge focuses on improving the factuality of AI-generated educational content, provided by Prediction Guard, to promote truth in an era of misinformation.

    Together, these projects have awarded more than $110,000 in student prizes and led over 1,500 students to earn Microsoft certifications in Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals (AI-900).

    Data4Good thrives on strong partnerships and our success is made possible through the support of:

    • Dr. Dan Whitenack, CEO of Prediction Guard
    • Aaron Burciaga, CEO of ZETEC
    • Nick Ulmer, Principal OR Analyst at CANA
    • Carol Curley and Bill Griffin of INFORMS
    • Mafer Bencomo of DataCamp
    • Dr. Lori Downen, Rochelle Fisher, and Liz Moran of SAS

    Through these partnerships, students engage with INFORMS and the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) framework, learning stewardship through structured problem-solving and ethics. DataCamp expands our reach by providing a global learning platform. While SAS’ Global Academic Programs continues to model and lead analytics education.

    As Liz Moran of SAS shares, “Data4Good Competition is about more than analytics – it’s about using the data to make a difference. When students tackle real-world challenges, they see firsthand how their skills can create positive change.”

    The Lacy School of Business is proud to be a sponsor of this national competition, advancing data-driven innovation and ethical decision-making through education. Leading the charge is our Assistant Professor of Business Technology & Analytics, Dr. Matthew A. Lanham, who teaches predictive and prescriptive analytics at LSB and was recently honored with the 2025 Inaugural INFORMS Data Mining Society Teaching Award for his impact on students within and beyond the classroom. His research focuses on integrating predictive models within optimization models and improving analytics education, reflecting the same spirit of innovation at the heart of the Data4Good competition.

    Ready to use data for good? Registration for the 2025 Data4Good Competition closes Friday, October 31. Don’t miss your chance to apply data and AI to a real-world challenge and compete alongside peers nationwide.

    REGISTER HERE
  • Teaching Beyond the Balance Sheet: Dr. Bryan Foltice’s Approach to Finance and Life

    Teaching Beyond the Balance Sheet: Dr. Bryan Foltice’s Approach to Finance and Life

    When Dr. Bryan Foltice left behind the world of investment banking for academia, it wasn’t because he lost his edge for numbers – it was because he started questioning their meaning.

    A professional athlete turned finance professional turned professor, Dr. Foltice’s path to the Lacy School of Business has been anything but linear, yet every step seems to have led him exactly to where he’s meant to be.

    It started in Germany, where Dr. Foltice was playing professional basketball after college. “The only English channel I had at the time was CNBC,” the Associate Professor of Finance laughed.” That’s what got me curious about finance.

    That curiosity turned into a career once he moved back to the U.S., earning his Masters of Business Administration at the University of North Florida after completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Cornerstone University. But success in the fast-paced world of investment banking didn’t feel like fulfillment. “I was good at what I did, but I started asking myself, is this all there is? What kind of purpose do you find in this?”

    His mentors told him that purpose wasn’t part of the job – you just made money and found fulfillment elsewhere. That answer didn’t sit right with him. He decided to explore other options, which brought him back to Germany for a Ph.D. in finance. That’s where he realized that academia could be something long-term – something with meaning.

    When he began his academic job search, Butler University was at the top of his list. As a Michigan native, the Midwest felt like home. “But it wasn’t just that. The first week I was here, I remember thinking, everyone’s so nice. I told myself, give it two weeks, the niceness will wear off,” he said. “Eleven years later, it still hasn’t.”

    Dr. Foltice brings a global lens and a team-player mindset to his classroom – both shaped by his time overseas.  Playing professional basketball in Germany taught him that leadership is about action, not words – that people know you care not because you say it, but because you show it. It’s a lesson that finds its way into his teaching style, where connection and empathy are just as important as numbers and models. His time abroad also reinforced that “different isn’t bad – it’s just different,” a mindset he now encourages his students to embrace, whether they study abroad or simply begin to view finance through a broader, global perspective.

    Today, Dr. Foltice teaches international finance, investment, and behavioral finance – a field he’s particularly passionate about.

    Bryan Foltice teaching in class.

    “When I was working during the financial crisis, people would yell at me for losing their money,” he said with a grin. “I realized people feel losses twice as much as they feel gains. That’s behavioral finance in real life.”

    His classroom has become a place where those real-world lessons come to life, preparing students not just to understand markets but to understand people. “If you’ve had me in class, you’ve got me for life,” Dr. Foltice said. “That’s the Foltice lifetime guarantee. Students still reach out years later to talk about jobs, careers, or personal finances. That’s the best part of this work – the relationships that last.”

    That same passion for financial literacy led to the creation of Money Strong, a personal finance initiative he co-founded with Randy Brown, an executive career mentor at LSB. The two started at Butler around the same time but didn’t meet until nearly nine years later – thanks to a few mutual connections who insisted they had to. Once they finally connected, they realized they’d been working toward the same goal from different angles. What began as a simple idea quickly became a movement.

    Dr. Foltice and Randy proposed a series of personal finance “Money Talks” that were approved for Butler Cultural Requirement credits within 20 minutes. Students packed the sessions – some even sitting on the floor. Dr. Foltice recalled how the atmosphere shifted once students realized the content applied directly to their lives. From there, the program grew rapidly, supported by a Robinhood Markets, Inc. grant and the addition of new behavioral and personal finance courses, including a one-credit financial well-being class that filled up almost immediately.

    For Dr. Foltice, the goal is simple: make financial literacy accessible to every student, regardless of major.

    “We all have to play the game of money,” he said. “So, we might as well learn the rules.” Through Money Strong, he’s helping students do just that – building confidence, knowledge, and healthier financial habits that extend far beyond graduation.

    Outside the classroom, Dr. Foltice’s philosophy of “financial wellness” extends to life itself. For him, it’s not about hitting a specific number or chasing success for its own sake. Instead, he measures a rich life through what he calls the five F’s: finances, family, fitness, fun, and fulfillment. He’s proud to be a hands-on dad to two teenage sons and prioritizes balance and health, reminding his students that while high-pressure careers can be exciting, they’re rarely sustainable long-term. And when it’s time to unwind, he’s all about karaoke – especially anything 80s rock.

    “You’ve got to have fun,” he said. “Life’s too short to take yourself too seriously.”

    After more than a decade at LSB, Dr. Foltice says what keeps him energized is seeing the ripple effect of his work.

    “When you start to see the students you taught ten years ago mentoring the students you have now – that’s when you know the impact is growing exponentially,” he said. “That’s what drives me. Doing good work, in the right way, and watching it multiply.”

  • From Classroom to Cause: How Carly Pitts Found Her Passion for Purpose-Driven Marketing

    From Classroom to Cause: How Carly Pitts Found Her Passion for Purpose-Driven Marketing

    When Carly Pitts arrived at the Lacy School of Business (LSB) in August 2023, she didn’t have a clear vision for her career – just a strong desire to learn, grow, and find the right fit. “I wanted to go somewhere that was the perfect size and somewhere decently away from home,” the Minnesota native laughed. “I was looking for a good business school and everyone around me kept saying LSB was one of the best.”

    What sealed the deal was LSB’s hands-on approach. Carly was especially intrigued by the Real Business Experience (RBE), a program that has sophomore students start and run a business from scratch. Her RBE company, Butler Chew, created and sold dog toys. Those first steps in running a business taught her more than just marketing skills – they taught her how to take initiative, collaborate with a team, and see a project through from idea to execution.

    “It’s one thing to learn about business in class, but it’s another to actually build one from the ground up,” the Marketing and Economics student said. “And I loved that we had to complete two internships. It guaranteed I’d get real experience before graduating.”

    Her curiosity for marketing, though, had begun in high school, through classes and DECA competitions. But it wasn’t until she took Principles of Microeconomics with Dr. Whitney Bross that she discovered a complementary passion.

    “Economics tied into my analytical brain and complemented marketing really well,” the senior said.

    This combination of marketing and economics would shape the kind of professional – and person – she wanted to become, guiding the choices she made during internships and beyond.

    In May 2024, Carly began her Digital Marketing internship with Banner Engineering, an automation company that designs sensors to help machines streamline processes. Although she didn’t know much about the industry, her brother had once interned there, and her father built part of his career with the organization – making it a natural fit.

    She dove into digital marketing, handling competitive research and analytics, including a 12-company competitive analysis that became the centerpiece of her internship. “I learned how to work in an office, lead meetings, and present findings to senior leaders. I also discovered that I love research and analytics – but maybe not sitting in a cubicle all day,” she admitted with a laugh. Banner gave her a solid foundation in professional discipline and strategy, but it also made her think: what did it mean to use these skills in a way that truly mattered to her?

    That question followed her overseas, where she returned to GO Ministries in the Dominican Republic – a place that had first captured her heart during a summer trip. GO Ministries empowers local leaders through Church Planting, Medical, and Sports initiatives, supporting communities with mentorship, ministries, mobile clinics, and sports programs that develop the next generation of leaders.

    When the opportunity arose to intern with them in July 2024, she didn’t hesitate. She spent five weeks initially and then returned for a 12-week internship in the summer of 2025, focusing on storytelling, donor engagement, and volunteer marketing

     “Nonprofit marketing is really different,” she explained. “You’re not marketing a product – you’re marketing a purpose. You’re telling stories that inspire people to give, serve, and be part of something bigger.”

    In this role, Carly found a place where her professional skills could serve a bigger mission, and her heart could fully engage.

    By fall 2025, Carly made a decision that would define the next chapter of her journey: she accepted a full-time role with GO Ministries, headquartered in Louisville, as Coordinator of Media Marketing, beginning right after graduation.

    “I loved my time at Banner – it taught me so much – but I realized I needed to be a little uncomfortable to stay interested,” she said. “With GO, I found something I’m passionate about. If you love your work, you’re not really working.”

    In this role, she’ll manage social media accounts, share stories from local and international teams, and even launch a podcast – all while traveling regularly to the Dominican Republic.

    Looking back, Carly credits LSB with preparing her for both corporate and nonprofit worlds.

    “I didn’t expect my Digital Marketing class with Dr. Chi Zhang to help inform my life trajectory as much as it did,” she said. “We partnered with a nonprofit called COIN and created social media campaigns for them. That project helped me understand nonprofit marketing before I even interned abroad.”

    That combination of classroom learning, hands-on experience, and real-world exploration gave Carly the confidence to chart her own path – one that connects business with purpose.

    When asked what advice she’d give other students still figuring out their paths, her answer was clear:

    “Take the risky internship – the nontraditional one. College is the time to experiment and try something different. You’ll learn what you like and what you don’t, and that’s just as valuable.”

    And if she could talk to her first-year self? “Don’t worry so much,” she said. “If you get involved and try new things, you’ll figure it out. It takes time, but it all works out the way it’s supposed to.”