University of Wisconsin-Superior students from the transportation and logistics management and supply chain management programs recently traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the 2025 Logistics & Supply Chain Management Case Competition.

Held from April 2 to 4 and hosted by the University of North Florida (UNF), with sponsorship from the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), the event brought together teams from seven universities with top logistics undergraduate programs across the U.S. Participants were challenged to analyze complex, real-world logistics issues and propose strategic solutions.

Representing UW-Superior were Tamami Igeta from Chiba, Japan; Rilie Kupka from Eagan, Minnesota; Joel Lembke from Wrenshall, Minnesota; and Tyler Ryder from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team was coached by Mei Cao, professor of transportation and logistics management and supply chain management, and director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center.

Teams were presented with a multi-layered case focused on import container traffic through U.S. West Coast ports from 2017 through 2024. Students were tasked with evaluating trends in total import volumes, West Coast market share, sourcing changes, and shipping disruptions. They were then asked to develop projections for 2025 under three different tariff scenarios and recommend actionable strategies for a fictional company, P&M, to prepare for the coming year.

“Participating in the IANA-UNF Logistics and Supply Chain Competition for the second year in a row was an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Kupka. “The extra day we had allowed us more time to bond as a team, which made a noticeable difference in our collaboration and overall experience.”

Despite not placing in the final rankings, the UW-Superior team earned praise from the judges for their professionalism, presentation skills, and insightful solutions.

“The judges expressed how impressed they were with our presentation and the strength of our PowerPoint. Their support and positive feedback reminded us that growth and teamwork are just as important as the outcome,” said Kupka. “This experience reaffirmed my passion for the field and reminded me how valuable it is to surround yourself with teammates who are not only smart and capable, but also genuinely supportive and fun to work with.”

As part of the competition trip, students toured Jacksonville’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal facility and heard from Chad Warzecha, president of NXT Point Logistics, who shared insights drawn from over 20 years of leadership in third-party logistics and supply chain management. They also attended networking events, including a welcome dinner and a social outing at Topgolf. These experiences provided students with hands-on exposure to port operations and valuable opportunities to connect with industry professionals, fellow competitors, and faculty advisors.

“Visiting Jacksonville’s port was a fascinating experience and offered a unique insight into how it differs from other major ports across the country,” said Lembke. “I was especially struck by the massive scale of the container yards. Listening to the ship’s captain describe his journey from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville and how often he does it was really interesting. It was also eye-opening to see firsthand just how massive and deep cargo ships truly are.”

For Igeta, the experience offered a comprehensive learning opportunity that extended well beyond the technical aspects of the competition.

“Working on the case exposed me to the current challenges in the supply chain industry and gave me insight into how professionals tackle the issues they face each year,” she said. “The conversations with the judges and the career advice we received were incredibly insightful. I would highly recommend this competition to any students majoring in supply chain management or transportation and logistics management.”

Cao highlighted the transformative impact of the competition on student learning and professional growth.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students’ dedication, intellectual engagement, critical thinking, and collaborative spirit,” said Cao. “This competition offers a unique platform for our students to bridge academic theory with industry practice, sharpening their problem-solving abilities while cultivating the leadership and teamwork skills essential for future success in the dynamic field of supply chain and logistics.”

The students expressed their sincere gratitude to IANA, UNF, the UW-Superior Alumni and Friends Foundation, and the Transportation and Logistics Research Center for making this exceptional educational experience possible through their generous support and commitment to student development.