Students Face Rigorous National Competition

A team of transportation and logistics management and supply chain management students from the University of Wisconsin-Superior recently traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the 2026 Supply Chain Management Case Competition. Hosted by the University of North Florida and sponsored by the Intermodal Association of North America, the event took place April 8–10 and brought together teams from 10 universities across the United States. Many participating institutions are home to top-ranked supply chain programs, making the competition especially rigorous.

The UW-Superior team included Ashley Arndt of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; Abel Bogale of Yeka Sub City, Ethiopia; Lucas Sanches Crivilatti of Brasilia, Brazil; Justin Dauphinais of Val Caron, Canada; and Hayden Wilson of Superior, Wisconsin. The team was coached by Mei Cao, professor of transportation and supply chain management and director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center.

Applying Classroom Knowledge to Real-World Challenges

During the competition, teams had five hours to analyze a complex case focused on logistics and intermodal transportation and develop a solution. The following day, they presented their recommendations to a panel of industry executives.

“This experience really put us to the test,” said Dauphinais. “Working through a complex case in just five hours pushed us to quickly understand the situation, analyze data, form research-backed solutions and prepare a presentation. The most valuable takeaway for me was presenting to industry experts outside the classroom. I’ve grown as a person, teammate and student, and gained new knowledge and perspective on intermodal transportation.”

Although the team did not place in the final rankings, judges strongly considered them among the finalists and praised their insightful solutions and professionalism.

Building Confidence and Professional Skills

“I learned the importance of translating quantitative analysis into practical business insights decision-makers can act on, especially when evaluating large-scale infrastructure and network design in intermodal systems,” Wilson said. “This competition increased my confidence in presenting technical supply chain concepts to professional audiences and motivated me to continue developing my analytical and problem-solving skills as I prepare for a career in transportation and logistics management.”

Arndt highlighted the importance of teamwork and mentorship.

“I’m grateful to have worked alongside four incredible teammates and to have been guided by Dr. Cao throughout the process,” Arndt said. “From analyzing complex challenges to presenting our solutions, it was a great opportunity to grow both professionally and as a team.”

Bogale added, “Experiences like this remind me why I chose this path and push me to keep improving.”

Industry Exposure and Networking Opportunities

As part of the trip, students toured the Port of Jacksonville and heard from IANA President and CEO Anne Reinke, who shared insights from her transportation and logistics career and discussed the future of intermodal transportation. Students also attended networking events, including a welcome dinner, an outing at Topgolf and an awards luncheon, providing opportunities to connect with industry professionals, fellow competitors and faculty advisers.

Faculty Adviser Praises Student Performance

Faculty adviser Cao praised the team’s performance.

“I’m truly proud of our students’ hard work, commitment, innovation and collaborative spirit,” she said. “They embraced this challenge, worked relentlessly and represented UW-Superior with excellence, showcasing the strength and quality of our transportation and logistics management and supply chain management programs and the caliber of professionals they prepare for the future of the industry.”

The team expressed gratitude to IANA, the University of North Florida, the UW-Superior Alumni and Friends Foundation and the Transportation and Logistics Research Center for their support in making the experience possible.