Elon earns third place in Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition

An Elon University Martha and Spencer Love School of Business team placed third in the Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition, held March 2-3 at Stetson University in Deland, Florida.

Nicole Resetar, a junior accounting and finance double major from Garwood, New Jersey, and Michael Goldstein, a senior accounting major from Chapel Hill, N.C., represented Elon in the competition. They were accompanied by their faculty mentor, Pat Bell, lecturer in management.

Student teams were tasked with researching and analyzing the financial, legal and ethical issues involved with building the Dakota Access Pipeline. Teams presented their analysis and recommendations to a panel of judges.

“This case made us think critically about how we could apply everything we have learned to make a sound ethical decision,” Goldstein said. “There was so much hype surrounding the Dakota Access Pipeline, so simply sorting the facts from fiction proved to be the hardest task. Without the assistance of the Love School of Business faculty and staff, input from students, and especially our coach Professor Pat Bell and Love School of Business Executive-in-Residence Eileen Clausen, Nicole and I would not have been as successful as we were. This will go down both as one of the most challenging and fun cases I have done inside or outside the classroom.”

The other participating teams were Auburn University, Bethune-Cookman University, Campbell University, Clemson University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Southern College, Jacksonville University, U.S. Naval Academy, University of Florida, University of North Dakota, University of Pittsburgh and University of Texas-Dallas.

“The Templeton Case Competition provided me with an awesome opportunity to grow as a young professional,” Resetar said. “My networking, presentation and critical thinking skills were all challenged in such a way that allowed me to reflect and build on the tools the Love School of Business has already provided me.”