T.I.R.E. TEAM TAKES STATE By Hannah Pen y A team of business, sports management and engineering majors won first place and $28,000 at the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition in April 2015. Alumnus Andrew Brackins and seniors Austin Yates, Zachary Clevinger, Bradley Wheeler and Cody Veteto spent months creating a 40-page business plan for a mountain bike tire air compressor called Tire Inflation and Regulation Equipment, or T.I.R.E., that improved traction over different types of terrain. After submitting the plan to the Governor's Cup, the team earned a spot in the top 12 and received an invitation to make an oral presentation in front of a panel of judges in Little Rock. From there, the team moved to the top six and presented their project to another group of judges. At a luncheon in April 2015 with major businesses and government officials from around Arkansas, the Harding business team won first place, $28,000 and a trip to Las Vegas to compete against business teams from Oklahoma and Nevada in May. Dr. Allen Frazier, dean ofthe Carter College of Business Administration and faculty adviser for T.I.R.E., said the team began preparing in the fall 2014 semester for the Governor's Cup. According to Yates, completing the business plan and presentation for T.I.R.E. took months and required a high level of commitment. "I wasn't doing it for a class, but it was like a job for a few weeks," Yates said. "It was w01th it, and it was nice to get paid back a little bit for our time." Although the team was not a finalist in the tristate competition, Frazier said they gained exposure and proved Harding's business and engineering programs were doing the right things in the classroom. "It means we're doing a lot ofthings in the area ofentrepreneurship and helping students understand what it means to open a small business," Frazier said. "The writing and presentation skills are among the best in the state, and it says a lot about the value of interdisciplinary partnerships between the college of business and the college of engineering." Clevinger said the engineering team was hesitant to commit to the project; however, the payback was worth it. "Through this whole experience I've learned so many things that a normal class wouldn't force you to learn," Clevinger said. "It has provided me with more practical knowledge for my career than any class has because I've been able to work at things and see the results." S0phonw1·e Jordon Gallowny heats up u s'more Ju,.ing the .\mcrieun Murketiny Associulion bonfire at Hardillg Acudemy on Ocl. 10. "People from ull over eume, und it reflected the diverse community thul we ure,"junior Marianie Bedollu said. I Photo by Kazu Fujisawa The 2015 T.l.R.l:.. Team presrnls the f)onuld l'I-'. Rryno/d's Goi·enwr·s Cup au•ards on ]Huy :2t1, 2015. The teum begun preparing their presentation for the case competition in the foll of 2014. I Photo cow·tesy of the Paul R. Carter College of Business Bl'SI~ESS 2HI
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