ACG Cup 2023 -- Competition Details

All you need to know heading into the next competition

Our 2023 Competition has come to a close -- see our post-event press release for details!

Looking for the gallery of our event photos? Look no further -- see photos of our Networking Reception and our Competition Day, including team photos and headshots now. Thanks to Ryan and Holly Gauper of Gauper Photo for capturing the excitment!

Get a sneak peek of our ACG Cup video here! Captured by Boldly Told Video, we look forward to sharing more clips as they are available.

We are pleased to present the winning team and runners-up -- from Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University.

We extend our sincere gratitude for every competitor who took part in our ACG Cup 2023 competition this year. The dedication and hard work put into every presentation was evident, as was the commitment to your teammates. WELL DONE to each and every competitor!

Looking for the latest social media posts to like, follow, and share? Be sure to follow our ACG Cup LinkedIn Showcase Page!
Stay connected to the peers and professionals you met this weekend by checking out their bios at our Competitor Resume Gallery and our Judges' Gallery!

Is your team traveling in for our Networking Reception and/or our Competition and need some lodging? We've got a partial listing of hotels in downtown Grand Rapids and near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport -- and we'll have a travel subsidy form for teams available after the competition ends. That form will be available here and by emailing acgcup@acgwmich.org.

Rules about the travel subsidy will be spelled out completely on the reimbursement form, but in a nutshell, **eligible teams** traveling in to Grand Rapids for ACG Cup 2023 events -- including the Friday evening Networking Reception and the ACG Cup 2023 Competition -- can apply for travel expense reimbursement up to $300 per team.

TRAVEL SUBSIDY FORM -- FOR USE AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE ACG CUP 2023 COMPETITION

**eligible teams = any team outside of nearby Grand Rapids/beyond 30 miles from GVSU's Seidman College of Business. Teams from nearby institutions are not eligible for reimbursement and include: Aquinas College, Calvin University, Cornerstone University, Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, and Hope College. Teams whose travel and/or lodging has been paid by their home institution or ACG Chapter are also ineligble for reimbursement.

Need a few quick FAQs about the general competition this year? We've got some answers for you! ACG Cup 2023 General FAQs

Use the hyperlinked menu to jump to the relevant portion of our site.

About ACG Cup	IMPORTANT Dates & Details	Student Information & New Competition Parameters
The RULES	NEW: Sample Case	Entry Requirements
How to REGISTER	Rewards
NEW: Friday evening reception

ACG Cup 2023 post-event press release	ACG Cup 2023 Complete PHOTO GALLERY		Competitor Resume Gallery	Judges Gallery
	Valuation Seminar	Information for Professors & Advisors	NEW: Cup Update Newsletters	NEW: Cup Connections
Hotel List and Travel Subsidy Information for Competitors	NEW: ACG Cup Advisors	Career Conversations	2023 Top Teams	Liaisons
Participating Colleges & Universities	Hired a Competitor	Finance Feud	ACG Cup Committee	Our Sponsors

December 1, 2022 --
February 25, 2023

Reception, 2/24:
H.O.M.E. venue at the BOB!
20 Monroe Avenue, NW
Grand Rapids, MI

Competition, 2/25:
Seidman College of Business,Grand Valley
State University
50 Front Avenue,. SW
Grand Rapids, MI

Our next ACG Cup Competition is coming up!
IMPORTANT DATES: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)
The 2023 ACG Cup Competition timeline is here! Every effort will be made to keep dates as they are; times may change slightly. Mark your calendar now!

Download/print our February competition calendar, as shown below, HERE:

ACG Cup is an intercollegiate competition among business school students from colleges and universities across the nation. Retaining and recruiting talent in West Michigan is a major objective of the Cup competition for AC's Western Michigan Chapter. During competition, students analyze complex business cases and present strategies involving merger and acquisition alternatives, valuation, capital markets, finance options, and corporate strategy. Student participants gain invaluable experience in a real-world context, receive feedback from leaders in the local business community, and create networks, all while competing for CASH!

ACG Western Michigan is known for bringing together a robust and diverse group of students representing teams from around our state and the nation. Our pivot to an all-virtual competition during the last two years enabled us to welcome teams from across the United States, from Texas to New York! For 2023, teams from all over will have the choice to compete virtually via a livestreamed feed or join us in person at Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business. We'll also host a networking reception the evening before our competition so teams can make new connections to the West Michigan business community and judges taking part in the ACG Cup initiative.

Learn more with our ACG Cup 2023 FAQs

We know the ACG Cup Competition is the number one driver of new and diverse talent for potential employers. And we know that the ACG Cup Competition offers a unique array of employment options for our competitors. In the spirit of engaging the maximumum number of student competitors across the Great Lakes, we're welcoming Midwestern ACG Chapter partners who are committed to bring the maximum value to student competitors in their home regions.

We're excited to welcome back into our partnership ACG Minnesota and welcome a new partnership with ACG Detroit! This partnership will allow maximum cross-exposure to and of the bright new talent that the ACG Cup competition routinely draws to our region.

Learn more about our Partner Chapters by clicking on their logos below!

See our quick FAQs for Students and Professors here
or by clicking our FAQ button to the right!

One Competition! The ACG Cup competition will be held as a single competition open to all students who are currently registered at least half-time at participating colleges and universities during the 2022- 2023 academic year. Participants are generally finance, accounting, marketing, international business, and management majors, and teams may be comprised a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, or teams may be comprised of solely undergraduate or solely graduate students. There will be no separate divisions for undergraduates and graduate students.
Recent graduates: Teams may have no more than one member who has recently obtained their undergraduate degree from the same college/university. This means students who graduate with their undergraduate degrees in December 2022 may compete with classmates who are still enrolled at the time of the competition.
Competition Format: This year our competition will have in-person and livestreamed competition options. A limited number of remote slots will be available, so teams can choose which way they'll participate upon registration. Prospective competitors should note that the remote presentation preference will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and weighted toward teams outside of a 200-mile radius. ACG Western Michigan reserves the right to deny teams remote entry based on demand and competition limitations.
Team Capacity: We have a 49-team capacity total, whether your team participates in person or via a remote presentation.

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Prizes: The winning team will take home a cash prize of $8,000 and receive the chance to have a dinner or professional meeting with a competition sponsor. Likewise, the runner-up team this year will also receive the chance to have a dinner or professional meeting with a competition sponsor.
Team Size: Each team, regardless of makeup, must consist of at least three members and no more than five members. To be considered for the competition, teams must finalize team registration by 9:00 AM EST on Feburary 8, 2023. See "The Rules" and "How to Register" sections for more detailed information on competition parameters. Reach out to ACG Cup staff if your team has concerns with registration timing; we are here to help you succeed!
The Case: The case study will simulate a real-world business situation offering students a learning perspective that diverges from textbook examples. Faculty advisors are encouraged to provide guidance to students prior to the case being released to students, but after the case is released, professors are prohibited from offering advice, critiques, or detailed solutions after the case materials are distributed.

SAMPLE CASE ALERT
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Sample Case for Student Review: See this past ACG Cup Case as an example to help your team understand the scope of work involved in the competition. This case was written by and is the property of ACG Western Michigan and contains no answers and is provided strictly for enhancing understanding of the competition.
Student Investment Clubs: Are you part of a student investment club and want someone to come and speak about ACG Cup? Contact us at acgcup@acgwmich.org, and we'll be sure to put your club in contact with our liaisons.

Attention Teams: Be sure to whitelist the email address "acgcup@acgwmich.org" so you don't miss important communications about our competition!

**Participation in the competition, including eligibility and payment of any cash prize, is subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of all relevant jurisdictions.

Each year, we see the positive impacts competing in ACG Cup has on our community. Many ACG Cup competitors receive internship or job opportunties with some companies and firms in the greater region -- and that's no accident! ACG Cup is one of our region's biggest drivers of new and diverse talent and our business community understands the value of marketing their practice to students who take part in the competition.

FOR BUSINESSES: If your company has open positions, contact ACG Western Michigan staff at acgcup@acgwmich.org with a job description, and a link will be added to this page. It will also be promoted on our ACG Cup LinkedIn showcase page.

FOR STUDENTS: If you're a student competitor in the market for a fresh opportunity, check out the links below as they are added.

Credit Analyst - Full Time
Credit Intern -- see website by clicking logo above

Meet the faces of the next generation of talent! Connect with them at our Networking Reception and at our ACG Cup 2023 Competition!

Raymond Abbaduska

Madeleine Alber

Mariano Arroyo

Nikhil Bondale

Nick Browning

Noah Buys

Gabriela Sanchez del Pozo Clarke

Lucas Czopek

Manasvi Jain

Haley Johnson

Carly Jordan

Alaina Koster

Qiaoyang Kuang

Tom Lanzi

Owen Laverty

Grace Lee

Tom Lobert

Haoesen Ma

Thomas McGarrity

Ryan Nichols

Mark Neuman

Peter Olson

Molly Ostrander

Curtis Ouillette

Katie Peal

Ethan Petz

Aiden Powell

Justin Quinn

Liam Regan

Marina Rivera

Zach Roberts

Chanelle Robinson

Isaac Rop

Carolina Hernandez Ruiz

Phillip Thoma

Mitchell VanderMeer

Jake VanderPloeg

Alex Varady

Andrew Veldman

Cody Whiren

The following list is comprised of colleges and universities that have participated in our competition in the recent past. As we continue to grow our competition, we are eager to expand the list of competing institutions. Click on any college or university logo below to learn more about their business program offerings.
If your institution is taking part for the first time in 2023, email ACG Staff at acgcup@acgwmich.org and we'll add you to this list!

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Teams may be comprised a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, or teams may be comprised of solely undergraduate or solely graduate students. There will be no separate divisions for undergraduates and graduate students -- every team will compete for one overall winning title.
Teams shall be made up of three to five members from the same institution who will present the case study in all rounds of competition for which they are eligible; schools are encouraged to register at least two teams in the competition.
Teams must appoint a Team Captain for ease of communication. The Team Captain will receive communication regarding submittal of competition materials. The Team Captain will also be responsible for the team's entry fee if a main contact (professor/instructor) is not identified. Team fee invoices will be sent after registration closes on February 8, 2023.
No institution shall register more than five teams; teams that prefer to compete remotely shall not register more than two teams.
Participating students must be officially registered at least half-time at participating schools during the 2022-2023 academic year. Caveat for recent graduates: Teams may have no more than one member who has recently obtained their undergraduate degree from the same college/university. This means students who graduate in December 2022 may compete with classmates who are still enrolled at the time of the competition.
Teams shall register for the competition no later than 9:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 8, 2023. In order for teams to submit competition materials, teams must be pre-registered.
Teams choosing to compete remotely (by livestreaming their presentation to judges) will receive a link and presentation time prior to February 25, but all materials are due by post or parcel package service to ACG Western Michigan by Wednesday, February 22 (see Entry Submission Requirements below). Prospective competitors should note that the remote presentation preference will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and weighted toward teams outside of a 200-mile radius. ACG Western Michigan reserves the right to deny teams remote entry based on demand and competition limitations.
Teams must have team names; names may NOT reference the students' school/university in any way, formal or informal. Teams not adhering to this requirement will be excluded from competition and no refunds will be issued. ACG Staff will alert teams with problematic names as soon as possible to avoid delays.
Teams may NOT use outside resources to prepare the case study for the competition. They may only use the materials made available to them with the case study. Any deviation from this will result in disqualification.
Teams will be placed into judging groups randomly. Depending on the size of the competition and the number of teams from each institution, teams from the same college/university might compete with one another.
Students may seek general finance understanding, presentation training, and mentoring from faculty, ACG members, ACG Cup Committee members, and outside resources before the case is distributed. They may also use preparation materials located in their course pack. Teams are encouraged to attend our virtual Valuation Seminar on Friday, February 10, 2023 to better understand the intricacies of the case.
Once the case has been distributed, teams may not enlist help from outside the team, including from professors, for any aspects specific to the competition case.
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Cover Letter: Teams must submit a cover letter to accompany your supplemental materials.The cover letter aims to evaluate your team's written communicaton skills and introduce your team of investment bankers to the Board of Directors (Judges) in a succinct manner. The cover letter will be factored into the scoring weight for each team and will be included in case materials upon release.

Attention Teams: Be sure to whitelist the email address "acgcup@acgwmich.org" so you don't miss important communications about our competition!

Teams must submit ten (10) hard copies of presentation materials. Please see requirements for your team's choice -- in-person or virtual presentation -- below.

In-person teams must prepare the following:

Cover Letter: New to the 2023 ACG Cup competition, a one-page, hard copy cover letter must accompany each team's entry materials. Details of Cover Letter components will be availlable with the case release on February 10.
Hard copy handouts detailing each team's case evaluation (including the Cover Letter). Each team must provide ten copies of all presentation materials, due at Registration the day of competition (February 25, 2023).
All materials must be submitted in the English language.
All team members must take part in the presentation.
Teams must have team names; names may NOT reference the students' school/university in any way, formal or informal. Teams not adhering to this requirement will be excluded from competition and no refunds will be issued.
Teams must appoint a Team Captain for ease of communication. The Team Captain will receive communication regarding submittal of competition materials. The Team Captain will also be responsible for the team's entry fee if a main contact (professor/instructor) is not identified on the team's registration form.
Team attire shall consist of business wear, and shall NOT showcase any particular college/university affiliation (e.g., necktie, scarf, lapel pin, etc.)

Remote teams must prepare the following: This list is largely the same as above. Please pay close attention to items 1 and 2, as ACG Staff will expect to receive hard copies of the teams' Cover Letters and supplemental materials prior to the actual competition date of February 25. Teams choosing to compete virtually will receive a link and presentation time prior to February 25. See item 3 for proper mailing/shipping to ACG Western Michigan.

Please note: the remote presentation preference will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and weighted toward teams outside of a 200-mile radius. ACG Western Michigan reserves the right to deny teams remote entry based on demand and competition limitations.)

Cover Letter: New to the 2023 ACG Cup competition, a one-page cover letter must accompany each team's entry materials. Details of Cover Letter components will be available to the Team Captains of registered teams.
Handouts detailing each team's case evaluation (including the Cover Letter).
Materials from items 1 and 2 must be provided as ten (10) hard copies printed, assembled, and shipped to ACG Western Michigan, received by same on or before Wednesday, February 22.
Materials must be shipped to ACG Western Michigan, 1820 Lake Drive, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
All materials must be submitted in the English language.
All team members must take part in the presentation.
Teams must have team names; names may NOT reference the students' school/university in any way, formal or informal. Teams not adhering to this requirement will be excluded from competition and no refunds will be issued.
Teams must appoint a Team Captain for ease of communication. The Team Captain will receive communication regarding entry submission of competition materials.
Team attire shall consist of business wear, and shall NOT showcase any particular college/university affiliation (e.g., necktie, scarf, lapel pin, etc.)
Teams shall not appear in front of banners, podiums, or other signage that identifies the team's university or college. Likewise, name plates and virtual backgrounds on livestreamed presentations shall not identify the team's university or college.

REGISTRATION FOR THE ACG CUP 2023 COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.
Important steps and details for registration follow. Please be sure to read them and fill out the registration form in its entirety.

A. How to register: Fill out the survey form to register your team.
1) Complete registration must include all team members' names and emails in the appropriate section(s) of the registration form.
2) Registration information must include a team name that does not reference the team's college/university affiliation.
3) Team registration fees are $125. ACG Staff will invoice the individual identified as responsible for the fee on the registration form. (Invoices will not be emailed until after registration closes on February 8, 2023.)
4) A single individual (a team member or a professor) can act as the main contact and register the entire team. A team captain must be identified when registering.
5) Teams may be comprised of a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, or may be comprised of solely undergraduate or solely graduate students.
6) *IMPORTANT* Once a team has been successfully registered and approved, the Team Captain will be notified. (S)he will also be notified if there are errors on the registration form.
All team members will receive an email with instructions about submitting a resume, headshot, and LinkedIn profile to ACG Staff after compete registrations are approved.
7) If your team information requires any editing after the registration has been finalized, please email ACG Staff at acgcup@acgwmich.org for help.

B. ACG communication with teams
1) Upon ACG staff review and approval of registration, Team members will be notified via email. Team members will receive an email with instructions about submitting a resume, headshot, and LinkedIn profile to ACG Staff after compete registrations are approved.
2) ACG staff will communicate any important updates or changes to the Team Captain, and if necessary, to the Main Contact listed on the team's registration.
3) If your team information requires any editing after the registration has been finalized, please email ACG Staff at acgcup@acgwmich.org for help.

Questions? Contact ACG Western Michigan at acgcup@acgwmich.org or call (616) 732-7149.

Attention Teams: Be sure to whitelist the email address "acgcup@acgwmich.org" so you don't miss important communications about our competition!

Fees: The cost to participate in the 2023 competition is $125 per team. ACG Staff will invoice the individual identified as responsible for the team entry fee on the registration form. Team fee invoices will be emailed after team registration closes on February 8, 2023. ACG Staff has the ability to bundle team registration fees and invoice your department or liaison directly.
Limited number of teams: Each institution is limited to sending five (5) teams total to the ACG Cup competition; each college/university is limited to registering two teams to compete remotely. Please note: the remote presentation preference will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and weighted toward teams outside of a 200-mile radius. ACG Western Michigan reserves the right to deny teams remote entry based on demand and competition limitations.)

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There are no separate divisions for undergraduate and graduate students. All students are competing together for the top prize.

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Prizes: The winning team will take home a cash prize of $8,000 and receive the chance to have a dinner or professional meeting with a competition sponsor. Likewise, the runner-up team this year will also receive the chance to have a dinner or professional meeting with a competition sponsor.
Registration: Teams can be registered by professors/advisors or by a team member. Professors/instructors can be identified as the person financially responsible for the team's registration fee. Each team must be registered separately.
Recent graduates: Teams may have no more than one member who has recently obtained their undergraduate degree from the same college/university. This means students who graduate in December 2022 may compete with classmates who are still enrolled at the time of the competition.
Each College/University is encouraged to assign a faculty member to work with the ACG Cup liaison and the appropriate student organizations within their institution. A student representative may also act a Cup competition contact and assist in disseminating information.
- E-mail ACG Staff at acgcup@acgwmich.org to share your contact information and to receive any information regarding ACG Cup liaisons to your institution.
- Student Investment Clubs: Are your students part of a student investment club and want someone to come and speak about ACG Cup? Contact us at acgcup@acgwmich.org, and we'll be sure to put your club in contact with our liaisons.
Promote the competition to encourage student participation. ACG Staff will share promotional language for email and social media as it becomes available. Start early -- in the fall semester! -- and make your students aware of the upcoming ACG Cup competition.
Provide or facilitate training and mentoring for the student teams.
Distribute information on forming teams and working the case study.
Encourage teams to register for the Valuation Seminar. The 2023 Valuation Seminar will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Cover Letter: Teams must submit a cover letter for "entry" into this year's competition. The Cover Letter aims to evaluate your team's written communicaton skills and introduce your team of investment bankers to the Board of Directors (Judges) in a succinct manner. Details of Cover Letter components will be available with the case materials and sent to each registered team upon case release.

We'll provide professors with Cup Updates -- newsletters that will let you know about how the competition is shaping up -- throughout the competition season as details are cemented and confirmed. Cup Updates will be emailed to professors and will be available here.

Cup Update No. 1: 9/23/2022

Cup Update NO. 2: 10/17/2022

Cup Update No. 3: 11/18/2022

Cup Update No. 4: 12/1/2022

Cup Update No. 5: 1/9/2023

Cup Update No. 6: 2/14/2023

ACG Western Michigan has developed a roster of liaisons to assist professors and students understand and promote the Cup competition. Our team of liaisons is headed by an energetic duo that is ready to help answer your questions, deliver important information for your teams, and guide you through the process. Learn more about our 2022 Cup liaison support HERE and ask how they can help you communicate the excitement and importance of the ACG Cup competition, and meet some of our college/university liaisons below.


Image Chloe Benzer, Liaison Lead	Image Gunther Brinkman, Liaison Lead	Image Eric Fischer, Liaison Support

Blake Bachelor, Team Financial Group

Drew Boatright, Strategies Wealth

Alex Drost, Connection Builders

Luke Ens, Aspen Surgical

Emerson Fisher, Cascade Partners

Ashley Gray, DTE Energy

Stephanie Voogt, Mercantile Bank

Eric Smith, Charter Capital Partners

Nick Van Loo, Raymond James

Our Finance Feud Trivia Night returned on Thursday, November 10, 2022, where we crowned Team BDO Tic Tax our winners! Congrats to all trivia contestants!

Finance Feud is a fundraising event to support ACG Cup. Held in the autumn preceding the Cup competition, Finance Feud presents a fun way for teams in business and related industries to try to one-up each other in a friendly trivia competition. This fun, high-energy trivia night pits teams from accounting and law firms as well as corporations and universities against one another. The winning team takes home the Victorious Hulk trophy and bragging rights for the next year.

The Valuation Seminar offers an introduction to M&A from different perspectives including, a Private Equity Group that uses the Leverage Buy-Out (LBO) methodology to acquire companies, and the Strategic Buyer that could use all cash or stock to acquire companies. The seminar focuses on theoretical and technical approaches to valuation, as well as qualitative factors that influence the value of a company. Valuation Seminar proves instrumental in understanding the ins and outs of M&A from different perspectives, and it also provides participants the opportunity to network with other students and ACG members.

The Valuation Seminar is free to attend for any competing student, professor/advisor, and ACG Western Michigan Chapter members. This winter's Valuation Seminar will be held virtually on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 1- 3:30 PM Eastern Time. The Valuation Seminar presents an interactive program to help our competitors understand how to approach this year's case. In that vein, this year we will once again offer a hybrid model of on-demand video clips and live presentations to encourage participation and questions. Non-competitors who wish to attend our Valuation Seminar to enhance their understanding and/or practice may register for a fee.

Registration for our 2023 Valuation Seminar is CLOSED. Thank you to our presenters and all who attended!
Individuals from Cup teams are encouraged to attend and must register; there is no charge for competitors or professors to attend, Use the red registration button above, or click on the green "Register Here" graphic above.

Want to know more about why you should attend the Valuation Seminar? Learn more with our Valuation Seminar FAQs

Learn more about our Valuation Seminar Leads **HERE.**
Image Todd McGuire, Valuation Seminar Lead	Image Nathan Olberding, Valuation Seminar Lead	Image Jessica Kuster, Valuation Seminar Support

All registered teams and their professors/advisors are invited to join us for a pre-event networking reception in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday, February 24, 2023.
This reception will provide access to a wide array of business professionals in the West Michigan region and beyond who are eager to make connections with new talent.

Attendance will ensure you meet competition judges, advisors, career conversation representatives, ACG Western Michgian Board and Cup Committee members, and generally mix and mingle among ACG Cup competitors.

Friday, February 24, 2023
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Appetizers, drinks, NETWORKING

H.O.M.E. at the BOB, 20 Monroe Avenue, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Register now for our pre-event Networking ReceptionIndividuals from Cup teams are encouraged to attend but must register at NO CHARGE

Need to know more about how it'll work? Learn more with our
Career Conversations
FAQs here, or by clicking the FAQ icon below..

During Career Conversations, student competitors meet one-on-one with company leads and decision makers looking for new talent. This year we're presenting Career Conversations in a new, informal format that will allow for face-to-face networking between ACG Cup participants and members of our business community. Competitors will be able to meet and greet judges, advisors, and others at our Friday evening reception on February 24. Our Networking Reception will be held in downtown Grand Rapids at the HOME Venue insideThe BOB (Big Old Building). Attendance is free for ACG Cup competitors, their professors, our volunteer judges, and company representatives. Watch for our registration link for this must-attend event!

FOR COMPETITORS
Cup competitors have the opportunity to connect and network with representatives from Michigan companies, as well as competition judges, who represent many prestigious local and regional firms. ACG Western Michigan members are actively looking for graduate and undergraduate students with a finesse for finance who possess the skills and qualities that enable them to become experts in corporate finance, investment banking, financial advisory and private equity. Career Conversations connects participants with employers in the greater West Michigan region. Every year, student competitors are hired as a direct result of participating in this competition.

FOR PARTICIPATING BUSINESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Career Conversations presents an opportunity for both ACG members and sponsors to create awareness about the deal making community and to expose students to potential career openings in this field. Career Conversations represents a chance for participants to GET CONNECTED with high-profile local firms.

See the list of participating companies and firms that competitors can make a plan to meet at this year's Networking Reception. Click on any logo to learn more about the company as a whole, and click the PDF company description to see what you can expect to learn from our Career Conversation representatives at the Networking Reception!

Adamy Company description Image	AHPA Company description Image	BDO Company desription Image
Cascade Partners Company description Image	Charter Capital Partners Company description Image
Crowe Company description Image	EHTC Company description Image	Hungerford Nichols Company description Image
Hylant Company description Image	JPMorgan Chase Company description Image	Macatawa Bank Company description Image
Mercantile Bank Company description Image	Plante Moran Company description Image	PNC Company description Image
	Stout Company description Image

Some companies and firms that have hired a Cup competitor in the recent past are included here. Click to view their websites for more information about what sort of opportunities could await you!

Adamy Valuation	BDO USA, LLP	Blackford Capital	Calder Capital
Charter Capital Partners	Connection Builders	Crowe LLP	DWH
Mercantile Bank of Michigan	NuVescor	Waseyabek Development Company

Introducing ACG Cup Advisors
Feedback matters. Professional feedback about how a team can strengthen their presentation or points to address can teach our competitors so much. That's why this year, we're introducing a team of ACG Cup Advisors -- lead judges from each group who will offer follow-up guidance to our Round One winners. After receiving feedback from our judges on your team's presentation, each team advancing beyond Round One will receive fifteen minutes of time from an ACG Cup Advisor in a one-on-one session to help them use their feedback to strengthen their Final Round presentation. Meet our 2023 ACG Cup Advisors now!

Brandon Derusha

Loic Dimithe

Alex Drost

Matt Fegan

Jennifer Folsom

Scott Harris

Heather Hoezee

Peter Lozicki

David Nemes

Jon Siebers

Bob Stead

Jimmy TenBrink

smiling woman — Megan Odegaard, *Judges' Lead*

Our judges' combined experience and expertise in M&A, valuation, and financial products allows them to help simulate a real-world experience for our competitors. Judges come from our business community and volunteer their time and talent to make our competition a success. Our Judges' Lead, Megan Odegaard, works with Cup Committee members to recruit and guide our judges through competition scoring and training. Megan is supported by committee members Caleb Pols and Krista Flynn, who help our judges navigate the Cup Competition. Learn more about the Judges' Support team HERE.

Our volunteer judges come from our business community and provide our competitors with real connections to their industries. They are professionals who dedicate their time to ensuring the ACG Cup competition is a well-rounded experience and we are so thankful for them. Please select the bios below to learn more about the professionals who volunteer their time and talents to judge our competition.

Chelsea Austin
Miller Johnson

Jenna Bellovich
Northern Trust

Chris Boyd
Ottawa Avenue Private Capital

Jason Brinks
Oxford Financial Group

Loic Dimithe
Miller Johnson

Jake Droppers
Varnum Law

Alex Drost
Connection Builders

Matt Fegan
EHTC

Brett Filush
BDO

Jennifer Folsom
Chase

Larry Gardner
Lawrence Gardner Associates

Alena Golovchenko
Auxo Investment Partners

Nick Good
NBG Capital

Brian Hamilton
Allied OMS

Scott Harris
Huntington Bank

Heather Hoezee
Crowe

Doug Holtrop
Mercantile Bank

Ryan Hoogstra
Mark Maker Company

Rabih Jamal
Waseyabek Development Company

Justin Karl
Mercantile Bank

Paula Kendra
Kendra Consulting

Peter Lozicki
Rhoades McKee

Mike Malaga
Comerica

Alison Mast
Northern Trust

Matt Miller
BlueWater partners

David Nemes
Business Company, LLC

Kelly Plawinski
Adamy Valuation

Nick Prior
BMO

Max Rispler
Hylant

Patrick Robey
Calder Capital

John Ruther
O'Keefe

Steve Savoy
Hilco Global

Jon Siebers
Rhoades McKee

Phil Smith
Dickinson Wright

Kent Snyder
Acrisure

Bob Stead
Barnes & Thornburg

Mark Streekstra
Charter Capital Partners

Jimmy TenBrink
Gun Lake Investments

Aaron VanSoest
Crowe

Erika Weiss
Barnes & Thornburg

Mike Wolf
Fifth Third Business Capital

Meet the Committee Meet members of the ACG Cup Committete that makes our ACG Cup Competition possible! Click on the button to view our Committee roster in magazine form, or look at each member's bio below.

Image Chloe Benzer, Crowe Liaison Lead	Image Gunther Brinkman, Snackwerks Liaison Lead	Image eather Edwards, PAR ACG Cup Organizer	Image Matt Fegan, EHTC Finance Feud Lead
Image Eric Fischer, BDO USA Liaison Support	Image Krista Flynn, PNC Bank Judges' Support	Image Ashley Gray, DTE Energy Case Writing	Image Jake Helwick, Adamy Valuation Chair
Image Jessica Kuster, Hello West Michigan Valuation Seminar Support	Image Todd McGuire, Plante Moran Valuation Seminar Lead	Image Megan Odegaard, BDO USA Co-Chair, Judges' Lead	Image Nathan Olberding, Adamy Valuation Valuation Seminar Lead
	Image Caleb Pols, TriCoast Advisors Past-Chair; Judges' Support	Image Ryan Welch, Adamy Valuation Case Writing	Image Brandon Tomash, Miller Johnson Case Writing