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SMU Cox MBAs Place First at State-Wide Real Estate Competition

Dallas (SMU) –SMU Cox placed first in a Case Competition against schools including Texas A&M, TCU, University of Texas, Rice and the University of North Texas on Thursday, March 30. Sponsored by the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP) at Dallas Country Club, approximately 200 students and business professionals were in attendance.

The Cox “Team Sierra” had seven days to tackle a real-world commercial real estate challenge and presented their solutions at the competition. After the presentations, the actual real estate team behind the case study presented their solution.

“Team Sierra” included students Chris Boyd (Captain), Brandon Heath, Jessica Daw, Chris Croupe and Patrick Allen. Chuck Dannis –president of Crosson Dannis, Inc. and Cox adjunct lecturer – was SMU’s liaison with NAIOP. The competition is part of an effort by NAIOP to strengthen the connections between Texas real estate programs and the Dallas brokerage community and provide internship opportunities for students.

“This is the kind of real-world experience students need to put them at the top by graduation,” said Dannis. “This competition proves what is being learned in the classroom will be highly beneficial in the workplace.”

"It was intriguing to present a solution to a real-world resort property in Mexico,” said Boyd. “Not only were we thinking about real estate solutions but also how to conduct business across borders. Each team member brought unique strengths to a winning presentation."

NAIOP provided a $15,000 prize to the top three teams, of which, $7,500 was awarded to the CSB and students. The “Winners Cup” will stay at SMU until next year’s competition.

About SMU Cox
SMU’s Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, including BBA, full-time MBA, Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), Master of Science in Management (MSM), and Executive Education. The school also offers a number of unique resources and activities for students, ranging from its Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, Maguire Energy Institute, and American Airlines Global Leadership Program (AAGLP) to its Associate Board Executive Mentoring Program and an international alumni network with chapters in more than 20 countries. SMU Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications, including BusinessWeek, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report.