The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its profound impact on the social advancement of America (source: NLBM website). In 2006, the United States Congress designated the NLBM as “America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.”

Goal of this project is to help promote a highly unique fundraising strategy that will secure the long-term future of the museum. After receiving bipartisan support from Congress, the U.S. Mint will be designing and printing commemorative coins that the museum will help the market to generate funds for the museum.

Project Mentor

Dr. Peter Kaufman

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Interest in history and/or sports
• Creativity
• Marketing concepts/skills
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

A plan to promote a highly unique fundraising effort to secure the long term future of the museum. Plan will include research to inform strategy and tactics and sample creative material.

Goal of the project is to increase awareness of career opportunities in the “trades”. Conduct research to understand the issue and develop messaging for younger audiences. What messages resonate with these audiences? What are the most appropriate marketing/communication channels?

Client

Leading provider of basement waterproofing in the Midwest

Project Mentor

Andrew Bordewick

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Creativity & Research
• Digital Media and Communication
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

Based on research, provide a strategic messaging plan for younger audiences to increase their participation in the trades. Strategy will include tactics (e.g., communication platform(s)), sample creative material, and a rough budget.

Goal of the project is to understand how benefits from this new and unique home protection product could be communicated to insurance companies (to lower homeowner insurance premiums) and to homeowners. Conduct research to understand the issue and develop messaging to the relevant audience(s). What messages resonate with these audiences? What are the most appropriate marketing/communication channels?

Client

Leading provider of basement waterproofing in the Midwest

Project Mentor

Andrew Bordewick

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Creativity & Research
• Insurance
• Digital Media and Communication
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

Based on research, provide a strategic messaging plan for the audience. Strategy will include tactics (e.g., communication platform(s) or other, sample creative material, and a rough budget.

In 2019, the DuPage forest preserve commissioned a survey of visitors to Kline Creek Farm. Kline Creek Farm is a living history farm depicting the 1890s. The survey collected data and opinions about who visits Kline Creek Farm, how far they traveled, and their opinion of the services Kline Creek Farm provides. Using the results of the survey, we would like to identify our audience demographics and create a marketing plan to effectively reach our visitors.

Client

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County/Kline Creek Farm

Project Mentor

Michael Wiese

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Marketing & Research
• Interest in historical sites
• Interest in demographics and stataical analysis
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

Marketing plan targeting Kline Creek Farm’s visitors

The focus of this project is to find creative ways to engage school districts and teachers to build the Illinois Global Scholar (IGS) network for globally engaging high school students. This is a state-approved project mostly supported by volunteer labor, so continuing to develop ideas for marketing and support materials is important.
While previous teams have worked on foundational issues, this year’s team would build on their findings in key directions. Here are three potential avenues for the team to work on as samples. First, one potential issue that was identified last year was how smaller school districts could become involved, so strategies and support are needed to develop this area. Second, how can materials be provided to help interested teachers “sell” this program to their administrators? Third, seeking outlets to build the identity and brand of IGS to Illinois more broadly so that colleges and employers understand the benefits these students bring with them out of high school.

Client

IL Global Scholar Program, an NGO started by high school teachers in IL who believe high school students could learn and make a difference by engaging in global issues.

Project Mentor

Dr. Barbara Ribbens

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Marketing & International Business
• Education
• Social Media, Languages, and Area studies
• Global and Political issues
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

A portfolio of materials focused to promote the value of a global perspective and a report outlining strategies for growing the IGS program using these materials.

In Africa, global brands are disconnected from the offline places and behaviors that define markets and consumers. As a result, poorly targeted outreach campaigns lead to missed opportunities for millions of people who need access to services, products, and information.
The growing usage of mobile devices across the continent and the availability of unorganized traditional
data sources make aggregated location data a viable solution to this problem. The focus of this project is to provide market research and support to a location intelligence platform focused on providing brands and advertisers with data and analytics for targeting hyper-relevant audiences across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Client

Remote Gravity, a location intelligence platform founded by ISU alum Obieze Agbo.

Project Mentor

Dr. Barbara Ribbens

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Emerging Markets & Positioning Technologies
• Programming and Digital Advertising
• Critical thinking and Problem solving
• Creativity and Curiosity
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

A portfolio of materials that can be used to guide the product roadmap, development of proposals, and other strategic business activities.

It is challenging enough to identify, assess and agree upon widescale risks such as pandemics, climate change and those related to emerging technology. However, the perception of risk can vary significantly from the actual risk, affecting how the risk can be managed. Risk perception can be influenced by the bias of the information presented, the nature of the risk, and by the deliberate spreading of false information. This project will examine risk perception through the lens of psychology, sociology, communication, and will recommend solutions for managing risk in an environment where risk is influenced by politics, culture, and media reporting. Your client, Verisk is especially interested in risk perception and mitigation as it applies to the risks of pandemics, climate change, and emerging technology (e.g. autonomous vehicles).

Students from all majors are welcome, especially students in psychology, sociology, communication, political science, marketing, behavioral economics, and risk management.

Client

Verisk

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Competencies needed by faculty and students involved

• Ability and willingness to explore existing research in various of psychology
• An understanding of nuances in English language used to mislead people
• An ability and willingness to learn how social media is used to disseminate misinformation
• Good oral and written communication skills

Final Deliverable

A portfolio of materials that can be used to guide the product roadmap, development of proposals, and other strategic business activities.

A telematics system includes a vehicle tracking device installed in a vehicle that telemetry data including location, speed, idling time, harsh acceleration or braking, fuel consumption, vehicle faults, and more. Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) is a type of auto insurance that uses telemetry data to track mileage and driving behaviors. UBI is often powered by in-vehicle telecommunication devices (telematics)-technology that is available in a vehicle that is self-installed using a plug in-device or already integrated in original equipment installed by car manufactures. Fortune 100 Insurance Company is interested in research assessing whether UBI has a negative or positive impact on people of color. The study would include comparing UBI insurance rating to traditional insurance rating factors such as traffic violations, and home location.

Competencies

• Telematics is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses telecommunications, vehicular technologies, for instance, road transport, road safety, electrical engineering, and computer science. UBI is an insurance based application of telematics.
• Interest in risk management or actuarial science
• Interest in economics
• Interest in law and social justice
•  Written communication skills
•  Ability to think systemically
•  Skills in graphic design, visual analytics, system thinking would be valuable
• Communications

Client(s) name(s):

Fortune 100 Insurance Company

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

White paper and presentation

Numerous studies exist on the various areas of the economic costs of racial inequality and injustice. These include the racial wealth gap, health inequalities, segregated housing, disparate law enforcement, adverse technology, and financial exclusion. A map of costs can be found at https://kumu.io/eetamek/james-jones#untitled-map-3

Competencies

•  Interest in racial justice
• Interest in economics
• Interest in sociology or risk management
• Written communication skills
• Ability to think systemically
• Skills in graphic design, visual analytics, system thinking would be valuable

Client(s) name(s):

Pending

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

White paper and presentation

The Mission of the MiN is to promote the development and delivery of effective risk management tools, including insurance, for unserved people. The goal of this project is to understand and then effectively communicate how risk management and insurance are and can be used to address climate change effects on smallholder farmers in developing countries and help to make rural communities in developing countries more resilient.

Competencies

•  Interest in climate change
• Interest in international development and inclusive risk management
• Written communication skills
• Ability to think systemically
• Skills in graphic design, visual analytics, system thinking would be valuable

Client(s) name(s):

Microinsurance Network
https://microinsurancenetwork.org/

Project Mentor

Jim Jones

Final deliverable format:

Strategic Messaging Plan

The goal of this project is to help NFW identify an ownable message strategy and specific creative storytelling ideas for standing out among a very crowded field of competitors in the plant-based textile movement. NFW has a unique approach to using abundant, natural materials in a truly circular way (cradle to cradle). We also have a key competitive advantage in our ability to scale at levels of magnitude more than others. However, a lack of consumer knowledge about existing issues with the use of plastics in fashion and footwear, the dominance of incumbent messaging, and a lack of transparency and accountability in a crowded field of new entrants create a significant hurdle in breaking through the noise in the plant-based materials movement.

Competencies

• Interest in the environment and sustainability
• Digital media and communications
• Some interest in fashion
• Creativity

Client(s) name(s):

NFW and Mirum

The Mirum platform extends NFW’s ability to mold and shape natural polymers and creates high-performance composite materials that are plant-based and contain no plastics. Utilizing natural inputs they remain highly tunable for use by creative product designers. Mirum can replace leather or less sustainable leather alternatives which typically use polyurethane or other plastic binders. www.naturalfiberwelding.com and www.madewithmirum.com.

General Manager, Mirum Business Unit
Oihana leads all aspects of NFW’s breakthrough, plant-based 100% natural plant-based alternative leather line, Mirum. She joined NFW in 2019, bringing 16 years of experience working in multiple countries and across a range of roles at global giant BASF. She has deep expertise in innovation, technology, sustainability, and proven experience helping customers turn ideas into commercial success. Hailing from Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, she earned her Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from POLYMAT, the University of the Basque Country.

Director of Marketing, NFW
Annie leads the marketing and communications function at NFW. She supports the Mirum and Clarus business lines as well as the organization’s overall PR, internal communications, and community relations efforts. She brings two decades of experience in a range of roles across multiple industries including ESG investing, natural and organic foods, and alternative proteins. She excels at translating complicated concepts into ideas that can connect with and motivate action. She is originally from Wisconsin and lives in Minneapolis, MN. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Journalism and Political Science and a Masters in Strategic Public Relations from The George Washington University.

Project Mentor

Elisabeth Reed, Director of Sustainability at ISU.

Mike Wiese. Mr. Wiese is a 1984 graduate of ISU with double majors in Computer Science and Mathematics along with a Business Administration minor. Since graduating from ISU he has spent the bulk of his professional career in project leadership and business management consulting roles focused on clarifying business challenges and delivering meaningful solutions. When he is not working he enjoys running, watching sporting events, and attending theater performances.

Final deliverable format:

Project will have several mini-deliverables designed to garner feedback along the way and build a complete message strategy for our Mirum product line. The student team is encouraged to be creative in their approach to working through:

• Competitive/landscape analysis
• Strategic message framework
• Creative ideation process for storytelling impact

The focus of this project is to continue the development of marketing and strategy for the IL Global Scholar (IGS) program in support of the team which oversees it. This is a state-approved project mostly supported by volunteer labor, so continuing to develop ideas for marketing and support materials is important.
An ICC team of ISU students worked on this project last academic year; this year’s team would build on their findings in key directions. IGS is a relatively new program so current awareness is limited. Here are two potential avenues for the team to work on as samples. First, one potential issue that was identified last year was how smaller school districts could become involved, so strategies and support are needed to develop this area. Second, how can materials be provided to help interested teachers “sell” this program to their administrators?

Competencies

• Marketing & International Business
• Education
• Social Media, Languages, Area studies
• Global and Political issues
• Oral and Communication skills

Client(s) name(s):

IL Global Scholar Program, an NGO started by high school teachers in IL who believe high school students could learn and make a difference by engaging in global issues.

Project Mentor

Dr. Barbara Ribbens (Associate Professor and Director of the Varner International Business Institute)

Final deliverable format:

A portfolio of materials focused to support the growth of IGS and promote the value of a global perspective and a report outlining strategies for growing the IGS program using these materials.

A large Midwest Apartment Owner for low-income families and seniors is seeking assessment and analysis of current residential solid waste management plans. This would include the collection, sorting, diversion, recycling, and disposal of all solid waste. Existing machinery and equipment along with means and methods would be examined to develop feasibility and justification for potential recommended innovative technology and/or best practice sustainability around the residential refuse program. Resident communication and engagement will be encouraged to promote awareness and behavioral change for increased collection of recyclable materials to stimulate and streamline efforts as needed.

Competencies

• Interest in Sustainability
• Interest in Research
• Creativity
• Communications
• Change Management

Client(s) name(s):

Senior manager at a very large owner of apartments in the Midwest.

Project Mentor

Val Ilyukhina. Val is an ISU alumna who enjoys using her analytical skill-set to help young people develop professionally. She has also completed two ICC projects.

Final deliverable format:

Research outlining current waste management plan for both the low income family and senior apartments for this client organization and recommendations on how to improve it including evaluation of current technology, processes, and effective resident communication campaigns. Plan will include relevant financial models that assess potential cost savings through use of modern technology and processes in addition to expected environmental gains. Plan will also include tactics and sample creative material for building awareness and interest to adopt a revised waste management plan in the apartment communities.