Marketing and Consumer Studies students Justin Manarang, Sophie Arkell and Ronnel Santos will travel to China in April 2015 to conduct research on the expansion of ESKA Water into China. The students recently won the Bridges to International Practice live case competition as part of assistant professor Lianne Foti’s International Marketing class. Students spent the semester working with ESKA Water president and CEO Jim Delsnyder on creating marketing strategies for the company’s expansion.

“This live case study was an invaluable opportunity for our students to apply their research and present their findings in front of some major industry players,” said Foti. “While the trip to China was the grand prize, students were able to demonstrate their ability to conduct top-notch research and present it to a professional audience.”

The winning presentation focused on business-to-business commerce in Shanghai, in addition to creating strategic partnerships with major tea companies in the long term. The trip to China will allow Manarang, Arkell and Santos to continue researching their proposal with ESKA Water.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what Justin, Sophie and Ronnel discover on this research trip," Foti added. "I used to work with Jim and we are fortunate to have a top leader in the industry share his knowledge and time with our students. We are so thankful for ESKA Water's generosity in providing this learning opportunity and sponsoring this experience in China."

In addition to Foti and Delsnyder, the panel of judges also included ESKA Water’s director of international sales, Martin Hall, professor Sylvain Charlebois and Colgate-Palmolive brand manager, Suba Naganathan, who is also a proud alumnus. The second-place team received a scholarship from the Centre for Business and Social Entrepreneurship (CBaSE) and the third-place team will spend a day shadowing Naganathan and networking with his colleagues.