Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

Next-Gen Central Event provides students with hands-on experience managing a virtual business. The students, who were accompanied by business management teacher Mindy Wischmeyer and accounting teacher Kerry Lockwood, were tasked with running the most profitable company in a changing business environment. 

“It's easy to get the students interested,” said Wischmeyer. “We explain the business use of SAP and encourage them to team up to see who can run the most profitable company in the simulation.” Lockwood added that “CMU makes participating a great experience,” noting that the Business Information Systems (BIS) faculty “makes them feel important” and treats the high schoolers with the same level of seriousness as college students and industry professionals. 

The simulation consists of three to four rounds, each lasting 20 minutes and simulating a week in a business cycle. CMU BIS faculty members Christine Witt, Kyle Nothstine and Denise McBride coordinated the simulation. Between rounds, students also toured the College of Business Administration and received coaching from mentors, including former participants. 

“The students get fired up for the competition,” said Wischmeyer, “but it's more than just a fun day out of school. They learn how to work together, apply business skills and improve their social interactions in a business setting.”  

The event also drew attention from educational organizations looking to participate in the future. Allison Macias traveled from Kalamazoo RESA to observe the event. She said, “I look forward to being part of ERP simulation experience in the coming year with our supply chain students from Career Connect campus.”  

“Participating in Next-Gen Central Event is completely free, but schools must provide their own transportation. Further, each member of the winning team leaves with a $500 scholarship to the College of Business Administration, if they choose to enroll,” said Associate Director of University Alliances program Vishal Shah. Prof. Witt discussed the role of CMU student mentors helping high school students, “The CMU student that mentor the winning team also receives a $500 scholarship.”  

The winning student mentor for this competition was CMU senior Jordyn Ernst. She said, “My experience here has been transformational. The university is the perfect size—not too big, not too small—allowing you to build a strong sense of community while fostering personal connections with both peers and professors. It's the kind of place where you truly feel at home.” 

The CMU College of Business Administration is proud to support hands-on learning experiences, like the Next-Gen Central Event – ERP simulation using SAP, which provide students with a glimpse into the world of business and the opportunity to apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges. CMU faculty and mentors ensure that each student leaves with valuable skills and a better understanding of business operations.  

For more information on this competition or to schedule a competition, contact Christine Witt at witt1cm@cmich.edu.