YSU hosts 15th annual JA Titan Business Challenge

The Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University and Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio host the 15th annual JA Titan Competition 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 in Williamson Hall on the YSU campus.

Teams made up of local high school junior and senior students from Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties will increase their understanding of running a business in a competitive, high-tech marketplace by using an interactive online business simulation called JA Titan. Each team acts as the senior management of their company and is responsible for developing business strategies and making decisions quarter by quarter.

Teams are paired with local business mentors for the first two rounds of the competition and will compete for prizes — $500 for each student on the first-place team, $250 for second place and $125 for third place.

Students will determine the success or failure of their business based on how well they manage key issues such as setting prices, filling production requests, establishing marketing, investing in research and development, and capital equipment. Students analyze situations, apply information under time pressure, interpret and chart data, and build censuses. The on-line software developed by JA requires students to think critically, make decisions, solve mathematical problems, and work together as a team.

The day begins with a morning Team Building Challenge followed by the online competition from 9 to 11 a.m. An awards presentation will take place at 1 p.m. There is no cost for schools and students to participate and breakfast and lunch are provided.

This year’s participating high schools include Austintown High School, David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School, Chalker High School, Lordstown High School, Western Reserve High School, Bloomfield High School, East Liverpool Jr./Sr.High School, Pymatuning Valley High School and Jackson-Milton High School.

As of Feb. 26th, sponsors include the YSU Williamson College of Business Administration, William M. Neckerman Charitable Foundation, 717 Credit Union, FactSet, Panera Bread, Taco Bell Foundation and The UPS Store.

For additional information, contact Christine Shelton, coordinator of external relations for the Williamson College of Business Administration at 330-941-3068.