Students gain from real world business experience before they graduate. Calvin Action Projects  (CAP)  are one of the ways they get that experience at ������Ƶ School of Business. Groups of students are paired with a client to work as consultants on a specific problem. 

Here is how one student group worked with Vermeer Corporation on a Calvin Action Project.

Client:

Project description: Students were asked to think strategically about Vermeer’s tree care products by conducting research, synthesizing data, and surfacing insights.

Project outcome: The team conducted interviews and performed primary and secondary research to analyze the tree service industry and better understand Vermeer’s current tree care products. They focused on what made for efficient crews, what factors customers valued in chippers, and what they would like to hear if a chipper could talk. From this research, the students  developed recommendations around safety, service, and new features and data. In addition, the team created three taglines that focus on Vermeer’s commitment to safe and efficient tree care equipment.  

The client’s feedback: Jonathan Kuyers ’89 is the director of intelligent worksite at Vermeer and was the project’s sponsor. “The students did an excellent job of understanding, scoping, and addressing the problem they were given,” he said. “The students worked hard and provided a lot of value to our organization validating what we believed to be true and uncovered new opportunities. In addition to the CAP project, the students provided insights that may lead to additional business opportunities.”

The students’ perspective: The team of five students each learned something valuable. “I came in as a complete novice, not knowing anything about the industry or any of the terminology,” said Stephanie Wynia. “I learned that through quality research I can apply what I have learned in business to any industry. I also learned a lot about how I work on a team and what my strengths are as well as areas I have for growth.”

For Ryan Bouwkamp, the CAP project led to a full-time job at Vermeer. “I believe it is important for students to do CAP projects because it allows them a chance to apply everything they have learned not just for a class, but for a company that really exists. To know that our work matters and will be used to help a business grow and develop is a great opportunity to be a part of. 

Ryan’s teammate Stephanie agrees. “By having this be a primary focus of the semester and working with other students as well as our professor and our client we had the space to really challenge ourselves and problem solve in a way that we will need to in our professional careers,” she said. 

If you’re interested in learning more about how to sponsor a Calvin Action Project, reach out to Stephanie Boer at stephanie.boer@calvin.edu.