Florida Atlantic University Launches Inaugural Finance Case Study Competition with JM Family Enterprises

Florida Atlantic University recently launched its inaugural Finance Case Study Competition through a strategic partnership between the College of Business, the Career Center and JM Family Enterprises.

The competition kicked off with JM Family leaders presenting a real business challenge to student teams. For the next four weeks, 15 selected students will work collaboratively in groups to research, analyze and develop strategic recommendations on the business challenge. With guidance from JM Family mentors, they will gain firsthand insight into industry practices and expectations.

“This strategic partnership with JM Family allows our students to apply finance theory to real-world scenarios while building relationships with industry leaders at a great company,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Business and Kaye Family Professor. “Offering critical, hands-on application helps our students bridge academic theory and real-world business strategy.”

The competition concludes this month, with students presenting their final recommendations to senior-level finance leaders and analysts from across . The program is open to FAU undergraduate and graduate students majoring in business, finance, economics or a related field. Students were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated their academic performance, experience and interest in finance.

“This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between higher education and industry,” said Brian Montalvo, assistant vice president of Career Services at FAU. “By engaging directly with JM Family, our students gain invaluable exposure to real-world finance challenges, mentorship from seasoned professionals and the chance to showcase their talents in front of decision-makers. It’s a win-win for student development and workforce readiness.”

This initiative is a key part of the College of Business’s experiential learning mission. The long-term goal is to establish a scalable framework that deepens employer partnerships and equips students with the skills needed to navigate an ever-changing workforce.

“The ongoing partnership with FAU underscores our shared investment in the next generation of business leaders, giving students a hands-on opportunity to apply critical thinking around finance and strategy to the daily business challenges we face,” said Joe Ambrosio, director of financial planning and analysis for JM Family. “It also allows our associates to mentor and learn from emerging talent, an exchange that reflects our culture of continuous learning and collaboration.”  

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