GREENVILLE, Pa.—Student’s in the strategic management class of Professor of Business Administration and Accounting Angelo Giannini developed a strategic business plan for Black and Rose Funeral Home and Crematory.
Owner and funeral director Casey Rose ’14, G’21 is a Thiel College alumnus and a graduate of Thiel’s first M.B.A. class. Students made their final presentation in early December. This is the 15th year that Professor Giannini’s strategic management class has made a strategic business plan for a Greenville-area business. The purpose of the class is to give the students the practical application of strategic planning.
After meeting with Rose, the plan evolved into a four-part approach covering accounting/finance, human resources, marketing and funeral services. The overall goal was to have his business as the pre-eminent funeral provider for western Pennsylvania from Meadville to Cranberry.
The class was divided into these four teams with an overall project manager, who is responsible for the completion of the project. The project manager was Evan Gerber ’23, who maintained team meeting schedules, ensured completion of team milestones, and led the weekly class operating meeting.
The team leader for the accounting/finance team was Travis Harvey ’23 with Grace Csiky ’23, Destiny Merriwether ’23 and Jeremy Meyer ’23. The team developed a financial business plan for the long-term expansion of the business. The plan included expense budget, sales forecast, income projection, ratio calculations and the breakeven analysis.
The human resource team was led by Maddison Neely ’22 along with Selom Kalin-samlin ’23, Jesse Richards ’22 and Jacob Zylka ’22. The team made an employee handbook, wrote job descriptions for current and projected jobs, developed a hiring plan in a three- to five-year timeline, and specified an organizational chart.
The marketing team was led by Austin Dillon ’22 with Daniel Myers ’22, Andre Williams ’22, Brycen Dorfmeister ’23 and Abigail Cico ’22. The team wrote out a marketing plan for the Mercer crematorium and analyzed the current marketing plan with updates using social media and geofencing strategies. The team reviewed a traditional approach using print advertising, TV and radio ads, and pamphlets for the 45-and-older demographic.
The funeral services team leader was Devin Weisbarth ’22 with John Allsop ’23, Dylan Proper ’22, and Hollie Barna ’22. Their directive was to complete the Mercer property by 2022, with considerations being an affordable provider to customers based on a package of options; develop and complete another affordable provider in the Franklin area in a three- to five-year timeline; and look at the completion of a second crematorium to be placed at his Sandy Lake operations in the short term, along with adding affordable models in the nearby areas of Meadville, New Castle and Cranberry.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.