Mountain Plains Business Conference Brings Over 150 Participants to USD's Beacom School of Business
The conference, which took place on Oct. 4-5, was built around the theme of effectiveness — achieving the desired outcome of an action. With attendees from across the region, it provided opportunities for researchers to share their research, receive feedback and network with peers.
Participants included students and researchers from Augustana University, Buena Vista University, Hastings College, Idaho State University, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Nebraska Wesleyan University, North Dakota State University-Fargo, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of South Dakota, Utah Tech University and Wayne State College.
Presenters shared research across a wide spectrum of subjects ranging from the impact of artificial intelligence in education and sales to the impact of university president prior positions and academic degrees on credit hours.
“The presentations were informative and engaging, with audience interaction playing a central role in advancing the knowledge of listeners and researchers,” said Associate Professor of Decision Sciences Thomas Tiahrt, Ph.D. “Scholars presented a genuinely interdisciplinary collection of research showcasing a broad range of topics, including sustained employment support for people with autism spectrum disorder, the Nordic leader model and biodiesel recycling from used cooking oil.”
USD Assistant Professor Nicholas Wilson, Ph. D., and M.Acc. student Drew Stevenson won the best paper award for “Goodwill Elasticity and the Opportunity for Favorable Financial Reporting.”
Among other presenters representing Beacom were MBA student Elyse Whittemore, who presented “Straight from the Source: Three Perspectives on Best Practices for Hiring People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,” and M.Acc. student Raleigh Tiahrt who presented “The Impact of University Presidents on Enrollment.”
“The conference at USD was a resounding success,” said Srivatsa Seshadri, Ph.D., professor of marketing at the University of Nebraska – Kearney. “With researchers sharing valuable findings and receiving impactful feedback, the vibrant scholarly exchanges and strong sense of camaraderie truly enriched the experience.”
The 65th Annual Mountain Plains Business Conference will be hosted by the University of Nebraska Omaha and chaired by Dr. Arvind Agrawal on Oct. 17-18, 2025. The conference theme will be “Integration Across Boundaries.”
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