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Now in its second year, the Leeds School of Business is expanding its' signature Natural and Organic Case Competition (NOCC) into a regional event in which students compete on the best ways to address ethical and business concerns in this growing industry. This year's competition will broaden to welcome teams from program, and program. The 2020 NOCC is made possible by partnerships with and, who will also be serving as judges for the 4 teams that make it into the final round.

Natural and organics is an area of deep interest for many students at Leeds School of Business, and the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR) offers co-curricular programs throughout the year which prepare students for careers in this growing local sector. The NOCC is one of CESR's signature events for students to hone their business skills and industry knowledge.

“The Natural and Organics Case Competition was a great way to challenge myself in social and environmental impact consulting, team collaboration, and persuasive presentation skills. I signed up as an individual (highly recommended!) and was placed on a team with three other students with diverse professional backgrounds and skill sets. The work was challenging and inspiring-- it solidified my interest in the natural and organics industry while providing some great networking opportunities.” says Kallie Beebe (MBA’21), member of the NOCC 2019 winning team. Together with Michaela Monk (MBA’21), Andrew Hossley, (MBA’20) and Donna Merten, (MEnv’20), Kallie's team won $7,500 for taking first place. Judges complemented the team's collaborative style and noted their financial analysis and realistic timeline as contributing to their strong finish.

is open through October 11 and teams will be announced on Oct 13th. The full schedule for the competition is as follows:

• Oct 15 | Preliminary Round Case Release
• Oct 21, 1-4pm | Preliminary Round
• Oct 22 | Final Round Case Twist Release
• Oct 30 | Final Round

The NOCC is part of Leeds' Natural and Organic Pathway, a series of classes and co-curricular activities that provide students with the knowledge and skills industry partners are looking for in their employees. Other offerings in the Pathway include the lunchtime Careers in Sustainability series, the Farm-to-Market Supply Chain Management Career Trek, the Natural and Organic Bootcamp, the Net Impact Case Competition, and a student Organics + Naturals club. You can find out more about CESR events on the website. If you are interested in the Natural and Organic Pathway, let CESR know by and setting up a time to chat or drop in on Interim Director, Julie Waggoner's Office Hours, Wednesdays 11-12pm via Zoom.