Hello! My name is Max Krajnikovich and I am a Junior majoring in Finance and Supply Chain Management. I am a member of Phi Beta Lambda, and also will study abroad in Spring of 2027 in London interning at a company related to my finance background. When I return to the United States, I’ll begin a 2027 Summer Financial Analyst Internship position with Amazon down in Nashville.

For the ACRI project, I am working with Cathies Enterprises, a small business that provides services including tax preparation, bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll. This business is currently developing plans to expand its operations and increase its presence in the local community.

Cathies Enterprises plans to increase sales through additional advertising and a stronger presence in the community. The business is also considering purchasing or renting a location closer to town, implementing new technologies, and hiring one or two additional employees. Another major part of the expansion involves adding motor vehicle and license plate services. Cathies Enterprises also wants to bring its payroll services in house to reduce costs and gain greater control over the services provided to clients.

I feel this project is important because these expansion decisions will directly affect the future of the business. Decisions involving a new location, employees, technology, and additional services all require careful consideration of costs and potential benefits. I initially hoped this project would allow me to provide research and recommendations that Cathies Enterprises could use when evaluating its expansion options. I want our work to provide the owner with useful information that supports informed business decisions.

My current professional goal is to develop a career in finance and business analysis. The ACRI project provides an opportunity to develop these skills before I begin my internship. Cathies Enterprises is considering several investments related to its growth, including technology, employees, advertising, a new location, and expanded services. Working with these types of decisions will help me better understand how financial information supports business strategy.

The project also allows me to apply knowledge from my three majors. Finance helps me evaluate the financial side of business decisions. Business Information Systems helps me understand the role of data and technology. Supply Chain Management helps me understand general operations and how business processes work together. I hope this experience strengthens my ability to analyze information and use it to support recommendations.

I decided to join the ACRI project because I wanted hands on experience working with a real client. With my Financial Analyst Internship approaching, I specifically wanted to work with a client whose project would help me strengthen skills relevant to my future position. Cathies Enterprises gives me the opportunity to work with financial and operational decisions while contributing to the growth of a small business.

Throughout this experience, I hope to refine my financial analysis, data analysis, research, problem solving, teamwork, professional communication, and presentation skills. I especially want to improve my ability to take a broad business problem, analyze the available information, and turn my findings into practical recommendations for a client.

By the end of the ACRI project, I hope Cathies Enterprises has useful research to support its expansion plans. I also hope to leave the project more prepared to work with financial information, communicate recommendations, and approach business problems from multiple perspectives. These skills will help prepare me for my future career goals.