Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective to unlock new growth. Through a recent collaboration between the UConn School of Business and the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC), Cricket Press—a West Hartford staple since 1971—gained valuable insights from some of UConn’s top business students, opening the door to new opportunities and ideas.
As part of its Honors Program, the UConn School of Business offers a Case Competition which gives students a chance to work directly with real-world businesses to address a challenge. In years past, students have worked with larger enterprises, but during the Spring 2026 semester, students worked with CTSBDC’s client, Greg Confessore, owner of Cricket Press. For Confessore, working with the students was about continuing a legacy of being forward-thinking and using new technology—and the knowledge of others—to allow his small business to operate at a higher level.
Everyone benefits through collaboration
“Opportunities like the Case Competition really show what’s possible when small businesses work with CTSBDC,” said Dorian Zwierewicz, State Director of CTSBDC. “Because we’re part of the UConn School of Business, our clients gain access to incredible expertise and resources—and at the same time, students get the chance to work closely with inspiring business owners right here in their communities. It’s a win for everyone involved.”
The Cricket Press pitch was chosen from several CTSBDC client pitches. Confessore wanted to explore how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency and growth internally while maintaining Cricket Press’ signature human touch. Four student teams assessed where AI can have the greatest impact and recommended a strategy that balances automation with trust and strong client relationships.
“The students really like this type of experiential learning,” said Professor Qing Cao, who also noted the Case Competition will likely alternate between working with large and small businesses going forward. The teams were strategically created to ensure a mix of students with different majors, each bringing a different perspective. Students had a chance to ask questions and visit the Cricket Press office to see how things operate first-hand, before developing their presentations which were presented to Cricket Press at the School of Business.
Noah Malewicki, UConn class of 2026 and member of the winning group, found he learned valuable communication skills during this process. Not only did the group work put all of the students’ communication skills to the test, but Malewicki said translating the team’s ideas for the presentation was its own challenge. He said he also learned the value of facetime with the client. “You want them to recognize your face,” he said, adding, “I didn’t just want to see the place. I wanted to learn.”
The winning solution
“All four groups were awesome,” said Confessore. “This was really a homerun for us.” Still, there could only be one winner. The top team proposed a tablet-based system that allows Cricket employees to access incoming assignments wherever they are—not just at their desks. Over time, the AI-powered tool would learn to automatically assign jobs to the available team members best equipped to complete each task quickly and efficiently.
Confessore liked the flexibility of the suggested user interface and that the input did not require extra manpower. He is now looking into what it would take to build and implement the system. Malewicki said letting another team take up the task of actually building the system would be a great follow-up project for next semester. Confessore, however, has been talking with larger, regional printers who are interested in teaming up on bringing the solution to life. He said, “We’ll throw funding behind this if the proof of concept is there.”
As Cricket Press explores bringing this innovative solution to life, the collaboration stands as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when experience meets fresh thinking. By connecting small businesses with emerging talent, CTSBDC continues to create opportunities that drive innovation and help small businesses keep pace.