Midway University faculty members recently presented research and received national recognition at the Small Business Institute (SBI) Annual Conference in Ft. Meyers, FL, a premier gathering of scholars and practitioners dedicated to advancing small business research, entrepreneurship, and applied learning. The conference brings together leading academics from across the country to share research that informs both theory and real-world business practice.
Award-Winning Research on Sports Fans and Local Economies
Dr. Amber Chatelain, Associate Professor of Marketing, and Dr. Gavin Washington, Associate Professor of Sports Management, were awarded the Distinguished Emerging Research Award for their study, “An Investigation of the Relationship Between Fan Identity and Social Spending for Emerging Professional Sports Teams.”
Selected from a competitive pool of 35 abstracts, the award recognizes high-quality, impactful research that contributes to the advancement of small business scholarship.
“We were incredibly honored to receive this award and grateful for the recognition of our emerging research,” said Dr. Chatelain. “Competing with large institutions across the country and being recognized among them makes this academic achievement particularly meaningful and special.”
Their research explores how fan identity—defined as the extent to which individuals view a sports team as part of their self-concept—influences social spending behaviors such as ticket purchases, concessions, and merchandise. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the study positions fans as critical external stakeholders whose emotional and social connection to a team drives both engagement and economic outcomes.
By examining emerging professional sports teams operating in small communities, the research highlights how these organizations function as small businesses that contribute to local economic vitality. The findings aim to provide actionable insights for team owners seeking to strengthen fan relationships and drive long-term financial sustainability.
Dr. Chatelain’s Research on Small Business Crisis Response
In addition to the award-winning study, Dr. Chatelain presented a full research project alongside co-authors Dr. Kevin Knotts, Assistant Professor of Management and Health Care Administration of Marshall University, and Dr. Whitney Peake, Vitale Professor of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Management of Western Kentucky University.
The study, “From Crisis to Commitment: How Small Business Social Responsibility Shapes Customer Trust, Loyalty, and Purchase Intention,” examines how customers interpret small business responses during times of community crisis.
Using a vignette-based experimental design with U.S. consumers, the research finds that higher perceptions of business social responsibility significantly increase customer trust and loyalty, which in turn drive purchase intention. These findings position crisis response not simply as a reactive measure, but as a strategic opportunity for small businesses to build long-term customer relationships.
This work contributes to the growing body of literature on small business social responsibility by emphasizing the importance of trust and loyalty as key mediators in the customer decision-making process—particularly in small and midsized communities where businesses are deeply embedded in the local environment.
Advancing Research, Teaching, and Real-World Applications
Participation in the SBI Conference reflects Midway University’s continued commitment to integrating research, teaching, and experiential learning. Faculty scholarship at Midway not only advances academic knowledge but also provides research insights that can be applied directly to small businesses and communities.
“These research projects highlight the powerful role that relationships- whether between fans and teams or businesses and their communities- play in shaping economic and consumer behavioral outcomes,” said Dr. Chatelain. “Understanding these connections allows us to better support small businesses and the communities they serve.”
Through national presentations and award-winning research, Midway University continues to demonstrate its leadership in applied business scholarship and its dedication to preparing students for impactful careers.
