News Releases

Monday, December 13, 2010

University of Kansas business students are using skills they learned in the classroom to help startup companies grow and thrive.

Students enrolled in the Small Business Management and Entrepreneurial Marketing classes presented consulting plans to Pieroguys Pierogies LLC, 1800GotJunk, Computer Assessment Learning from Kansas, Gluten Free Beer from Colorado and other businesses earlier this month. The companies had approached the students for help at the beginning of the semester.

The businesses came to the students looking for a range of services, including market evaluation, audience segmentation and general ideas for making their businesses stronger.

“Everything the students suggested worked with our business plan,” said Frank Gazella Jr., president and owner of Pieroguys. “The team was great. These students are smart.”

The Lawrence-born and now Kansas City-based business worked with the students this semester but has been getting periodic business help from KU’s Small Business Development Center since 2006.

Matt Floyd, a management major concentrating in entrepreneurship, worked with Pieroguys this semester and said he enjoyed working directly with a real-world business.

“Classes are always more fun when you get to work with real clients,” he said.

The School of Business makes sure its entrepreneurship concentration, as well as other academic areas, gives students opportunities to do hands-on work with companies.

“The practical experience gives our students the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned in real situations to truly grasp the concepts they've been taught,” said Janalee Fitchett, lecturer in business and instructor for the Small Business Management and Entrepreneurial Marketing classes.

The Small Business Development Center, an organization that provides low-cost training sessions and one-on-one counseling services to small businesses in Douglas and surrounding counties, has been forwarding businesses that have needs to the two business classes for five years.

Will Katz, director of the center, identifies clients that Fitchett’s business students can help each semester. Clients have included T-Mobile, Wheat State Pizza and Free State Auto.

The School of Business’ undergraduate program is ranked in the top 14 percent of public schools of business in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report, and a large factor in its high rankings is its commitment to experiential learning.

Check out the news coverage this project gained: