News & Events Archive

CU-Boulder students use internships for entrepreneurs opportunities.

By Whitney Bryen
Posted: 06/15/2011 10:43:22 PM MDT

While most students are spending their summer getting coffee, answering phones and filing papers, University of Colorado junior Kyle Ambler is running his own business.

Ambler, a self-proclaimed entrepreneur, is hoping to start a business after he graduates -- so he wasn't willing to settle for a typical internship this summer.

"From what I know about other internships, the work you're doing isn't that beneficial," Ambler said. "A lot of times you're doing busy work. I wanted more of a leadership role."

Ambler is working as an intern, managing his own house painting business for College Works Painting, with the training and support from the company.

Besides a few training courses, Ambler said he is responsible for marketing, hiring and managing his own painting business.

"It definitely feels like a test run to starting my own business," Ambler said. "It's like training wheels. I can't fall too far since I'm not risking my own money."

Ambler and 15 other students in Boulder are learning the ins and outs of managing time, expenses and personnel, while getting paid an hourly rate (with additional compensation for sales).

Lisa Severy, director of Career Services at CU, said the school does not offer network marketing operations jobs, such as College Works Painting, because of the inconsistent nature of the positions.

"Some students have a great deal of success with these types of opportunities," Severy said. Although, "some students put in a great deal of time and effort and actually make very little money, or end up owing the organization at the end of the experience."

Book sales, knife sales and cosmetic sales companies often offer similar positions, allowing students to run their own businesses, but often relying on commission-based salaries. Severy said this might not always be convenient for tight student budgets.

"When students come to us to ask advice about these types of opportunities, we recommend that they thoroughly examine all paperwork before they sign -- and even consider having things reviewed by Student Legal Services," Severy said. "They should also carefully plan out a budget, including both hours and expenses, to make sure they feel comfortable with the numbers."

Ambler said he's aware of the financial risks of the job, relying heavily on sales for his income, but the learning experience is worth it.

Grant Tallmadge, district manager for College Works Painting, said the hands-on experience is unique to these internships.

"This is much more responsibility because it's up to the interns to do the sales and promotion for their business," Tallmadge said. "It's a lot more hands on. They're handling every aspect of their business, start to finish."

Ambler said he's planning on starting his own business next year.

"I am already learning so much just in the first few weeks," Ambler said. "But, the most important thing is I'm learning to sell myself. That's going to be a big part of owning my own business, when I have to sell my personality and my idea to investors."

Young entrepreneur painting Vail Valley houses

by Scott N. Miller
Vail, CO, Colorado

Charles Gladitsch ran a few small businesses when he was a Vail Valley high school student. Now he's aiming a little higher.

Gladitsch, a 2009 Battle Mountain High School graduate, just finished his first year at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He's spending this summer back at his parents' place in the valley. But instead of dog-sitting or mowing lawns this year, Gladitsch is running a house-painting company.

The company isn't just one guy with an old pickup and a ladder, either. Gladitsch is working with College Works Painting, a national firm that claims to be the country's largest house-painting company. The company hires and trains students to manage their own painting companies. The company handles workers comp and liability insurance and trains and certifies painters. Local managers handle everything else, particularly lining up business.

“I've always been interested in starting my own business, and not letting anyone else tell me what to do,” Gladitsch said.

He started young, participating in the Future Business Leaders of America organization at Battle Mountain. He's also studying business and environmental science at CU.

Nancy Lindbloom was one of Gladitsch's high school teachers, and wasn't surprised to hear that he's trying his hand at a new business this summer.

“He's a hard worker,” Lindbloom said. “He has an outstanding work ethic and he's really personable. I think he'll do well.”

Gladitsch started building his summer business on weekend trips home over the spring, marketing his services the old-fashioned way — going door to door. It also helps that he and his family have lived in the valley for several years.

The dad connection helped Gladitsch land one of his first clients, Glenn and Rebecca Davis. But Rebecca Davis said she's been impressed in her meetings with her house painter.

“He's not like the cable guy — he shows up when he says he will,” Davis said. “He'll come by, get things done – he's in and out.”

While the painting hasn't started at the Davis home yet, Gladitsch has made a good enough impression that he's landed a bit of extra work.

“We were going to put off the decks for another year, but we decided to go ahead with it,” Davis said.

While Gladitsch is new to the house-painting business — as are most of College Works' student manager — he believes he knows how to succeed.

“I have a real commitment to communicating with customers and offering quality service at a great price,” Gladitsch said. “We'll probably paint 25 homes this summer, so there's going to be plenty of time to communicate.”

And, while Gladitsch has enough summer work lined up for one crew of painters, he's already planning to put another crew on the job. All he needs to do now is round up work for them.