UW Students Get Hands-On Experience Providing Consulting Services to Businesses

Students in the University of Wyoming’s College of Business are gaining real-world, hands-on experience as business consultants to companies in Laramie and Cheyenne under a program developed by the UW Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) and the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Four projects are culminating in an “Innovation Consulting” class this academic year in which students perform as consultants -- akin to agencies businesses would work with -- to improve functional aspects of their companies such as marketing, finance and manufacturing quality.

The projects UW students wrapped up this semester included:

-- Marketing strategies for Grind Gear, a content creation company in the video game industry.

-- General business consulting services to Lost Coven Films, a startup company in the entertainment industry.

-- Small business management consulting to White Antelope Barn, a wedding venue and planner business.

-- Business planning for a powder coatings business that opted not to be identified.

“We continue to provide UW students with experiential learning opportunities that will benefit Wyoming businesses,” says CEI Director Robert Macy, who adds that it is being done in conjunction with the SBDC and the Small Business Institute (SBI). SBI supports professional development for schools such as UW that are engaged in experiential student team consulting and related entrepreneurship education, research and activities.

“This collaboration enables our students to learn how to work with a real-world business client, which is invaluable experience,” Macy says.

Half of the projects involve students working with an SBDC program officer; the remainder are working under Macy’s guidance.

During the spring 2025 semester, students met with prospective clients to determine each company’s needs, then wrote engagement letters with plans of what they would do for each client. Once formally engaged, they submitted weekly progress reports, scheduled four to six meetings with each client and provided research reports with recommendations that address their clients’ business needs.

“This is yet another example of how UW is working to collaborate with Wyoming businesses for mutually beneficial outcomes,” says Parag Chitnis, vice president for research and economic development. “The UW Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is working collaboratively with colleges and schools across the university to create opportunities for students to be competitive in the modern workplace while addressing needs of Wyoming industries.”

The course (ENTR-4910) is planned to be offered each spring semester at UW.

UW students involved in these projects, listed by hometowns and the companies they assisted, are:

Amman, Jordan -- Aseel Abu Tarboush, White Antelope Barn.

Cheyenne -- Emelyn Gates, Grinding Gear.

Highlands Ranch, Colo. -- Mia Fenoglio, powder coatings company.

Hopewell, N.J. -- Jane Bellaus, powder coatings company.

Laramie -- Benjamin Davidson, Lost Coven Films.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Jacob Funk, White Antelope Barn.

Littleton, Colo. -- Ashton Hudson, powder coatings company.

Mead, Colo. -- Ethan Graham, Lost Coven Films.

Portland, Ore. -- Julia Tillett, White Antelope Barn.

Sinclair -- Thomas Chizek, Lost Coven Films.

Vale, Ore. -- Jessica Dotson, Grinding Gear.