The Marketing Department at Metro State is Open for Business
Open for Business is a program, managed by Darrin C. Duber-Smith of the Department of Marketing in the School of Business, whose purpose is to serve students and members of the business community by providing marketing services to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations as well as practical work experience for marketing majors and minors. In 2008, his service was institutionalized as MKT 4520 Senior Seminar in Marketing, the capstone for marketing minors and an elective for majors, and also in professor-managed groups outside the classroom in the form of an internship.
Students work in teams to perform a marketing analysis and develop a strategic marketing plan in a real-world situation. In some cases, primary market research is conducted. Progress is monitored throughout the semester and corrections are made before presenting to the client so that students can demonstrate continuous improvement during the semester and the client can receive a higher quality end product.
Organizations
We have serviced the following organizations since the program was formally enacted during Fall 2008:
A Loving Hand Assisted Living (Assisted Living) 2011
A Wynning Solution (Computer Services) 2010
Alliance Flight Training (Aviation) 2012
Altitude Sports and Entertainment (Sports/Entertainment) 2009
American Animal Hospital Assoc. (Association of Animal Hospitals) 2010
Apricot Lane Boutique (Retail-Apparel) 2012
Asante Publications (Publisher) 2010
As You Wish (Event Planning) 2011
Back Country Pizza (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2011
B & B Basketball Academy (Sport Services) 2011
Barbara's Floral (Retail-Gifts) 2009
Boomer Be Well (Self-Published Books) 2010
Campus Village Apartments (Residences) 2009
Coalesce Design and Fabrication (Custom Furniture and Remodeling) 2009
Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse (Professional Lacrosse Team) 2010
Colorado School of Mines Athl. (NCAA Athletics) 2010
Colorado Ski and Sport Expo (Convention) 2008 and 2009
Colorado Sled Hockey (League for Disabled Athletes) 2010
CoolHaus Works (Executive Recruiting) 2009
Denver Outlaws (Professional Outdoor Lacrosse) 2011
Denver School of Hypnotherapy (Health Care) 2012
Global Denver (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Website) 2010
Doctor Relocation (Property Management and Relocation) 2008
Eaton Senior Programs (Assisted Living/Senior Services) 2011
Echo Mountain Ski Area (Sports/Entertainment) 2008, 2011
Five J's Restaurant (Food Service) 2011
Garden of Eden (Plant Service) 2008
Global Shot Doctor (Sports Services) 2011
Heelvixen.com (Retail-Shoes) 2012
High Roller Group (Recreation) 2011
Honest 1 Auto Care (Automotive Services) 2011
Innovative Sound Solutions (Sound Systems) 2009
KMET Met Radio (Media) 2011
Level Terrain (Retail-Apparel) 2012
Metro Seen (Video Production) 2012
Metro State College Athletics (Sports/Entertainment) 2010
Metro State Women's Basketball (Sports/Entertainment) 2011
Motycka Lawn Care (Landscaping and Lawn Care Services) 2010
Mr. Powdrell's Barbeque (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2012
New Destiny Youth Services (Child Placement) 2011
Nielsen Wilson Design (Interior Design) 2011
NRW Sports Entertainment (Sports/Entertainment) 2012
Oak Street Tavern (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2010
Ovo Films (Video Services) 2010
Passion Flower Design (Gift/Flowers) 2011
Recycle Runway (Fashion) 2011
Rocky Mountain Terror (Entertainment/Attractions) 2010
Rojas Acupuncture (Acupuncture Clinic) 2010
Rosarius Coffee (Retail-Coffee) 2008
Rustic Mountain Roofing (Roofers) 2011
Silver Spoon Homecare (Medical Services) 2010
Sports Advantage Recruiting (Sports Services) 2011
Sports Sounds (Custom Music) 2009
Steve's Snappin' Dogs (Retail-Food and Beverage) 2012
Summer on the Snow 2012
Sustainable Living Road Show (Festival/Fair) 2011
T. Galaxy (Retail and Wholesale Licensed Apparel) 2009 and 2010
The Pearl Group (Non-Profit) 2012
Violet Stores (Retail-Apparel) 2009
Web Force One (Internet Services) 2011
West Design House (Design Services) 2011
Wynkoop Beer (Food and Beverage) 2012
Yolkstar (Retail-Gifts) 2010
Zooch the Pooch (Twikeltopia) (Audio Children's Books) 2011
Testimonials
"It has been so insightful and helpful! I will definitely use this information to grow my business." - Sylvia Salcedo Rojas (Denver Acupuncture, Denver, CO).
"I gained good information about the industry and my competitors as well as some very creative marking ideas, many of which I will be executing in the coming months." - Greg Schriener (Silver Spoon Services, Denver, CO).
"I believe the five of us were greatly enriched by the experience. It is very beneficial to read their analysis and recommendations." -Randy Stark (Yolkstar, Ukraine).
"I especially liked their quality research on CSM a an institution and athletics department." - Brandon Leimbach (Colorado School of Mines Athletics, Golden, CO).
"I am excited by the ideas the group presented for promotion."- Scott Gales (Boomer Be Well, Denver, CO).
"I felt the team did a great job and I will be implementing many of their suggestions." - Ty Bradford (Ovo Films, Denver, CO).
"Your students were very creative and supportive of the book, brand and project. Enclosed is a small donation to Metro State with my appreciation." - Boomer Be Well, Denver, CO
"It was a much needed eye-opener into my business and things I need to work on." - Emil Motycka (Motycka Lawn Care, Boulder, CO).
"The class was great for me. It's important to get real-world experience and actually utilize the skills you've been taught. The class really inspired me and cultivated my entrepreneurial spirit. I opened my business with a partner right after the semester ended and it's been very successful." - Rand Lemarinel (Web Force One, Denver, CO).
"Working with students was wonderful. They were very professional. They gave me so many useful tips and ideas, including setting me up with a patient database program that I would not have thought of on my own. And now I could not live without this system. It has revolutionized my practice. I am very grateful." - Sylvia Salcedo Rojas (Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Clinic, Denver, CO).
"They did a great job of really understanding the nuances of my rather unusual company and provided some really interesting suggestions." - Nancy Judd (Recycle Runway)
"I greatly appreciated the opportunity for engagement with the students, from whom I learned a lot. I write to note that based on my experience last spring, I would like to provide a donation to the Marketing Department." - Duane B. Lewis (Global Shot Doctor, LLC)
Here's how the program works:
- If your business has a challenge or project that may benefit from a consultation with our faculty, a class project, or training, please complete the Marketing application form (
13 KB) and fax to 303-556-3307 or email it to ddubersm@msudenver.edu. - All applicants will be contacted after review.
- Selected applications will be assigned to a faculty member who composes a formal proposal after discussing the project with the applicant.
- The project is initiated once an agreement is finalized documenting the project’s scope, timeline, and resources.
Please contact Darrin C. Duber-Smith at 303.819.5445 or ddubersm@msudenver.edu if you have any questions about the program.
