Miami entrepreneur Vanessa Valera-Nolte never had the chance to take her classroom training for a real-world spin as a student. But today, as one of the School’s success stories, she and her company are giving undergraduate entrepreneurship majors the opportunity to do just that.

Valera-Nolte (BBA ’05) is the cofounder, with her brother, Diego Valera (BBA ’06), and owner of the kitchenware company Holstein Housewares (www.holsteinhousewares.com). Holstein has participated in the School’s Entrepreneurial Consulting course since 2008.

“This capstone course is a career transition for students and a chance for them to apply what they’ve learned in four years,” says Ken Colwell, director of the School’s entrepreneurship programs, who has taught the course since 2009.

The consulting course is taken by entrepreneurship majors in the spring of their senior year. Approximately 50 students are assigned in teams of three to five students each to the 12 to 15 companies that sign on as partners. Most of the work is done remotely, and student teams meet with representatives from their company both in person and by telephone, depending on distance and the nature of the project. Students don’t escape entirely from the classroom; sessions on project management and management consulting are also part of the course.

Some students who participate in the course go to work in their family businesses after graduation, implementing the innovative solutions and strategies they have learned at the School. Andrea de Cassan, a senior on last year’s Holstein team who also interned with the company this past fall, plans to work in her family’s petroleum business, Stico Corp., in Venezuela, her role still undecided. As an intern, she helped Valera-Nolte prepare for the March 2012 International Home + Housewares Show, at which the company unveiled two new lines, Holstein Housewares Fun and Holstein Housewares Coffeeware.

Although housewares and petroleum seem to have little in common, “the course really helped sharpen the marketing skills I used during my internship and will use throughout my career,” de Cassan says. The experience with Holstein was especially beneficial for team member Krista Rios (BBA ’11), who plans to open her own home furnishings line and boutique. “This project taught me that working on a campaign is not just about coming up with ideas,” says Rios. “We researched everything from designs and tax laws to transportation and permissions, which we saw come together in our final presentation.” Another team member, Kayla Dittrich (BBA ’11) is now applying the business and artistic skills she used working on the creative side of Holstein’s campaign in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., where she works as a graphic designer. “Learning how to be flexible and work well with customers and in teams is an important lesson I took from the course, and a part of business I experience every day,” she says.

“It’s very rewarding to me to observe the students grow and progress while seeing their weaknesses turn into strengths,” says Valera-Nolte. “I always meet with the students myself and make sure to give them hands-on projects that focus on their specific business interests.” “The biggest advantage is the access to realworld situations,” says Colwell. “This is more than just a course; this is a great example of experiential learning and an important centerpiece of the entrepreneurship program.”

If your company would like to participate in the Entrepreneurial Consulting course, contact Colwell at kcolwell@miami.edu or 305-284-8588.

Vanessa Valera-Nolte (center) of Holstein Housewares with Andrea de Cassan (left) and Krista Rios, pictured with the company’s coffeeware products.