Student Success
Business Students Help Local Small Businesses
RALEIGH, N.C. (April 23, 2025) – Wake Tech Business Administration students are helping local businesses solve real-world problems, and they showed off their ideas and talents at a capstone showcase Wednesday on Southern Wake Campus.
Dr. Lorraine Powers, associate professor of Business Administration, spearheaded the project featuring employer collaborations and experiential learning as part of her Faculty Innovation Fellowship with the Business-Higher Education Forum.
In all, 57 students in her Business Management Issues course spent the Spring semester collaborating in teams as student consultants helping local business owners develop strategies and plans.
The 12 teams presented their recommendations in front of their peers, client partners and invited guests at the showcase.
"My goal was to help students demonstrate what they have learned in college in real-world settings and to build their skills and networking experiences," Powers said.
Each of the consultant teams worked with its business client to develop a plan to overcome an identified challenge. Some of the projects included data research, email marketing, social media engagement, employee handbooks and community outreach. The small businesses span health care, nonprofit, media, fitness and service-based industries, giving students diverse and meaningful client experiences.
"This opportunity bridges the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations, offering real consulting experience and direct employer engagement," Powers said. "Each team has applied their academic knowledge to identify, analyze and provide recommendations for an organizational challenge or opportunity."
Spencer Turpin's team helped execute email drip campaigns for Shrunk 3D Inc., a business that offers 3D-printed custom figurines in the Triangle area.
"We had a really good team, and I enjoyed learning more about marketing and the company," Turpin said. "I had 18 different scripts for emails and phone calls I had to write, and I had never done that before, so it was a really good experience."
Ally Roberts, the owner of a new small business named Naturally Nectar, was thrilled with the collaboration. Naturally Nectar offers natural, modified liquids for a person with dysphagia. Her student consultant team helped design promotional content, created a social media plan and developed a list of health care facilities for outreach tracking.
"These students were so wonderful because I am a solo-preneur right now, doing everything from marketing to tracking finances to get my business name out there," Roberts said. "This was a phenomenal project, and the students worked so hard. This really was a great opportunity for new business owners to benefit from the students' knowledge, and I hope I can be involved again."
Special thanks to all of the small businesses who served as clients for the project:
- Advance Community Health – Ryan McCarthy and Veronica Creech
A Federally Qualified Health Center providing inclusive, affordable health care to underserved populations in Wake and Franklin counties - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation – Kris Ference
A nonprofit organization focused on patient support, advocacy and fundraising for individuals with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - Davis Insurance and Finance – Matt Davis
A bilingual State Farm agency providing personalized insurance and financial services across the Triangle - Endurance Fence – Mark Campbell
A custom fencing company known for craftsmanship and deep community involvement in Holly Springs - Local Time Brewery – Chris Gallagher
A Holly Springs-based brewery blending global inspiration with local community to craft meaningful experiences and beverages - Majestic HealthCare – Katoya Wright
A women's health and wellness practice focused on empowering women through education and comprehensive care - Natural Nectar – Ally Roberts
A speech-language pathology business specializing in dysphagia management for adults across multiple care settings - NC Spotless Pros Powerwashing – Jessica Richey
A woman- and minority-owned business providing expert powerwashing and surface restoration services with a strong focus on customer satisfaction - Positively Apex – Leslie Lockhart
A local magazine and media platform that highlights good news and strengthens connections among Apex residents and businesses - Roots with a Purpose – Jennifer Losee
A grassroots nonprofit supporting unsheltered neighbors in Wake County through outreach, fundraising and volunteer engagement. - Rucking Women – Colleen Flaherty
A wellness brand and online community promoting fitness and empowerment through the practice of weighted walking or "rucking." - Shrunk 3D – Eric Weitreter
A business offering 3D-printed custom figurines in the Triangle area.
