Jeremy Mandell and Daniel Krause aren’t crazy; they’re Cracked.

The two University of Illinois seniors plan to start operating a food truck on the University of Illinois campus in August.

They’ll serve breakfast sandwiches to students from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, likely parking their truck on Mathews Avenue near University High School and the Siebel Center for Computer Science.

A few eggs may need to be broken to make those sandwiches — thus the name of the business: Cracked.

Also on the menu: beignets, tater tots, homemade pastries, fresh fruit and fresh-brewed coffee.

Mandell said he and his business partner also hope to serve late-night crowds along Green Street on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.

On Saturday mornings, the plan is to sell their breakfast fare at the farmers’ market at Urbana’s Lincoln Square Village. They’d also like to do catering for parties and companies.

Mandell and Krause went to the same high school in Winnetka, and both wound up in the UI’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Mandell said he initially wanted to operate the food truck business in Chicago, but that city doesn’t allow cooking on trucks. Food trucks there are essentially “giant, movable food warmers,” he said.

Breakfast sandwiches, he said, are meant to be eaten fresh.

This won’t be Mandell’s first brush with business. He had his own racquet restringing business and operated a College Works Painting branch in Winnetka. Krause, meanwhile, has worked in the restaurant and food service business more than seven years.

“I always knew I didn’t want to work for anyone,” Mandell said. “Now I’ll be working for everyone.”

The company’s website is http://www.crackedtruck.com, and its email address is crackedtruck@gmail.com. The phone number is 567-303-EGGS (3447).

The report from Rabbittown

Things are hopping at Rabbittown Antiques and Artisans in Danville.

The antiques mall at 419 E. Main St. has rented all its vendor space, said Gail Miller, who co-owns the enterprise with her husband, Gary.

The mall opened last November in the front part of the Athens Building. In February, it opened another 900 square feet to vendors.

“We thought that would be enough and we’d get to rest for a while. But demand was so high for vendor space that we kept going,” said Gail Miller, a Fisher native.

This month, they opened another 900 square feet of retail space and have five new vendors there, she said.

Plus, “we have another first-floor retail space that will be open June 1, as well as an apartment upstairs that will be converted into retail space. That will also be open June 1,” Miller said.

Those spaces are already spoken for, she said. The mall now has 30 vendors.

It’s open seven days a week: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Miller said the time was right for opening the business.

“I think for a number of years, the antiques market in Danville had been declining. There was a hole in the market, and we filled it,” she said.

The north end of the Rabbittown building was built in 1903, probably for Eastside Bakery, Miller said. The south end was built in 1932 for the Athens Food Market.

Among the vendors: Nanette Koerner, who is back in business in Danville, with a retail booth she operates with Cynthia Bookwalter.

Koerner was active in business and historic-renovation circles in Danville before moving to Rantoul several years ago.

Among her previous businesses: Koerner’s Other Shoppe, an antiques and gifts store; The Gathering, where she leased retail space for antique dealers; and the Bookwalter House Bed Breakfast, which operated from 1993 to 2000.

Craft nights in Tuscola

One of Tuscola’s newest businesses, Vintage Karma, will host craft nights on Wednesdays, starting this week.

Laura Davis, co-owner of the business, said people can bring their craft projects to the store at 110 W. Sale St. and spend a couple hours working on them. The informal function begins at 5 p.m., with snacks provided.

Vintage Karma, which opened April 10, is an arts store operated by Davis and a tattoo business operated by Ainslie Heilich.

“Tattoos and local arts and crafts — we see it going hand-in-hand, even though a lot of folks are at first a little confused,” Davis said.

The store features the work of local artists, she said. The merchandise includes jewelry, paintings, pottery, pillows, stained-glass work, hand-sewn baby items and hand-knit shawls.

Davis said Heilich had a tattoo business in Stroudsburg, Pa., and when the two moved to the Tuscola area to be near Heilich’s family, they decided to go into business here.

“It’s something we had wanted to do back east, but we ended up doing it here because it was a lot more affordable and there were empty buildings available,” said Davis, a former copy editor for The Record in Bergen, N.J.

The arts store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and the tattoo business is open by appointment.

Vintage Karma’s phone number is 253-2553. The art store’s website is shopvintagekarma.com, and the tattoo business website is artofvintagekarma.wordpress.com.

Walk all over you …

Three therapists at Urbana’s Green Yoga Spa are offering a new massage service called Ashiatsu.

According to licensed massage therapist Cheryl Louviere, it’s a therapeutic massage consisting of deep, broad compressive strokes delivered by the feet.

“It can be extremely beneficial for clients suffering from back pain, neck and shoulder stiffness, as well as general stress and tension,” she said.

Ashiatsu originated in Colorado about 20 years ago, she said, and is being adopted by health centers across the U.S.

At Green Yoga Spa — located on the second floor of 115 W. Main St., U — Ashiatsu is offered by Louviere, Mary Wolters and Jen Weber.

Photo firm changes location

Lou Taylor Photography Portrait CD Studio has moved to a location inside the County Market at 1914 Glenn Park Drive, C. The business was formerly at 720 S. Neil St., C.

Are you opening a business or changing one? Contact Don Dodson at 351-5227 or 800-252-3346; by email at dodson@news-gazette.com; or by mail at The News-Gazette, c/o It’s Your Business column, P.O. Box 677, Champaign, IL 61824-0677.

Article source: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-05-06/its-your-business-food-truck-help-cracked-duo-br

Ryan Siegle is a student majoring in mechanical engineering. He is an intern with College Works Painting, a program that gives participants the opportunity to learn how to run their own painting businesses.

My name is Ryan Siegle. I am a second-year student over at the university working to get my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. I was born in Columbia and moved back here about seven years ago to finish out my grade school, going through Gentry, Jeff Junior and Rock Bridge.

Back in February I started a business management internship with College Works Painting, a nationwide exterior painting company with small-town business appeal. The internship provides a great opportunity for those with an interest in business management to get that experience. Each intern starts the program by going through a very strenuous, extensive interviewing process. If hired, the intern then completes about 50 hours of classroom-styled training and begins the actual program with door-to-door marketing to find people interested in getting a free estimate for any exterior painting work. Once the leads are obtained, estimates are set up, and for those that are wanting to get the work done, contracts are signed.

Once production begins, I will hire my painting crews, typically two crews with two painters each, and the houses begin being painted around mid-May when classes are finished. College Works Painting offers a huge service to these clients that decide to get their house painted. We offer prep work that most contractors do not, have material prices that literally no other contractor can beat and have a very specific process of getting the painting done so that each customer is completely satisfied at the end of the experience, which explains our 98 percent satisfaction rate and A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

This program is great for both responsible college students interested in business management experience as well as people of the community who are interested in getting any exterior painting done, for College Works’ number one priority, after safety that is, is customer satisfaction. If interested in a free estimate, my number is 999-6642 and the office number is (888) 450-9675. We hope to see you out there!

This story is part of a section of the Missourian called From Readers, which is dedicated to your voices and your stories. We hope you’ll consider sharing. Here’s how.

Article source: http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/04/24/readers-mu-student-ryan-siegle-participates-college-works-internship-runs-own-painting-business/

CHILLICOTHE — Although she wants to work in health services, OU-C student Taylor King is getting hands-on administrative experience by running a home painting business this spring and summer.

King, a freshman majoring in Health Services Administration, conducts estimates and schedules homes to be painted through her company College Works Painting.

The company, which operates in 19 states, is fully licensed and insured and works with local undergraduate students to give them a chance to manage a painting business. King works with a mentor and the company focuses on developing business ethics, communication, organizational management and sales and leadership skills, in addition to giving her the skills to manage a painting business.

“I’ve learned a lot already, I’ve learned good organization, how to manage my time better and to communicate better,” King said.

She said the hands-on sales and marketing she’s done to support her business also have helped her grow as a person.

“I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone,” King said.

She will be painting houses through the end of the summer. Although she’s taking classes right now, she’s also working about 20 hours per week getting the business ready for the summer season. During the summer, she plans to transition to a 40-hour work week.

“I do estimates, I book the jobs and I supervise all the sites being painted,” King said.

King will be on-site each day painters are on the job and consulting with the homeowner regularly to make sure all parties are satisfied.

King is working to paint homes both in Ross County and in her native Jackson County.

Before attending OU-C, King graduated from Wellston High School in 2011 with a 3.95 grade-point average.

Article source: http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20120423/NEWS01/204230310/OU-C-student-earns-experience-money-college-by-painting-homes

Mill Valley resident

Sandi Bragar has been named director of planning for Aspiriant, a Los Angeles-based wealth management firm with an office in San Francisco.

Bragar has been a principal of Aspiriant since 2002 and began her career in 1993 at Ernst Young.

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Security industry veteran

Jerry Hallett has opened a new business, California Security Design in Novato.

The company provides security design and consulting for homes and businesses including alarms, access control and video surveillance.

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Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has named the Southern Marin office one of its top 10 offices out of more than 640 nationwide.

Located in Strawberry, the office is headed by managing broker

Kate Hamilton.

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Sonoma State University student

Morgan Wincheski has been selected to manage her own painting business in San Rafael through the College Works Painting program.

Through the program, students receive training and manage painting crews with support from a district manager.

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Nicole Garcia, of the Novato firm, Wakefield

Sharp has been named a Certified Community Association Manager by the California Association of Community Managers.

Wakefield Sharp manages condominiums, planned developments and commercial condominiums in Marin including Novato’s Hamilton Field neighborhood.

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Lisa Metz has moved her pet boutique, Klyde Street Pets to a new location at 843 Grant Ave. in downtown Novato. The store opened nearby in 2007.

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Movers and Shakers is compiled by Will Jason and appears weekly. Send information to wjason@marinij.com

Article source: http://www.marinij.com/business/ci_20383953/movers-shakers-wealth-manager-taps-mill-valley-resident

OTTOVILLE — Ottoville alum Scott Pohlman will be busy this spring and summer; he has earned a position with College Works Painting while a freshman at The Ohio State University in Columbus. If he’s busy enough, he will also earn an all-expense-paid 4-day stay to Cancun.
Pohlman is canvassing the area looking for residents who need painting done. If he generates $80,000 in painting jobs, he will be headed to Cancun.
Pohlman will perform any exterior painting on farm machinery, grain bins, barns and homes and will also powerwash structures. Homes built prior to 1978 will need extra care due to lead concerns.
“Who doesn’t want to go to Cancun?” Pohlman asked. “I’m really excited about this. I’m going to work hard at it, meet my goal, build a business and give local residents a chance to make some money, too.”
Pohlman can’t do this by himself; he’ll need to hire local help. Call 419-905-5294 if you have some spare time to help Pohlman reach his goal and give yourself some spending money. Applicants need to be 18 years of age.
Call 888-450-9675 or 419-905-5394 for a free estimate.

Article source: http://www.delphosherald.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7600:pohlman-painting-his-way-to-cancun&catid=31:general&Itemid=44

When Corrine Zennou of Northport heard about College Works Painting she was intrigued. As a freshman psych major at Stony Brook University she wasn’t your typical candidate for the job, which sees mostly business majors, but saw an opportunity to take a step toward her dream of one day opening a medical research center by developing entrepreneurial skills.

“There are a lot of responsibilities that come with it that most people aren’t too aware of,” she said. “Right now I get to learn a lot of that stuff ahead of time.”

College Works Painting, a nationwide company that hires college students to manage teams of professional house painters, describes itself as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity for college-aged students…providing extraordinary training in leadership and management to college-aged entrepreneurs by way of real-world work experiences” on its website. Though the company bills itself as an internship, Zennou said she will not receive college credit.

Zennou was selected for the job after rigorous interviewing, one of roughly 35 successful applicants in her school. She has already begun training with College Works and hired a marketing team to assist her in sourcing clients and is happy with the support received so far in her first entrepeneurial venture.

“They give us a lot of coaching, a lot of training. We meet the CEOs of the company every other week or two and we get a lot of training in sales,” she said. “They give us a lot of support and structure, telling us where we should be and how we’ve been doing.”

Though Zennou will be giving estimates, creating supply lists, dealing directly with clients, and carving out her own market when her business hits the ground in May, she won’t be doing much painting. College Works painting is done largely by licensed and insured professionals, she said, with the student-manager’s primary focus being customer service and management.

“You determine the size of the house, the amount of prep work it’s going to need, the hours that go into it, then with that the amount what it’s going to cost to buy the materials– so with each job we basically tailor the price exactly to what we need to complete it,” she explained.

College Works claims that earning potential is based entirely on “how profitably you run your College Works Painting business, not the number of hours you work,” and provides a flow chart showing $5,000 net profit out of $35,000 total sales in the lowest bracket.

Though Zennou recognizes that a large chunk of earnings will go toward covering labor costs, she said she’s not doing it for money, but experience. “I’m learning the importance of these skills ahead of time,” she said.

Article source: http://northport.patch.com/articles/college-works-painting

EUGENE, OR, March 26, 2012 /Stanford Who’s Who/ — Stanford Who’s Who proudly welcomes Peter Ahlstrand to the prestigious ranks of premier professionals as a result of his exceptional effort in the home improvement industry. Throughout his brilliant professional career, Peter has routinely exhibited the passion, vision, and dedication necessary to be successful in the business world.

Mr. Ahlstrand currently serves as an Intern with College Works Painting, which is a company that has been offering residential painting work and internship positions in Oregon since 2000, hiring college students from the very best universities every year as interns, managers, and District Managers. Their program is designed to provide college students a possibility to build a competitive resume and achieve marketable company and leadership skills.

Peter, who is currently attending the University of Oregon where he is working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Business Entrepreneurship, jumped at the opportunity to learn the skills needed to eventually own and operate his own business. He was the recipient of an Optimist of the Year Award in 2005. Mr. Ahlstrand is also involved with the Eagle Scouts of Colorado.

To view more information on Peter Ahlstrand click here

Browse the Stanford Who’s Who Business Social Network

This article is copyrighted by IBWire.com

Article source: http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20120326/peter-ahlstrand-earns-membership-with-stanford-whowho.htm

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Jake Pedersen, a 2011 Coon Rapids High School graduate now studying at the University of Minnesota, will be operating his own business this summer.

Jake Pedersen

Through an internship program at the U, where he is majoring in chemical engineering, Pedersen is starting up and will be running his own painting business with College Works Painters.

“This effort entails extensive training, my own marketing, hiring my own painters and finding and hiring my own paint crew,” Pedersen said.

According to Pedersen, College Works Painting hires college students to learn business skills through a hands-on internship running a branch of their business in the summer.

To be selected for the College Works Painting internship program, Pedersen went through an extensive interview process.

According to Pedersen, first there was an informational meeting followed by three interviews, one in-person, then by phone and then another in-person interview.

“The selection process for this interview is highly selective,” Pedersen said.

“For Minnesota 1 percent of the applicants were selected (24 out of 2,400 people).”

“I was selected for this program because of my extensive past achievements and eagerness to develop my leadership and management techniques.”

His senior year at high school, Pedersen began working at Lettermen Sports in Blaine and during the summer, he worked for the YMCA, counseling elementary school-aged kids while their parents were working during the day, he said.

According to Pedersen, he is now in training with College Works Painting in all areas essential to running a business – how to interview, hire and lead employees.

“We are also trained in accounting and marketing,” Pedersen said.

“In addition, we also go through a professional certification course so that we know as much as our painters and could do the actual painting if necessary.”

This also helps when talking with clients on the production process and how the job is going to proceed, Pedersen said.

“All of these skills are necessary to run a business smoothly and effectively,” he said.

His goal is to hire between 12 and 16 painters, which will allow him to put in place a couple of teams for the summer, Pedersen said.

Pedersen will be conducting interviews for those interested in the job during April, he said.

“I will be looking for individuals interested and excited to help me run my business,” Pedersen said.

“I am also looking for hard-working, reliable individuals with good customer service skills because customer satisfaction is perhaps the most important part of this business.”

Once the interviews are over, Pedersen said he plans to pick “those that I think will work the best with me and with the homeowners as well as put all of their effort into the job.”

The painters are trained through Sherwin Williams, which puts on a professional certification course to which all the painters are sent regardless of prior experience, he said.

By the end of the course, each painter will be professionally certified in exterior painting, Pedersen said.

The crews also have the chance to practice their skills on model homes before the first job to get some hands-on experience, Pedersen.

The painters also receive safety training, he said.

According to Pedersen, he has been going door-to-door in the Coon Rapids area asking people if they want a free estimate on exterior painting.

In addition, he has been handing out flyers and come summer, he plans to place several lawn signs in the area, Pedersen said.

“My goals for my business this summer are mainly to gain experience and run a smooth business,” he said.

“It also gives us a chance to make money to pay high tuition costs.”

College Works Painting offers incentives to its intern business owners throughout the summer, including one in customer service, in which the top manager in the country in that area will receive a scholarship to whichever school they are attending, Pedersen said.

Scholarships are also awarded to any business owner that goes accident free the whole summer, he said.

“Since both of these factors are incredibly important to my business, I am trying to go accident free through the whole summer and have a customer satisfaction rating of at least 97 percent,” Pedersen said.

“As well, I am striving to get reference letters from the homeowners for future use in my professional career.”

According to Pedersen, he is targeting the Coon Rapids and Andover area for customers, but once summer starts, he is free to market and search for customers anywhere.

This is usually a one-year internship program, but Pedersen said the top interns are asked to come back to either run a business for another year or mentor the next class of interns.

Once Pedersen received his chemical engineering degree, his goal is to work at either 3M or Boston Scientific, he said.

“My grandfather was a chemist at 3M and had a great experience,” Pedersen said.

“I look up to my grandfather and look to follow in his shoes at 3M.

“More specifically, I want to have a focus on renewable energy and would like to someday lead a research team investigating future energy sources.”

At Coon Rapids High School, Pedersen played soccer for three years and was on the varsity his senior year.

In addition, he was involved in Bible study, the wind ensemble and jazz band, playing the trumpet.

“I love to do anything outside, whether it is playing sports, going for a run, hiking, camping or boating,” Pedersen said.

“I also love to snowboard and snowmobile in the winter and water ski in the summer.”

Two of his favorite activities are paintballing and hunting, Pedersen.

For more information about Pedersen’s business, call 763-732-2512.

According to its website, College Works Painting gives undergraduate students an opportunity to build a competitive resume and gain marketing skills by teaching them how to manage their very own painting business.

Founded in 1993, College Painting Works operates in 19 states and paints more than 10,000 homes annually.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

Article source: http://abcnewspapers.com/2012/03/14/coon-rapids-student-run-his-own-business-this-summer/