The Smith Business Consulting (SBC) program is OEL’s newest initiative. This unique program gives students of all levels at the University of Maryland the opportunity to provide hands-on, pro-bono consulting work within a team for B-Corporations, non-profit organizations, and for-profit organizations in various industries.
SBC Frequently Asked Questions
Any UMD student studying any major from undergraduate, master's, and MBA programs.
SBC iterations will launch Fall 2023 and have recurring iterations in coming terms.
Applications for the spring are coming soon.
Students will be coached by top faculty at Smith in the consulting field and have access to industry professionals for networking.
SBC is a 10-15 hour per week time commitment for students and approximately a 2-hour commitment for partner organizations.
Contact the Office of Experiential Learning at smithoel@umd.edu with any questions.
Current SBC Clients
OpenBarre
SBC is working with OpenBarre, a UMD alumna-owned barre fitness studio located in downtown College Park. OpenBarre serves both the local and university communities, with an emphasis on UMD employees. SBC's project will focus on delivering a detailed marketing plan OpenBarre can use to target their programming and advertising more directly to UMD employees. SBC will be identifying on and off-campus events where OpenBarre might be able to have a table, donate packages, hold teambuilding classes, and otherwise directly connect with university employees. OpenBarre offers the employee community a warm and welcoming space to connect with one another outside their usual scope of work, and a chance to build confidence and strength. As a small business serving College Park, OpenBarre hopes to continue to help employees feel more connected within the city, turning it from a place they pass through on their way to the office into a place where they feel home. Learn more about OpenBarre.
Tealbox
Tealbox Digital is a data-driven marketing company that helps small to medium enterprises and startups grow their bottom line using digital marketing tools. They are involved in private equity, engineering, and automation, political campaigning, media buying, data science, and even pre-med dropouts.
Medifast
Medifast (NYSE: MED) is the health and wellness company known for its habit-based and Coach-guided lifestyle solution OPTAVIA®, which provides people with a simple, yet comprehensive approach to help them achieve lasting optimal health and wellbeing. OPTAVIA®which provides people with a simple, yet comprehensive approach to help them achieve lasting optimal health and wellbeing. OPTAVIA’s lifestyle plans deliver clinically proven health benefits as well as evidence-based tools, including scientifically developed products and a framework for habit creation reinforced by independent Coaches and Community support. As a physician-founded company with a 40+ year history, Medifast is a leader in the U.S. weight management industry. The company continues to innovate and build upon its scientific and clinical heritage to fulfill its mission of offering the world Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time. The company is looking to partner with UMD’s student team to research potential opportunities to expand into new customer segments and demographics. The student team will be tasked with helping roster the unique needs of Xillenials, Millenials, and Gen Z (those born between the late-1970s to early 2000’s) in their health and wellness journeys, with specific focus on ways that OPTAVIA can better reach, win, and monetize these consumers.
Life Prep Foundations
Approximately 60% of the United States young adult population (ages 21-35) are not launching into young adulthood successfully. Identifying and explaining basic psychological skills will increase the chances of decreasing dependence on primary caregivers and potential future employers and governmental support systems in young adults, through our expertise and clinical work. The Life-prep foundations curriculum consists of 8, 45-minute sessions geared at specific skill acquisition, development, and real-world application. It is currently intended as a program being instructed as part of an educational curriculum (e.g., middle school, high school, or college; ages 13-22, but has many wide-reaching applications. The Life Prep Foundations Program was developed by Dr. Johanna Kaplan, an adult and child clinical psychologist and Director of the Washington Anxiety Center of Capitol Hill and Old Town, Alexandria. She has successfully clinically treated young adults (ages 21-35) who have failed to gain social, financial, housing and employment independence. This is a team’s opportunity to build a plan from the ground up by learning about the education and mental health industry while building a sales plan to grow revenue.