Alumni-Owned Businesses

Sean Coughenour '20, '22

Run by 2022 Mechanical Engineering alum Sean Coughenour, 3rd Day Karate offers multi-level classes for a variety of ages. They also periodically host seminars and workshops, with some coming up this summer including a Ninja Battle Camp, Bo Staff Summer Seminar and Self Defense Techniques Summer Seminar.

“At 3rd Day Karate, through the instruction of Japanese Shotokan Karate with influences from other styles and Filipino Arnis, we encourage a family friendly, faith environment where students can learn to defend themselves, develop skills and an enjoyment of martial arts, as well as, grow in their confidence, focus, and fitness.”

Michelle Freddolino '02, '14

At Altitude Movement, our mission is to provide an inclusive, obstacle-based training environment where athletes of all ages and abilities—ages 1 to 101—come to play, train, and grow. Opened in 2020, by UCCS Alum Michelle Freddolino, Altitude Movement is a gym with a twist: blending ninja obstacle training, parkour, and functional fitness in a dynamic, ever-changing environment that builds strength, balance, coordination, confidence, and grit.

We offer youth, teen, and adult classes, as well as school break camps, field trips, party packages, and private events. Altitude Movement also hosts competitions in Ninja Obstacle, Parkour, OCR, and Pentathlon, often featuring elite athletes and American Ninja Warrior competitors. More than a gym, Altitude Movement is a community where overcoming obstacles—on the course and in life—is part of the journey.

*UCCS students = 50% off classes and our Open Gym Memberships; current UCCS students must show their UCCS ID when they enroll (in-person).
*UCCS Faculty, Staff & Alums = VIP discount, which is 10% off classes and Open Gym Memberships for themselves and their families. Current UCCS faculty and staff must show their UCCS ID when they enroll (in-person). Alums must show verifiable ID.

James Park '86

Owned by LAS economics graduate James Park, American Seoul Food is a local food truck featuring Korean cuisine. With delicious options like Korean pot stickers, Bulgogi tacos and Korean fried chicken (just to name a few), Park offers “Korean food for the soul” at changing locations throughout the city. Park recently teamed up with Theatreworks and the Ent Center for the Arts by featuring his wares alongside the performance “Aubergine.”

Rich Fierro '21

Latino-, women- and Veteran-owned, local brewery Atrevida is run by couple Jess and Rich Fierro. After several years in the military, Rich returned to school to pursue his MBA at UCCS to further his education and build his business knowledge. He and Jess started Atrevida in 2018 and continue to be pillars in the community, taking part in and donating beer sales proceeds to local charities and causes.

Atrevida and the Fierros live up to the brewery’s motto, “Diversity, it’s on tap!” with their constant efforts to celebrate diversity through their specially brewed beers, like their “Juneteenth” ale, involvement in the Pink Boots society and “embracing Diversity in each glass to engage with our customers in a time when dialogue is needed.”

*Free wristband with UCCS ID

Shauna Braley '00

Established in 2005 by LAS alum Shauna Braley, BullsEye Plumbing Heating & Air offers plumbing, HVAC, gas line installation and more in the Colorado Springs, Monument and some surrounding areas. Their many services are “combined with fair pricing, easy scheduling opportunities, and careful attention to every detail,” along with emergency services as needed.

BullsEye has blog resources to help you determine why your air conditioner stopped working, signs of a clogged air filter, common ways your pipes are being ruined and much more. They also have discounts available, along with an FAQ page and customer reviews to learn more their services.

Debbie Stavish '93

Alongside her close-knit team of experienced gardeners, Communications alum Debbie Stavish spruces up landscapes and lawns through gardening maintenance, design, installation and consultation. Deb’s Gardening incorporates Italian influences into their designs – often featuring handmade Italian pottery – and has flourished since it took root in 2001, winning several Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado commendations. Stavish also keeps sustainability in mind as Deb’s Gardening designs aim to enhance and benefit the ecosystems and plants they work with.

“Our mission is to honor, enhance and cultivate existing habitat realizing that when we do so, we contribute to a healthy ecosystem which in turn keeps ourselves, community, and earth healthy.”

*Contact Timberline Landscaping for UCCS Alumni Discounts

Alicia Klausmeier '09

Alicia Klausmeier, UCCS College of Education grad, spent several years working in education before switching gears and founding Dream Accounting Solutions. With an emphasis on education, helping small businesses thrive and supporting women and women-owned businesses, Dream is a great way to get help with bookkeeping while staying local.

Klausmeier founded Dream after helping her husband, Dan, with bookkeeping at his business and realizing she had a knack for it. In her own words,

“Dream Accounting Solutions got its name not only because it enables my family and me to go after our dreams of flexibility, family and travel, but as an acronym for our family’s first names and our horse. Dan, Ryker, Everett (Evy), Alicia, Magik.”

Marcus Amos '18

Marcus Amos, a 2018 Organizational and Strategic Communications alum, was juggling being a full-time student and part-time security guard when he started Elm Barbershop with Luke Will, his friend and co-founder, in 2015. Eight years later, Amos owns three shops, with Elm Barbershop and Flashback Barbershop both located in Colorado Springs, making his dream of owning a barbershop since 2009 a reality.

Elm Barbershop, which stands for “Everything Will and Marcus” emphasizes its traditional style and neighborhood-friendly atmosphere, while Flashback Barbershop is styled in the retro design with vintage pictures and checkered floor, though both have a focus on remaining customer-oriented and being places locals are happy to return to.

Adrian Hope '17

HOPE Physical Therapy & Wellness is a women-led wellness center owned by veteran and UCCS alum Adrian Hope and his wife, Dr. Chera Howard Hope. They offer a wide variety of services and treatments, such as trigger point dry needling, post-surgical rehabilitation, pilates, nutritional coaching and more.

Adrian and Chera decided to open HOPE after traveling to many different countries and seeing the range of available, or lack thereof, medical care. After Adrian retired from the army, they fulfilled their goal of “combining personalized physical therapy with specialized wellness services.” Additionally, every purchase of products or services from the center donates a portion of the money to Colorado Springs-based children’s charities such as Hope and Home, and Casa de Luz orphanage for disabled children in the Dominican Republic.

Iain Morrison '20, '26

Iain Morrison Real Estate is owned by Iain Morrison, a UCCS MBA alumni and current student in the MA Geography Program. He is here to be your starting point for all things real estate, residential or commercial, in or out of Colorado.

Bobby Mikulas '12

Lauren Collier '04

Live Dream Colorado believes that property ownership is a meaningful personal experience for every person, bringing freedom, responsibility, stability, and comfort. We provide expert real estate sales representation in the Colorado Springs area for property owners ready to sell their residential or commercial real estate, and for prospective real estate purchasers including first time home buyers and military relocations.

Our business exists to inspire spirited Coloradans to passionately Live out their boldest Dreams. Our mission is to expertly assist you in moving into a new phase in your life. We promise to provide the expert advice, best-in-class service, and honest communication you truly need when making a move. We are a socially and environmentally responsible 1% for the Planet Member, reinvesting a portions of the proceeds from every sale back into the community supporting Trails and Open Space Coalition.

*Inquire directly for promotional offers. Mention this listing

Mark Patterson '93

M3 & Associates, LLP is a Colorado Springs CPA firm dedicated to assisting with personal and small business planning with an emphasis on tax planning. Their goal is to provide exceptional service that is personalized for you.

*New clients can receive a $100 discount on your first invoice upon mentioning this listing

Jane Young '82, '89

More Than Your Money provides fiduciary, fee-only, integrated financial planning including investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, and general financial planning.

Lindsey Myers '08, '10

Myers Educational Consulting provides comprehensive career guidance and college admissions for students, and their families, throughout rural Colorado

Amanda Howell (Luther)  '10, '13

Obsidian is a mobile blade sharpening operation. They can sharpen kitchen, pocket, hunting, filet and tactical knives as well as scissors, garden tools and paper cutters. They are mobile, but also can do mail-in orders!

*10% discount for UCCS Alumni

John Martinez '07, '15

“At Polar Bear, we care!”

Keep Polar Bear Mechanical, owned by two-time alum John Martinez, in mind for your HVAC needs. With services ranging from air conditioning, furnaces, air quality, commercial work and more, Martinez and his team offer efficiency and care to customers in Colorado Springs and many surrounding areas.

Along with those services, Polar Bear’s website offers other resources through their HVAC blog, like how to know how often your HVAC system should be serviced or what qualities to look for in an HVAC company. With a focus on customer service and satisfaction, their mission is “to build a culture of caring to provide the best value heating and cooling services on the Front Range.”

Drew Johnson '15

UCCS alum Drew Johnson is putting his Science, Business and Sustainable Development degree to good use with his clothing and accessory business TechWears. Using e-waste and recycled materials, TechWears makes a variety of products from used circuit boards that includes something for everyone, from ties to clocks to cut-outs from your favorite franchise.

TechWears started when Johnson, working at the time for an electronics recycler, scoured the internet for a circuit board-themed tie for himself. Unable to find one, he took matters – and the physical production – into his own hands and created one. Seven years later, that first tie has grown to a full-fledged company upholding their mission to “advance conscious consumption through beautiful upcycled tech.” The company has won several local business and sustainability awards since.

Ashley Brown '24

Ashley, a UCCS MBA '24 Alumna, is the proud second-generation owner of Texas T-Bone Steakhouse & Famous Dave’s BBQ in Colorado Springs. In 2024, Ashley and her husband, Trystan, proudly took over the reins of the restaurant to continue their family legacy, allowing her father, who founded Texas T-Bone Steakhouse 32 years ago, to enjoy a well-earned retirement.
The Colorado Springs location is unique—it’s the first-ever dual-concept restaurant to merge Texas T-Bone Steakhouse with Famous Dave’s BBQ. Since joining forces in 2020, they have offered guests the bold, hand-cut steaks and famed “Create Your Own Salad” of Texas T-Bone alongside the award-winning, pit-smoked barbecue of Famous Dave’s—all under one roof.

*15% discount to UCCS students, alumni, faculty, and staff with a valid UCCS ID or alumni email at the Colorado Springs location.