Internship Leads to Full-Time Job for EWU Business Marketing Graduate

Colin Kalivas, ’25, somehow knew he would be an EWU Eagle.

A Spokane native, Kalivas grew up going to Eastern Washington University football games with his dad and says he always felt drawn to the school. That connection eventually brought him to Cheney, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing, formed valuable friendships and gained professional experience that launched his current career in sales.

Before his final quarter at EWU, Kalivas landed a full-time internship at Spokane Valley-based telecommunications equipment maker EasyStreet Systems. The company’s co-founder, Pete Chase, was looking for a college student or recent graduate with a small amount of sales experience, a strong work ethic and an eagerness to learn. Kalivas turned out to be the perfect fit.

That summer, he worked at EasyStreet during the day and at the Davenport Grand Hotel in the evenings. He continued to work full-time at EasyStreet during the fall while also taking a full course load at Eastern.

Kalivas’ internship involved conducting market research and assisting in generating sales leads. He also helped to redesign the company’s marketing materials, manage its social media accounts and overhaul its website. He says one of the biggest highlights was traveling with Chase to Denver for a trade show, which proved instrumental to both his personal and professional development.

“I got to learn from Pete but also figure out on my own how to talk to future customers, build relationships and get meetings scheduled,” Kalivas says.

When Kalivas graduated in December, EasyStreet offered him a full-time job as an account manager. Tammy Lange, the company’s vice president of sales, says Kalivas’ initiative, creative input and willingness to help wherever needed made him stand out immediately.

“As a small company, we have to wear a lot of different hats, and Colin has done a really good job of moving things forward without constant supervision,” Lange says. “He’s had no problem stepping up and being willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, and it’s been pretty impressive to watch for our whole team.”

For EasyStreet, the internship demonstrated the value of giving college students opportunities to learn and contribute in a professional environment. Lange says the company places a high value on internships because college students are typically eager to learn and contribute fresh ideas.

“If you can give a young person a positive learning environment, and they’re willing to jump in and do the work, an internship can give them important job experience,” Lange says. “It’s also good for our company, and we’re hoping for the local community as well.”

For Kalivas, the internship helped him gain professional skills, real-world experience and important mentors — all of which helped bolster his education and early career in ways that will impact the rest of his life.

“Applied learning is huge,” he says. “The key to having a good understanding of what you’re learning in college is to apply it as soon as you learn the information while it’s fresh in your brain, and then when you’re looking for a job, the biggest thing is experience, which is what makes internships so important.”

Kalivas also advises current college students to get as involved on campus as they can.

“Make the most of your time on campus and take advantage of every opportunity, because you’re not just paying for an education,” he says. “It can be as simple as making more friends, because those connections are going to be so huge later on, not just in your professional success but in your life as a whole.”

Help Build Futures Through Applied Learning

Kalivas’ success story shows what can happen when students have opportunities to pursue internships and other hands-on learning experiences. Support EWU’s $100 million Build Our Future campaign to make these valuable opportunities possible. Your gift can provide scholarships and other resources that help students afford college, stay enrolled, gain meaningful professional experience and launch their careers.

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