Ephrata grads gain small business experience

EPHRATA - Ephrata High School graduates Chenia Flint and Justine Hintz are embarking on a small business undertaking this summer by working as branch managers of Student Painters.

Student Painters is a Seattle-based student company providing exterior home painting.

Flint's work takes place in Grant County, while Hintz does the same job in Kittitas County.

Through their work at Student Painters, the young women are completing a business internship by owning and running a small painting business.

Flint, 21, a Central Washington University (CWU) senior, explained she would receive a profit, but must give 30 percent to the company.

"They would take the liability for my business, in case I go into debt from not enough sales," Flint explained.

As branch manager, Flint hires the painting crew. She expects to bring on student workers from Big Bend Community College and pay between $9 and $11 per hour.

Hiring starts in April and the job ends in the third or fourth week of August.

She described the business as mobile, so she won't have a store front.Rather, she works from her personal digital assistant.

Flint learned about Student Painters on campus at CWU. She attended a meeting about the business and was hired.

Some of her friends have worked for the company too.

Flint is completing her major in social studies and history education at CWU.

She may pursue a master's degree in business, depending on how her summer job goes.

Flint is one of five adopted children of Tom and Kathy Flint, of Ephrata.

Chenia knows what it means to work hard and adapt to new challenges.

She arrived in the U.S. from Russia at age 11, not knowing English.

Ten years later, Chenia is fluent in both Russian and English.

She also was a Running Start student and received her associate of science degree.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach Hintz for comment.

Chenia said Hintz is studying to be a accountant.