Andrew Canole, a 2004 graduate from Central Michigan University, is now the president and CEO of two companies that are geared toward helping people in a disintegrating economy.

Canole graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s degree in science, a degree in communications, and a minor in marketing.

“I struggled all through college trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to do,” Canole said.

Canole’s two businesses, Waterfield Credit and eatmydebt.com, were both featured on NBC and the Christian Television Network, and were also the subject of an article in the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

“A lot of the education I obtained at CMU, especially the communication factor, has helped with the development of my businesses,” Canole said.

Canole believes that the communication classes he took at CMU were crucial, as he has to be geared toward working with people.

“I learned hands-on while I was in school because I ran a couple of businesses during college, which is how I funded most of college,” he said.

Waterfield Credit has been running for four years, which, according to Canole, is very good for a small business.

“Our ability to build relationships with key people in the business is what keeps us going,” Canole said.

Eatmydebt.com is a company that has attorneys in 50 states what negotiate debt for clients to help bail them out of debt.

“Everybody needs a break sometimes,” Canole said.

Since graduating in 2004, Canole has been back a few times to visit campus.

“I was back recently, and it is just years ahead of where it was when I was there. It is great to see the college I went to accelerating,” he said.

metro@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Vanessa Fayz