Above: Andrew Goldermann drives his business’ construction truck in Davenport, Iowa. Photo courtesy of Andrew Goldermann.

When people look at soon-to-be- alumnus Andrew Goldermann, they see a bright-eyed business student about to graduate, but looking closer, he’s also an entrepreneur. Most people know him for his one business in landscaping, but there’s more to his story. In addition, he iterated,” I’m a McFarlane scholar here at St. Ambrose.”

High School Roots

Andrew says the background behind his business ideas started in his local Quad City neighborhood, mowing grass in high school. He explains how in high school, he did not want to go to college at all.

Goldermann already had a business before going to college and made some money along the way. He now has two businesses that include landscaping and pool services. The name of his first business is the Goldermann Law and L landscape. He started this business when he was a freshman in high school.

But things changed when he applied to St. Ambrose University. He opened a second business called Deluxe Outdoor Service, which he started when he got into producing designs and buildings. He started this over a year ago and owns a construction company.

Loryn Heil, junior, business sales and marketing major, said, “When he has an idea, he goes full in on it with no fear, and that is something I admire about him so much.” 

Business Professor Tom Hosmanek says, “Andrew is a great student – energetic, open-minded, focused, solutions-oriented, and a great people person.”

Going to college was his backup plan, and he says he was glad that he did. He says his younger self thought that college would be a waste of time. College and the classes have shaped him into the business owner he is today. In particular, his sales classes helped him learn how to communicate with people and learn how to read people. He participated in the SAU Sales Club competitions to become a superior business owner.

Above: (Left to right) Atem Agot, Loryn Heil, Andrew Goldermann, Kayla Schockemoehl, and Tyler Yetka at a national sales competition in Salisbury, Maryland. Photo courtesy: Andrew Goldermann

Post-Graduation Plans

Goldermann decided to major in business sales. Since he is about to graduate, he realized he made the right and useful decision to go and get a degree in business to improve his own companies. His goal is to continue focusing on his businesses. Andrew said,  “I really can’t see myself working for anybody.”  He is very thankful for being able to learn from three of his business professors in sales. He was also a part of the sales club. He said,  “I love entrepreneurship, I love the day-to-day of go, go.” 

“If You See an Opportunity Take it”

Andrew shared a message of advice to fellow SAU students. “If you have an opportunity to come your way and you’re feeling like this is what I should do, go for it. One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when someone has an opportunity, but they don’t take it, even though they like want the opportunity still.”

Given that his businesses operate in the local Quad Cities, Andrew is open to hiring fellow SAU graduates for his marketing team and other necessary positions.

“Lastly, recent graduates, we have the time and energy to do the impossible.” Andrew sees the unique potential of their current stage of life. He added, “If you have time, like right now, it’s a beautiful time in our lives where we have so much opportunity, so much honestly flexibility, whether we feel it or not, that we have the opportunities in place where we should start doing these things now and setting the foundation.”