Success Magazine rated the UA's Management Information Systems program as one of the top 25 in the nation, and UA graduates have the business to prove it deserves the recognition.

The MIS entrepreneur program over the past 12 years has transformed nine students into successful businesspeople throughout the community, said Gary D. Libecap, director of business and public administration at the University of Arizona.

Peter A. Gugoff and Jason J. Parson are the latest students to benefit from the entrepreneurship program.

The two teamed up during the program to establish their Xposed company, which markets bicycle accessories.

The pair placed third last week in the New Venture Competition, winning $1000 to further their business efforts. Last year they were the winners of the student business plan competition at the Karl Eller Center.

The goal of the program is to teach students how to run a successful business, said Gugoff, MIS graduate students.

The Xposed company has 18 products pending federal patents in the United States and markets two products in Arizona.

The UofA Associated Students Bookstore and Bob's Bargain Barn carry the lightweight drink bottle with special thermal insulation called "Koolie."

Xposed is negotiating with local business to carry the Deflector, a shield that attaches to bicycle helmets to protect riders' faces from the elements.

Gugoff said, "My goal is to make a comfortable living off the business and to broaden the business to all sports equipment."

"The program is doing exactly what it was designed to do," Libecap said. "The entrepreneurship program gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the professional business community."

Few business programs offer majors in entrepreneuring. There are only 300 entrepreneur programs nationwide, Libecap said.

"In some sense business schools are failing in the regard that they do not give students an opportunity to learn how to use what they are learning," Libecap said.

Andrea C. Barrett, owner and manager of the recently opened Nature's Express, 75 W. River Road, said the entrepreneurship program is responsible for her success. Barrett opened the healthy fast-food restaurant five weeks ago because she said there are too few healthy places for people who are on the go.

The 1994 UA business graduate said, "The program looks at every detail of starting and operating a business."

The program was also helpful because students were able to meet with professional businesspeople once a week, she said. They would give advice on how to improve business plans and tell the students what methods would not work.

Eric Barnes, owner of The Chocolate Iguana, said he got involved with the entrepreneur program after he realized his business was struggling.

"The program gave me a range of tools to analyze the business' strengths," Barnes said. He opened the first store, 500 N. Fourth Ave., in fall 1990.

"Framing the problem areas of one's business is the No. 1 thing I got out of the entrepreneur program," said Barnes, who expanded his candy store business into a coffee house.

He said developing a market and understanding the customer are the keys to maintaining the success of his business. He opened a second store last November at 7125 E. Tanque Verde Road.

Libecap said the entrepreneur program is serious about helping students apply what they have learned in class toward becoming successful business people.

The one-year, 19-unit program admits between 50 and 55 students, Libecap said.

"About one-third of the graduates go on to own their own business while the other two-thirds go on to law school or are recruited to a really good job," he said.