 "Photo: Daniel Montano")
It’s said that any teacher is an extraordinary person because they choose to teach, but some people choose to teach in spite of juggling a second career—like running their own company.
Daniel Montano teaches for the UC-Denver communications department one night a week, while also working every day as CEO of GoMoSo, a graphics design company. GoMoSo has done advertising for many big-name companies, including Copper Mountain resort, Albertson’s supermarket, and Coors Brewing Company.
In addition to print design, GoMoSo does website design, internet marketing consultation, video services, and design features like logos and web ads. When Montano comes to teach at UCD once a week, he brings all his talent and experience from working with clients on those diverse projects to the classroom.
Montano has been an instructor and lecturer at UCD since 1988. Currently, he only teaches at the graduate level. “I treat my students like entry- level clients, where I need to somewhat educate, participate and motivate,” he said. He encourages students to bring projects from work to the class so they can discuss it as a class or individually.
He said he believes that each day offers something new to learn, whether the students are teaching him or he’s teaching the students. “The campus is very special because you’re working with aspiring students who are looking for career direction,” he said. “But you also have working professionals, and that’s the key. The working professionals are here to advance their careers in night courses and such. I find the students give back to me, as a business professional, with the pulse of current trends and needs.”
Several of his students have become part of his team at Go- MoSo as freelance photographers, writers, and designers. The company’s vice president, Jesse Wallace, graduated from UCD, as did Jared Quintana, his designer.
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