Name: William Jones

Role: 2^nd Year Franchise Owner

Turf: West Hartford, CT

School: Graduate of the University of Connecticut Major: Economics

Minor: Business Administration

What is the best part of running your own business?

The relationships you build with your customers and making them happy.

What skills have you learned at College Pro that help you as a student?

Time Management and Promptness are both things I have learned to be a top notch student.  Also, fighting through adversity – which is something you have to do at College Pro Painters to succeed.

By: Kristy Nieboer, Media & Marketing Intern – College Pro

I had the opportunity to drive to and from Ottawa (a 7 hour trip each way) with a College Pro Painters franchisee, Ali Wonch. During this trip, I got to know Ali very well, and learned a lot about her and a lot about what it takes to run a business.  I thought I would share this insight for those who are unsure if College Pro might be right for them. First off, we started our trip an hour behind schedule, because Ali had to remove all of her painting equipment from her car to make room for our luggage. You can imagine how much stuff would take a full hour to move – this was some immediate proof of the many unexpected things that come up while running a business…and the need for a constantly updated schedule.  For my sake, I quickly nicknamed her car the  ‘office’.

By: Will Jones, Franchisee – Hartford, CT

Would I work for College Pro Painters again? Definitely!  In just two years with College Pro Painters I have accomplished things that most people can only dream of doing in a lifetime, and I am only 22. I began working with College Pro Painters in my senior year of college at the University of Connecticut.  My first year with College Pro was a huge learning experience.  I learned the complete inner workings of a successful business, I learned proper customer service and sales skills, and I also learned how to effectively manage employees.

Chris is a University of Massachusetts student, running a College Pro Painters franchise for the second year. He describes himself as ambitious, hardworking, and dedicated. Chris would say that the most important thing to know about College Pro is that it is hard work, and that your results show how much effort you put in – you get out what you put in.  Chris also thinks College Pro provides one of the best experiences you can get while in school. He likes being his own boss, and setting his own hours. In Chris’s opinion, the best part of his job is being a leader for others.  You learn a lot about yourself and others while being a leader, and it shapes your personality. Chris has found motivating his employees to be a challenge – especially because all of his employees have different levels of motivation, and require different amounts of encouragement and monitoring. Working with College Pro Painters and running his own business has seriously increased Chris’s marketing skills, and he has also gained a number of life skills.