In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
This episode is a little different. Instead of Tony sitting down with a former member of College Pro, our current President Aaron Anders interviewed Tony to get his take on the transformation of College Pro. Of course Tony is currently the CEO and an owner of the company but he started as a franchisee in 1984. He later moved into a General Manager role before briefly leaving to go get his MBA only to come back and become a Vice-President from 1994 to 1999.
He then moved on to the parent franchising company in a leadership development role. Then in 2007 he became the CEO of College Pro for the first time and held that position until 2017. He then briefly left the company before being part of a team that purchased it in 2019 where he began his second stint as CEO, which has continued to this day.
There is lots of reflection and excitement towards the future in this episode. Tony and Aaron truly go on a journey across the history of College Pro and set the stakes for a bright future.
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Aaron Anders is the current President of College Pro. He was given the tough task right from the start of guiding a home servicing company through a global pandemic. He has come across unique challenges that were unprecedented throughout the past 50 Summers of College Pro but has still been able to constantly evolve the company despite these challenges.
He has a history with the company starting out as a franchisee and working his way up to his current role. Like many, he never anticipated his summer job from university to become his career but in both his work and home life he has not been able to escape College Pro. He met his wife while they were both in their 5th year as franchisees with him being on the window cleaning side, while she was on the painting side of the company. Together they have three kids, who we would have to assume are all future star franchisees.
Aaron and Tony talk about the career progression and the skills Aaron learned from his time with College Pro and how that has translated into who he is today. They talk about COVID and how that challenged the company while they were already undergoing drastic changes. The conversation ends with Aaron passing on some wisdom and insight into what College Pro might look like into the future.
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Hearing Dan and Tony talk about their relationship, telling stories about the past and sharing their vision for the future of College Pro was special. You could tell the care they both have for the company and how much this milestone of 50 Summers means to them.
Dan is the Managing Partner of Clear Summit Group and Co-owner of College Pro. The conversation he has with Tony could have taken place in a boardroom or in bar as two friends reminisce and have a drink. It is a window into the highest level of this company and it was incredible to hear the care and devotion they share for College Pro. We hope you enjoy!
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
April Broome joined College Pro looking for it to jumpstart her into running her own accounting business. Little did she know that she would stay and be part of College Pro for the next 25 years. She worked across all avenues of the company, from accounting to IT to CEO.
Some of April's biggest contributions came in the creation of the skill development program at College Pro. She is another tenant in the foundation of learning and teaching that has made College Pro what it is today. April is now the Vice-President of Franchising with California Closets continuing her work in professional development and building up the next generation of entrepreneurs.
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Edward Leaman is one of the most integral members of College Pro. Over the past 20 years helping to create and shape the College Pro brand, which is felt on a daily basis from the logo and colours, to the marketing strategy. He is an expert in brand creation and growth and has a unique view on how to truly embrace the humanity of a business.
He has worked with companies such as Nike, The Body Shop, Gap, Joe Boxer, and many more strengthening some of the most recognizable brands in the world. He worked with California Closets through their explosive rise and is currently their Chief Brand Officer. He is also the Chair and a Professor of Design at the California College of the Arts, while also teaching at Stanford University.
Tony and Edward talk a lot about the nature of brand and the culture that stems from that. They talk about College Pro and what makes it unique compared to the other brands that Edward has worked with and they give a small glimpse into what College Pro might be in to the future.
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Paul Woolner has been the Strategic Architect and implementer of many programs in Innovation, Leadership Development, Change Management, and Brand Experience for FirstService Brands for the past 36 years. Starting with his involvement in College Pro, Paul is not your typical business leader. He has both a Master’s degree and Doctorate from the University of Toronto in Educational Theory and has worked as an adjunct professor at a number of Universities including the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto.
Paul is also an avid musician and has toured, and recorded professionally throughout different points of his life. while also being the Founding Chairman of the Centre for Mindfulness Studies created to bring mindfulness practices to populations at risk.
Paul is a serial entrepreneur and visionary as a founder and partner in a number of businesses. Four years ago, he was co-founder of DigitalEd, a software company whose mission is to shape the world through STEM online learning. Today over 300 Universities and Colleges around the world and a third of a million students use DigitalEd's Mobius platform in their teaching and learning.
In his business advisory practice, Paul has specialized in scaling entrepreneurial companies profitably, as well, he has consulted on strategy internationally across a number of industries with global corporations. Paul is a pioneer of College Pro without ever actually being an employee, and through his conversation with Tony, you really get the sense of the type of thoughtful and wise person that Paul is. They discuss the working relationship that they have had over the past 30 years and have a blended conversation about the theory of education and business practices. They discuss in detail the concrete additions and improvements Paul helped make possible at College Pro. We hope you enjoy this thorough conversation!
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Paul grew up in Belleville, setting his roots throughout his youth playing hockey and all different kinds of school sports. In 1980, after his 3rd year of University at the University of Western, Paul opened a College Pro Painting franchise in his hometown. After graduating from Ivey Business school he went on to work for Pricewaterhouse and earned his CPA.
In 1985, our previous guest and College Pro founder Greig Clarke recruited Paul back to the College Pro family as Vice-President and gave him his first taste of professional skill development. In 1989 College Pro was sold and Paul was able to purchase a piece of the company. For the next 25 years, Paul worked directly with Steve Rogers.
In the 2000s, Paul shifted gears and began working more with College Pro's holding company The Franchise Company. This is where he began the Leadership development program and worked closely with our host and current CEO, Tony Valle. This leads up to his current involvement in executive consulting and working with tech start-ups.
Listen to Tony and Paul talk about their life, and work experiences together and be ready to hear about what goes on beyond the surface level of a business. They discuss the qualities of what makes people good leaders and how the success of a business goes beyond profits and numbers. We hope you enjoy!
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Our second guest is Steve Rogers, the former CEO and founder of The Franchise Company. Steve Rogers’ business career started in the summer of 1978 as a College Pro franchisee with $42,000 revenue, and took a fairly straight line to the CEO of The Franchise Company, which in 2011, when he retired, had system wide sales of $1.4 billion performed by 1750 franchisees and contractor networks.
In between, he was involved in over 25 mergers and acquisitions, the creation of start-up entities leading to significant organic growth, and some humbling failures. Steve bet his own money all the way along. From the fall of 1989 to July 2011, he and his shareholders earned a 26% return on their capital invested, compounding annually. Steve was President and CEO of The Franchise Company for 21 years. Steve has had public market experience, having been on the FirstService Corporation (TSX: FSV -NASDAQ: FSRV) Board of Directors from fall of 1989 to April 2014. In 1993, FirstService went public with revenues of US$42 million, and today, FirstService has evolved into two public companies – FirstService TSX FSV and Colliers International TSX CIG. Steve is looking to work with high growth companies that are ready to move from small and medium size to a larger next phase; founder driven to professional management.
Steve is not looking for a job. He is looking to get involved with the CEO of a company, in a coaching and business strategy situation, if and when the fit is right. Steve is not a hand holder and he is prepared to bet his money on the right opportunity. Steve is currently the President of Four Box Holdings Inc., his holding company, with investments in seven early stage companies, as well as looking after his passive investment portfolio. He is Chairman of iMagic Glass Inc. (www.imagicglass.com) and Digital Education Company Ltd. (www.digitaled.com).
Steve is a keen skier and cyclist, enjoys playing hockey, hunting, fishing, plays music in a band and practices yoga on Thursdays.
In summer '49, College Pro started a podcast to showcase the "x" element of our current franchisees that make them successful. In a limited-time series called Torch Given, in summer '50, our CEO Tony Valle is sitting down to talk with the founders, past CEOs, and trusted partners of this resilient brand called College Pro.
Our first guest is none other than Greig Clark, the founder of College Pro. Greig founded College Pro Painters in 1971. He's currently the Chairman of the Board for Trails Youth Initiative which is an NFP in Toronto.
Greig started College Pro out of a desire to pay for his education during one of his university summers, perhaps not anticipating what it would evolve to grow and to become. Greig took the one College Pro Painting outlet he had started in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and developed a franchise model from his systems. He grew it across North America. By 1989, there were over 600 franchises with 5000 painters and nearly $40 million in summertime sales. He had systemized the servicing industry, and helped students pay for their college and university tuition while simultaneously learning how to run a business. He sold the business in 1989.
He was named Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year by the Financial Post in 1980 and one of the Top Ten Entrepreneurs of the Decade by Profit Magazine in 1992. Greig loves to travel, having spent time abroad after graduating from university. He even lived in France with his family in the '90s, where we studied French wine! He says he still loves to play hockey, ski, work out, canoe, snowshoe, play tennis, and even play the occasional golf game. He is a loving husband and father to 6 children between him and his wife, Carolyn.
You'll hear the candid and humbling challenges Greig faced as an entrepreneur starting College Pro. These challenges are not so different to those that we've all faced and experienced. We're excited and honoured to have heard Greig's College Pro story.
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Today's How They Did It interviews are taking a different form! Listen in to this round table with Rookie of the Week winner Colin Harle, and Entrepreneur of the Week winner Calvin Coutts and Jamie Schultz as they talk about strategies they use for success in their businesses. This is a JAM packed episode!
This week we have only one winner, Mr. Bordian, winning Entrepreneur of the Week! Check out the tips and strategies this senior uses to continue to build his business with a heavy focus on external customers.
Another HOW they did it episode with winners Amy and Tarek! Hear how they're managing the summertime slump and crushing their markets!
Check out this skill drill on setting up your FALL business with our President Aaron and GM Sam!
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Check out this 10 min skill drill on how to address LATE crew members!
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Check out another Entreprenuer of the Week winner from Manitoba, Mr. Braden Fleury! Braden crushed it this week and will talk through what habits helped him, how he's created a marketing system, and how to keep the momentum even when production gets busy. Tune in for the good stuff!
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Check out this 10 min skill drill on one of the decisions you will have to make the most often this season!