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.