College Pro Painters Alumni Interview with Jim Mathewson
National Account Manager of AkzoNobel Canada

We recently sat down with Jim Mathewson former College Pro Painter Manager of the Streetsville, Mississauga territory, now a National Account Manager over at AkzoNobel Canada which is the largest global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals.

When did you work for College Pro Painters, and how was your summer experience?

I was a college pro painter in 1999, franchise manager in 2000 and 2001 in Streetsville, Mississauga, and field advisor there in 2001 as well for Golden Horseshoe. I was then hired full time as a General Manager for 2002 and remained until 2006. I was responsible for Golden Horseshoe, then South West Ontario, and then was transferred to take over Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northern Ontario.

My experience with College Pro Painters was amazing. It’s really funny how when I was in the moment of working with College Pro Painters, I realized that it was hard, and that I was gaining a ton of experience, but it wasn’t until I was out of CPP and in a different business sector that I truly realized how much training, support and skill I had developed.

What are the most important lessons you learned while working as a franchisee operator?

As a franchisee, the most important lesson I learned, which I still use to guide myself today, is that the customer is number one. They write the check, and they are the ones that spread the word, so it is first and foremost important to do whatever possible to make them happy while still realizing that not everyone can always be made happy.

What is your current job and title, and what was your professional path to reach the point where you are now?

I am currently the National Account Manager at AkzoNobel; AkzoNobel is the largest paints and coatings company in the world. When I left College Pro, I purchased a TFC franchise: Floor Coverings International. After running that for three years, I took the opportunity to shift out of the franchise world and in to the corporate world.

How did working for College Pro influence your career path?

Working with College Pro allowed me to take the skills and confidence to run my own business, followed by being a large influence in getting the current role I have. My current boss specifically interviewed and hired me based on my previous experience and skill I developed through my years as a College Pro General Manager.