Hunter Hermus

In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?

That nothing is ever handed to you, it made me grow up and open my eyes to get a head start above my peers.

How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?

My experience with College Works Painting helped me believe that I can accomplish great things and gave me the confidence to take on any challenge ahead.

What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?

I had a lot of great clients and I feel like I was able to build good relationships with them. James Schneider, Phil Lambert, Holly Stoner, and Marybeth Lewison were among my favorites (2023). Each of them had faith in me to do a good job and were enthusiastic about the project and also very complimentary. Each of them also booked during different times of the year with Marybeth being my first booking and James Schneider being my last and also the one who got me to Cancun. My favorite client overall was Holly Stoner because she was hesitant about getting her whole house done but then after we did the first project, we were able to make her house look great and she was very excited about the change. She also couldn’t believe that I was working during spring break in the cold and after we completed her project, she gave me a couch that I still have! She gave me a lot of confidence and reassurance to continue to work hard and be an honest man and she even said that I should run for president. To all the clients that I had, I treated their house/deck like it was my own and was excited to see their excitement when the project was finished.

What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?

Since 2 years ago when I did the internship, I still find myself thinking and reflecting on the opportunity and the day to day tasks that I would do. One thing that still sticks with me in my everyday life is when Matt Stewart gave some time management advice to break up tasks into 2 hour work blocks and to handle stress with perspective. Being able to handle stress with perspective has truly changed my life for the better. Because of this, I’m physically, mentally, and emotionally stronger.

How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?

I was able to meet a lot of people the same age as me that were like-minded individuals. Going to the College Works Painting Windsor and Cancun trips, everybody has respect for each other because they are all going through the same thing. I still talk with my DM as well as a couple other branch managers that were on the same team as me.

If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?

Work hard play hard.