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ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR
The top-producing intern from each year!
OUR TOP PERFORMING MANAGERS
All of our Managers work hard and accomplish great things with our program. There are some, however, who come out on top!
Take a look at some of our past achievers of the "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award.
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MEET ADAM
2024 Entrepreneur of the Year
This summer was nothing short of challenging. With a challenge at hand also comes a big reward. That reward was the lessons and communication skills I learned this summer. I have gained more knowledge of the business world and how to communicate through it. I was able to sell and produce over $130,000 this summer with around a 23% profit margin. I was challenged with organization and communication the whole summer where people would trust me with thousands of dollars and their largest possession in the home. It was an experience I have been pleased to call my job and I can not wait to continue my career with the company next summer!
MEET NICK
2023 Entrepreneur of the Year
Nick graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst the past spring of 2023. Nick ran an astounding $250,000 business during the summer of 2023 breaking the old record and bringing forth a new standard. Nick won Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and decided he wasn't done challenging himself and seeing how far he could truly go. Congratulations Nick on your second win of Entrepreneur of the Year! We are so excited to watch you grow the New England division and coach driven students this 2024 season as a General Manager.
MEET MILES
2022 Entrepreneur of the Year
Miles is a student at the University of New Hampshire. He ran an incredible $226,000 business during the summer of 2022 breaking the all-time record for production in our company. Miles has continued to work hard and stay motivated throughout this entire season. He has made an impact on this program that will last for years to come.
MEET NICK
2021 Entrepreneur of the Year
Nick is a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He ran an outstanding $191,000 business during the summer of 2021. Nick has been determined to be successful with this internship since the preseason and he proved to be just that! By running this successful business he helped his division, New England, bring home Division of the Year!
MEET ENIN
2020 Entrepreneur of the Year
Enin is a student at University of Massachusetts Amherst. He ran an incredible $173,000 business in the summer of 2020. Enin was completely committed to his internship from the get-go. And having supportive mentors and a dream team to back him up also gave Enin the confidence to set massive goals. He now works as a Real Estate Analyst for The Mulligan Company LLC!
MEET CHARLES
2019 Entrepreneur of the Year
Charles was a student at University of Massachusetts Amherst. Charles started this internship to build his resume and get a new experience for the summer, little did he know he would run a business of $201,000 in production and become the top Entrepreneur of all time. He is now a full-time design engineer.
Past Entrepreneurs Of The Year
Austin Hines - 2018
As a Freshman at the University of Cincinnati, Austin Hines took on a YEAA internship with the goal of being the best. Not only the best in terms of production, but also by keeping his customers and employees happy. Austin did just that by ending the summer with $158,000 in production, helping the Ohio division take home division of the year.
At the start of Aaron Griffin’s second year with YEAA he decided he was going to be the top intern in the country. As a sophomore at MSU, he showed a work ethic unmatched by any other – not only in this company but unmatched by most people. With a tough start, Aaron quickly learned how to turn his trials into triumphs. By continually overcoming his obstacles and pushing his business forward, he attained his goal of becoming Entrepreneur of the Year producing $152,000 and breaking the all-time Michigan record. Aaron then went on to become the General Manager of our New England division, where he used his talents to mentor several college students.
Aaron Griffin - 2017
From the beginning, Craig Barry set the goal to be the top producing branch manager in the country, and through determination and resilience Craig accomplished this. By combining raw effort with an unmatched desire to learn, he produced $148,000 in revenue throughout the summer, broke a payroll record by producing $40,000 in a single cycle, and was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year. He did so not by taking the path of least resistance, but instead by attacking every challenge that he faced head-on. After proving to himself and others what he can do, Craig is poised to succeed in a sales position. He has moved on to work for LinkedIn as an account executive!
Craig Barry - 2016
Closing in at $161,000, Ashland Stansbury is officially the second woman in Student Painters history to become awarded "Entrepreneur of the Year." At only 18 years old and a freshman at Babson College, she joined this company with one thing as her goal, to be the best. Through hard work and staying organized, Ashland bypassed all of her colleagues throughout the country and did what she set out to do, make it to the top. Ashland loves a good competition and with such a strong work ethic at such a young age, this Young Entrepreneur is bound for success. Today, she is growing a female founded app in Shopify!
Ashland Stansbury - 2015
Colleen Roach found tremendous success and surpassed everyone across the country last year. She was awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year” as she broke records and closed her business at $190,000 in production. She is determined to be the best. Colleen Roach is by far the most successful woman within YEAA. After becoming a district manager for YEAA, she has moved on to the real estate world!
Colleen Roach - 2014
Spenser Suski - 2013
Being a part of the YEAA internship helped Spenser understand why employers look for past experience first. Between selling work, producing it, and everything in between, he learned more through this company than he ever would in the classroom. Within just under four months he produced over 70 jobs and employed over 20 students. There’s no comparison with other internships in the amount of valuable experience he gained from this. Communication, good time management, and organization were repetitively practiced throughout his summer and made him realize how important they are on a regular basis with any company. He is now a senior accountant at a global investment firm!
Chandler Bolt - 2012
Since his days running a business with YEAA, Chandler has opened his own online company serving the literary industry. He credits YEAA for helping him to hone the skills he already possessed and giving him a great foundation so that he could become an entrepreneur as a lifelong career. He started the Self Publishing School, which is one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Chandler has also been named to Forbes 30 Under 30, as he runs his own seven-figure company. He also is the author of 6 bestselling books!
Wayne Titus - 2011
Working with YEAA played a very significant role in Wayne's life. He credits YEAA for his interest in Sales and the skills he applies to his current career with Dow Chemical. He feels that he would never have been able to become Entrepreneur of the Year if it were not for his excellent crew. He expected to work hard when taking this job on but he never expected to make the top sales of the year. Wayne has worked his way up at Dow Chemical to become a senior product manager.
Nick Turnbull - 2010
Nick started his journey as an entrepreneur in 2010, finding quick success by earning the national the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by producing close to $80,000. After moving on from YEAA, Nick created a start-up called TurtleCell with another YEAA intern. Today, Nick works for the Kraft Heinz company as the head of manufacturing execution after working his way up through the company.
Nick Giannetti - 2009
In 2009 Nick joined Student Painters in hopes to make some extra cash. By the end of the summer, he found himself at an awards banquet, being handed the plaque for Entrepreneur of the Year after producing close to $110,000 in four short months. He was a known salesman throughout the company and always kept his eye on the prize. Nick has now graduated and went on to work for XPO Logistics for 9 years!
AJ Mida - 2008
AJ Mida was part of the YEAA program from 2004-2009, growing personally and professionally. He found success not only in himself, but helped many other college students find success as well. In 2008 he was given the highest achievement, Entrepreneur of the Year after running a $110,000 business. Today, AJ uses his mentorship skills to coach real estate agents on how to get to $100,000+ per year in residual income without having to invest in real estate or spend any money.
Ben Burke - 2007
Ben Burke started the YEAA journey during 2007, the same year he achieved the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for producing over $100,000 in his business. After finding quick success, he stayed with the company to help develop his division. During his time here, Ben impacted several college students in their development. Now, Ben is continuing to make a difference while taking pride in everything he does as the Director of Operations at the Manzanita Outreach.