The Executive Team

College Works Painting operates in close to 30 states. The people listed out below are the executive team that run our corporate office and each individual location.

Jeff Gunhus
Executive Officer, NSG
Jeff attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied political science and economics. He is the author of the career guide, No Parachute Required, released nationally in 2001. In his free time he can be found hiking, fishing or working on his novel at a coffee shop.

Spencer Pepe
Executive Officer, NSG
Spencer graduated with a business degree from the University of California at Riverside. He was Ernst & Young’s 1998 Entrepreneur of the Year, a finalist again in 2001, and was a managing partner at Platinum Capital, once ranked #10 in the Inc. 500 for America's fastest growing companies. He enjoys climbing, whitewater kayaking, fishing and mountain biking.

Jason Reid
Executive Officer, NSG
Going from painter to owner, Jason’s career with the with the company spans 19 years. In addition to College Works Painting, he is also involved with organizations such as TEC and YPO. In his spare time he runs, plays guitar, cooks, and recently received his black belt in tae kwon do.

Matthew Stewart
Executive Officer, NSG
Matthew attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied political science and history. In 2002 he won the Orange County Business Journal’s “Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award,” and has twice been an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. Matt is a past Chairman of the Global Board for the Entrepreneurs Organization.

Tracy Meneses
Finance Manager and Executive Officer, NSG
Tracy earned a B.A. in Human Development from the University of California at Riverside, and her M.B.A. from California State University, Fullerton. She has developed the critical financial controls we count on here at College Works Painting.

Nancy Meloni
Chief Financial Officer, NSG
After earning her B.A. from California State University, Fullerton, Nancy became a C.P.A. while working with Arthur Young, and went on to hold key positions with many noteworthy organizations. A native Californian, she enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, and riding her "trike".

Johnny Rhee
Executive Vice President, NSG
Johnny received our California Manager of the Year award as a freshman. He graduated from U.C.L.A. in 2002 with a degree in Business and Economics, and minor in both Accounting and Computer Programming. Apart from his work, he enjoys playing the keyboard, writing and boxing.

Rob Sprong
Vice President, Pacific Coast California

Austin O'Donnell
Vice President, Arizona

Chris Heerdegen
Vice President, Washington
Chris attended the University of Illinois, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Sport Management, Recreation and Tourism. After becoming a College Works Painting co-vice president at age 21, he decided to expand the opportunity into Missouri and Kansas. His hobbies include practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kajukenbo, kayaking, boating, hiking, and wine-tasting.

Barry Parker
Vice President, Oregon and Idaho
Barry started at College Works Painting as a sophomore while attending Southern Oregon University. After earning a degree in Marketing from Oregon State University, he won our 2009 Senior District Manager of the Year award. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and playing golf.

Gavin Lanzty
Vice President, Utah and Colorado
Gavin graduated from the University of Utah with a business management and communications degree while working with College Works Painting. Since then, he has succeeded in growing the Utah/Colorado Division more than 100 percent. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, is an avid skier and mountain biker, and enjoys traveling.

Sean Phelps
Vice President, Midwest
Sean attended St. Louis University, where he interned with College Works Painting in our first year there. He was later promoted to vice president, and helped start our Midwest branch. He loves the outdoors. His favorite vacation involves spending time with his family at their cabin in Wisconsin.

Lulu Deng
Executive Vice President
A graduate of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Lulu headed our Pennsylvania Division from 2004 to 2010, earning our Division of the Year Award in 2007 and 2008, and a nomination again in 2010. In her spare time she enjoys traveling with the Philadelphia Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization.

Tom Ackmann
Vice President, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin
Tom graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana with a degree in General Engineering, and a secondary field in Business Systems Integration and Consulting. In his first year as a College Works Painting district manager he set the national rookie record, and received our District Manager of the Year Award.

Taylor Duncan
President, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin
Taylor played football and ran track at the University of Wisconsin, winning the Rose Bowl with the Badgers. He later graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Finance. He enjoys travelling the globe, or anything related to sports.

Brent Miller
Vice President, Ohio
Brent majored in Communications and minored in Business Administration at Penn State University (University Park), graduating in 2007. After starting his College Works Painting career as a sophomore, he was named National District Manager of the Year in 2009, and holds the district manager record in Pennsylvania. He enjoys Ohio for its outdoor opportunities, including fishing, hiking, and hunting.

Chris Hamilton
Vice President, North Carolina
Chris graduated from the University of Washington in 2011 with a degree in Business Marketing. He started his College Works Painting career in Washington state as a Freshman while attending UW. After working full time throughout college with CWP, Chris moved to North Carolina to take over as the Vice President. He enjoys working out, hiking, and playing his favorite sports basketball and golf.

Zachary Matush
Vice President, Pennsylvania
Zack graduated from Penn State University with a major in Finance and minor in both Chinese and Economics. Soon thereafter, he started our New Jersey Division, and plans on developing it into one of the top divisions in the country. When he’s not at work, Zack enjoys the outdoors, traveling abroad, and spending time at the beach.

David Franco
Vice President, New York
David attended Arizona State University where he earned a degree in sustainability. Upon graduating from college, David went back to New York, where he grew up, and started College Works Painting New York. David's hobbies include discovering New York City, traveling the world, long boarding, and reading.

Pantea Tahbaz
Vice President, New England
Pantea majored in Political Science at U.C.L.A. After working in our Central California division for many years, she recently moved to Massachusetts to expand our New England Division. She has always had a passion for helping others develop into strong leaders and global citizens.

Rob Lovato
Vice President, Virginia
Rob graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Business Process Management, and a minor in Technology & Management. He was nominated for our District Manager of the Year award in 2012 and after graduation assumed the Vice President role in Virginia. In his free time Rob enjoys playing hockey, working out, and spending time with his family.

Lindsay Donsbach
Vice President, Texas
Lindsay was born and raised in Orange County, California, and graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2007. She worked in the Central California division and was awarded Manager of the Year in 2005. After graduation, she took over our Texas Division. She loves working out at the gym and staying fit.

Marc Blumenthal
Vice President, Minnesota
Marc graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana with a degree in Economics and Finance. Some of Marc’s interests include the outdoors and music. He set the Illinois production record as an intern in 2008. Returned as a District Manager in 2009 winning the District Manager of the year award as rookie, followed by another top year as a General Manager in 2010 repeating the national award. His 1st year as a Vice President he set the company record for highest revenue for a start up division.

Jarric Ramos
Vice President, California

Kyla Hunts
Vice President, California

Matt Balducci
Vice President, Maryland
Matt Balducci attended the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign where he studied Psychology, Communication and Entrepreneurship. Also an athlete, Matt walked on the baseball team until an injury stopped his athletic career. After his senior year, Matt took the corporate route achieving success in sales and consulting for a few years prior to returning to College Works Painting in 2011 to help run the Michigan division. He later worked in our Illinois division and eventually through his success got the opportunity to start the Maryland Division. Matt enjoys working out, rooting on any Chicago Sports team, playing sports, is a huge movie buff, and enjoys spending time with his finance Jackie.

Ben Kern
Vice President, Ohio
Ben graduated from The Ohio State University in 2011 with a major in Corporate Training and Development; a fledgling undergraduate degree program that he helped further develop. As a sophomore, he started his College Works Painting career the first year the Ohio division was created. That year he was named the Intern of the Year in Ohio, and the next year, as a Rookie District Manager, finished as one of the top 15 in the country. He was born and raised in Ohio and is proud to have been a part of his home division since its inception. He enjoys playing the drums, writing, and of course Ohio State football.

Ben Aeby
Vice President, Oregon

Matthew Maneage
Vice President, Wisconsin

Matt Schmidt
Vice President, Georgia
Matt graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Marketing and Finance. As an intern in 2009, Matt was nominated for Manager of the Year honors in Illinois. After graduation he continued his experience by starting our Wisconsin division alongside two others and helped grow it to the largest division in the country. He was nominated for our District Manger of the Year award in 2012 and recently moved to Georgia in order to start a new division in the Southeast. He is an avid fisherman and snowboarder and also enjoys traveling to new destinations.