College Pro and ChannelNet Partner to Boost Recruitment of Budding Entrepreneurs Online
College Pro Uses ChannelNet Solution to Enhance Online Recruitment of College and University Students and Recent Graduates

SAUSALITO, CA, February 19, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- College Pro (www.collegepro.com), North America's largest and most successful student painting company, trains thousands of college students for jobs as franchise owners every year. In order to better reach and recruit college and university students and recent graduates College Pro partnered with ChannelNet (www.channelnet.com) to implement advanced features on the Web to better inform students, and their parents, about franchise opportunities.

College Pro's mission is to provide exceptional management and leadership training to young entrepreneurs through real-world business experiences. The Internet is an integral part of a college student's everyday life. A critical strategy for College Pro's 2009 student recruiting season is to showcase student entrepreneur testimonials via video, as well as greatly improved frequently asked questions (FAQ's) and information to better qualify franchise candidates. In addition to upgrading the website experience, College Pro has enhanced its franchise microsite capability, so newly recruited student entrepreneurs can showcase their new business locally online and homeowners can schedule estimates online.

College Pro and ChannelNet joined forces in 2006. Since then, over 10,000 students annually have applied online to become painters. College Pro predicts that number will increase dramatically in 2009. "Our student franchisees grew up on the Web. If we are going to recruit them the Web is the place to be," said College Pro Director of IT April Broome, "ChannelNet is helping us use the Web as an interactive tool and as an extension of our core business activities. They have created a cross-channel experience that drives customers and students through our front door."

ChannelNet's SiteBuilder Web technology platform powers College Pro's corporate website and hundreds of microsites for franchisees to showcase their services to local prospective customers. College Pro's Network of Websites also includes a comprehensive extranet that allows franchisees to manage their businesses online. Each website in the Network has a Site Administration tool, so College Pro and the franchisees can update information and content on their site.

"Our solutions are designed to help traditional brick and mortar companies market and sell in an increasingly Web-centered world," says Paula Tompkins, ChannelNet CEO and Founder. "Whether it is a college student researching a summer job or a residential customer looking for someone to paint their house, ChannelNet's domain expertise in connecting sales channels and customers become more relevant every day. Using ChannelNet technology, College Pro has created an online community for their franchisee program."

About College Pro Painters

College Pro Painters was founded by a college student in Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1971. Three decades later, College Pro is the most successful student painting company in North America, operating in local communities within 28 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces. Every year, College Pro recruits, selects and extensively trains hundreds of franchise managers to deliver a quality paint job and customer experience, run their own businesses, and uphold the promise of the College Pro brand. Since 2004, student franchise managers and general managers have participated in charity events and donated services equating to over $750,000 to improve community spaces and housing in underprivileged areas across Canada and the United States. For further information go to http://www.collegepro.com/.

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