Our Team

Meet the Executive Team

Steve Acorn

CEO/Director of Expansion

In 1985 I started with the company as a Branch Manager in Sarnia, Ontario. As President of the company since 1985, I have had the wonderful opportunity of working with students from all over the United States. Being able to mentor and guide them in finding their true potential as young business men and women is extremely rewarding. This is an outstanding opportunity for the right person. If you have heart, desire, and a hard work ethic, it is amazing what can be achieved. It is very exciting to watch the growth of the student managers throughout their career with Student Painters. Each Manager can tell an incredible story to any full time employer once they have completed their journey with Student Painters. A story that will definitely set them apart from their peers. When they graduate and go out in the real world, I look forward to finding out what career path they have chosen and how being a part of Student Painters helped them achieve their goals.

Josh Drushel

Vice President - Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Indiana Divisions

My journey with Student Painters began back as a Junior at The Ohio State University as a Branch Manager. In my first summer with the company I was given the incredible opportunity to run and oversee a $77,000 business. Although I initially saw Student Painters as a one-year opportunity that I would move on from, that changed pretty quickly. Ultimately, it ignited a passion in me to help other students realize their true potential all while helping them develop their leadership skills. I have found a career path here that helps me change young students lives, develop them professionally, as well as earn great income to pay for school. My greatest satisfaction comes from receiving the phone call from a past manager that our experience and recommendation letter helped them land the job of their dreams upon graduation! It is great to be a part of the Student Painter family!

Vice President - Michigan, New England, Indiana and Colorado Divisions

Aaron Acorn

Vice President - Michigan, New England and Indiana Divisions

Student Painters has given me real world business skills that cannot be fulfilled in any class on a college campus. I have developed skills in management, marketing, sales, and also buliding customer relationships. I love the Student Painters system: I am free to manage my time how I please and what I put into my business is what I get out of it. During my second summer, I made over $18,000 and my entire team was responsible for more than $165,000 in revenue!

Ryan Shepherd

General Manager - Ohio/Kentucky Division

As a sophomore in college I began my journey with Young Entrepreneurs Across America as a branch manager. I was given the opportunity to run my own business for my first, real life work experience where the “buck” stopped with me. I love this company because of the experience it provides to college students, the growth opportunity, and the Work Hard, Play Hard culture. The set of skills that branch managers are able to take away is something that is unique to this internship with YEAA. The program taught me things both as a manager and mentor that cannot be learned in a classroom without getting out and gaining real-world experience. Having the opportunity to work with driven college students and seeing them being successful is one of the most awarding experiences I could ever have. I am excited to continue my role as the general manager of the Ohio/Kentucky Division and helping other college students attain the same success I’ve had.

Mat Harvey

General Manager - Ohio/Kentucky Division

My name is Mat Harvey, 2016 graduate of Miami University, and I am a General Manager of the Ohio division. I was an intern with the program for two years prior to leaving to work at ALDI as a District Manager. My first year with Young Entrepreneurs I ran a $60,000 business and made $6k in Galloway, OH while my second year I oversaw $252,000 in revenue and made $30k. After realizing what I wasn't getting out of my full-time job with ALDI, I came back to Young Entrepreneurs Across America to join full time because of the passion I have for mentorship and running my own business. This business isn't for everyone, but for those crazy enough to believe it is, it is a life-changing opportunity.

Austin Lesak

General Manager - Pennsylvania/West Virginia Division

My 4th year in college is when I started my journey with Student Painters. Given the opportunity to run my own business at only 22 years old was a great experience. I ran about a $71,000 business my first year while making about 10K in Streetsboro Ohio. Coming back my second year with the company I oversaw a $287,000 company and made about 30k. I love this company so much. I have learned so much and am very excited to continue my role as a general manger for the Ohio and Pennsylvania division. I love how this program has changed so many young college students lives and that is the main reason for me to continue working for this company for a very long time.

Ian McCarthy

General Manager - New England Division

I saw the opportunity to become an executive as an incredible way to grow on personal and professional level. I love the culture of the company and I get to surround myself with an incredible network of high achieving individuals. I am a firm believer in the fact that we are the average of our 5 closest friends and the people I have met through this company have taken me to the next level. The second reason I chose to return as an executive was because I was looking for a position that gave me lots of accountability and a way to grow my resume. I spoke with quite a few alumni about their experience working as an executive, many of them attributed there achievements after Student Painters to the experience they gained from there time as an executive. In my first year as an executive I oversaw $280,000 between myself and a team of 3 branch managers. Between my branches profit and my executive compensation I made about $29,000 that summer. The role in year one is very focused on making things happen. In year two that transitions to teaching others to make things happen. Developing the ability to inspire others to make things happen was a huge step forward in my development as a leader.

Maddie Hudson

General Manager - Michigan Division

I decided to return as a rookie executive because I love what I do. I wanted to keep developing myself through this role and take on more responsibilities, to be able to help other college students grow and develop their own skill set. Being at this new level in the company, I have learned that staying organized and patient is key to your success. Between the branch that I am running and the managers that I am mentoring, I will oversee around $200,000 in revenue and profit around $30,000. The main differences that I have noticed form last year to this year are There are learning curves that aren’t applicable to the first year. Not only are you running your own branch, but you get to mentor rookies and help these college students run their business.

Meet the Office Staff

Sara Acorn

Office Controller

I am responsible for Financial Reports, Financial Systems, training and maintaining all Divisions Office Managers and support staff, and Event planning including the annual tropical awards banquet/trip. I started at Student Painters while attending Oakland University. I feel very fortunate to have been part of the Student Painter business since 1993. The most gratifying part of the business is seeing the next generation of managers come through. These young Entrepreneurs are very motivating, and make this company new and dynamic each year.

Natalie MacRitchie

Office Consultant

I started working for Young Entrepreneurs Across America in May of 2009. I was a full-time college student looking for work while I was home for the summer. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, I chose to join the YEAA team full time. My full time employment over the last 8 years has been very rewarding and a life changing experience. In 2020 I have taken a new role as the Office Consultant as I transition into becoming an Entrepreneur myself. I am excited to help the team in a new way!

Rachel Fillo

Administrative Specialist

Throughout my history with Student Painters/YEAA, I have grown so much as a business woman and person. I have built great relationships and led a group of peers to do astonishing things. The amount of growth a student can go through in a short amount of time with this program is remarkable. It changes how you think, speak and act. It has opened my eyes to the lifestyle as an entrepreneur. I wont go back. I highly recommend this company to anyone who is willing to take on the challenge and develop themselves past their peers.

Victoria Meagher

Communication and Advertising Intern

I started working for Young Entrepreneurs Across America as a communication and advertising intern. This company has helped me grow as an individual giving me opportunities I could never imagine. I'm excited to see what this coming year has to offer me and everything that I will learn. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities this company has given me.

Alyssa Capling

Administrative Specialist

I started working for Student Painters in the Recruiting Department during the Fall of 2014. I enjoyed that so much I decided I would continue my journey with the company throughout the summer and years to come. I am currently on my sixth year working with the company and I have learned many valuable skills to take with me through life. I have been taught problem solving skills, how to communicate well with others and how to stay organized. I will be graduating this year from Central Michigan University with my Bachelors in Family Studies. I am eager to continue learning and growing with this company in the years to come.