Equipped with a brush and a vision, Brennan Lessard set out to change the way people feel about their surroundings. Lessard, a junior management major at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business, founded Paint & Repair, LLC, not only to paint homes and businesses, but also to help clients enhance and appreciate their spaces.
“At its core, my business is about transformation — painting solutions that breathe new life into spaces,” says Lessard. “We cater to residential, commercial and investment properties, offering more than just a service. We provide an experience that revitalizes environments and, by extension, the lives of those occupying them.”
Lessard’s inspiration stems from a desire to foster meaningful connections and positively impact people’s lives. He sought to create a business model that prioritized relationships and listening in an industry notorious for being unreliable.
“Our uniqueness lies in our foundation: trust, dedication and empowerment. Unlike the giants in the field, we’re not just a business. We’re a community of college students led by experience, driven by innovation and committed to exceeding our clients’ expectations,” Lessard says. “Our model is built on collaboration, not hierarchy, allowing us to bring fresh ideas and boundless energy to every project.”
University Support: Nurturing Entrepreneurial Spirit
Lessard’s entrepreneurial endeavors during high school influenced his decision to attend UT, attracted by its extensive resources and robust alumni network.
“The University of Tennessee promised an environment where I could refine my skills, push my boundaries and forge new friendships,” he says. “It offered a playground for my creative and collaborative inclinations, from engineering designs to collective vision realization, equipping me with the tools necessary to bridge my ambitions with actionable insights.”
After enrolling at UT, Lessard became acquainted with the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He began working with the Anderson Center’s team of entrepreneurs-in-residence for strategic planning and business development so he could learn how to grow his company.
“My journey with the Anderson Center began with a spark of curiosity and diligent research,” Lessard says. “It wasn’t long before I was attending Vol Court sessions, competing in the Graves Business Plan Competition and immersing myself in the vibrant ecosystem of peer innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Anderson Center. Winning support and gaining invaluable feedback, I found not just financial aid for my business, but a community of mentors and peers dedicated to my business’s growth.”
About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a university-based resource for entrepreneurship in the region and the state of Tennessee. Its mission is to foster an entrepreneurial culture at UT and across the state by developing student skills, providing experiential learning opportunities, conducting meaningful entrepreneurial research and connecting students with mentors and resources that enable them to successfully start and grow new businesses.
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CONTACT:
Brennan Hullett, brennan@utk.edu
