Executive Profile: Bob Anderson Former owner, consultant, Anderson Paint Company

To combat the slow homebuilding and real estate markets, Bob explains the company is focusing on “more service, more service, more service.”

“We do at least two dozen color matches a day,” he says. “I’ve always said, we’d probably do a lot better selling the advice and giving them the paint.”

Anderson notes that they probably answer fifteen questions per gallon of paint, which is why staff training plays a key role in the business.

He does see that business in Ann Arbor is coming back.

“I see movement in the store, more people. It’s coming back really slowly but it’s coming back.”

BACKGROUND • Education: Cleary College, associate’s degree in business.

• Family: Wife, 3 sons, 1 daughter, 10 grandchildren.

• Residence: West side of Ann Arbor.

INSIGHTS • Best way to keep competitive edge: Read and be open to different opinions.

• Personal hero: Cancer survivors.

• How do you motivate people: Respect. You don’t work for me, you work with me. Our average employee length is 20-25 years so we’re doing something right.

• How do you motivate yourself: It doesn’t pay to stay in bed. Get up and get out and do it.

• Three greatest passions: My family, swimming, automobiles.

• Favorite hobby: Golf or swimming.

JUDGMENT CALLS • Best business decision: To encompass my children in my business. It’s nice to see the success they have.

• Worst business decision: Back in early 1990s we were thinking of developing a parcel of land on State Street. It turned into a four year project that didn’t pan out.

• Biggest management myth: You can own your own business with a hands-off approach. You have got to be there and be after it every day.

• What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? Quit earlier. Don’t work until the last August sun.

• Hot stock in your portfolio: Our Chinese stocks, like Mindray and Bydew.

• Word that best describes you: Persistent.

CONFESSIONS • What keeps you up at night? My sore back from years of lugging around cans of paint.

• Pet peeve: Government spending. Any government official should be made to meet a payroll for six months before taking office.

• Guilty pleasure: Chocolate chip cookies.

• First job: Clean up at Kapler’s Packing Company on Pontiac Trail.

• First choice for a new career: Architect.

TREASURES • Favorite cause: Ave Maria. Tom Monaghan graduated with us in high school.

• Favorite book: Historical fiction. I follow four or five authors, such as Ted Bell.

• Favorite movie: Blazing Saddles.

• What’s on your iPod/car radio dial? Dick Purtan on 104.3.

• What do you do to recharge the batteries? For the past 10 years, I have had a group of about 20 friends that play a new golf course every week throughout the summer.

• Favorite restaurant: Knights, no question.

• Wheels: Nissan Murano. I really wanted a Toyota Prius but with my back I can’t get down that low.

-Laura Blodgett is a freelance writer.

Photo: Bob Anderson