Spokane business veteran Hoyt “Larry” Larison, has written a new corporate business book based on his years of success in operating, and ultimately selling, the privately-held Columbia Paint & Coatings. 

Larison says his book, titled “Build a Better Business,” elaborates on aspects of his business philosophy, a system of points of focus and protocols he calls the Columbia Management System.

Established in 1947, Columbia Paint was a privately-owned architectural-and-industrial coatings company that marketed its products through a network of company-owned distribution centers.

Larison served as president and CEO of the company for 31 years, until it was acquired by Cleveland-based The Sherwin-Williams Co. in September 2007.

When Columbia Paint & Coatings was sold, it retrieved the highest price ever paid for a business of its kind as a multiple of sales, net income, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, he claims.

At the time of sale, Columbia had 41 distribution centers in eight states in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest, including Alaska.

After selling Columbia, Larison formed Larison & Associates Inc., a consulting firm that uses the business philosophy he developed as CEO of Columbia to help companies re-evaluate their strengths and strategies and enable them to accelerate profitable growth.

 “The Columbia Management System developed and evolved while I was working to run Columbia Paint,” says Larison. “After the company sold, I spent a year or so writing down some of the key operating protocols that made us such a successful company, and those are articulated more precisely in this book.”

Larison says the book details why a certain protocol or focus is recommended, as well as how to implement it, including specific examples of how those methods were used to make Columbia Paint more successful. 

Larison says he hopes the book will serve as a source of insight for current business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and college students enrolled in business programs.

“There aren’t many books on how to make a business better,” he says. “I wanted to help established businesses to be more effective, and help college students to better understand business. I also hoped the book could serve as a tool for bankers to better understand the needs of their commercial lending customers, as well as help accounting firm consultants to assist their business clients.”

Larison says “Build a Better Business” is available for purchase through Amazon.com, and also is being distributed through local retailers.

In addition to his consulting work, Larison also serves as a member of the boards of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Spokane County, and the Mobius Science Center.