Coulson Operations is responsible for the development and management of both commercial and residential building projects across the Gold Coast and Northern NSW, as well as the management of commercial and residential property assets.As the management of Kool Beanz Academy, The Commons Casuarina and HIVE Byron Bay to name a few, Coulson Operations is based in Southport Gold Coast but operates Australia wide.

At Kool Beanz Academy we focus on getting your children better prepared for school both socially and emotionally. We inspire their imaginations with innovative, leading-edge, play-based learning programs. Our interactive program is unique to Kool Beanz Academy, giving your child an exciting, rare experience.My passion for providing quality resources, curriculum and staff, coupled with state-of-the art facilities continues through every centre that I build. We have language, music and art lessons taught by qualified teachers, children’s master chef kitchens for cooking and science classes, a world class literacy program developed by a private school, in-built tennis courts, and meals designed and cooked by in-house chefs. In addition to the amazing experience the families will receive in our centres we have a team of child care professionals monitoring and managing the centres from head office to ensure we are relevant and meeting all legislative requirements and regulations. Our centres are located in Casuarina, Ocean Shores, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and Suffolk Park in NSW, Carrara on the Gold Coast and we are in the process of expanding into Mackay.

In 2014, seeing a gap in the training requirements of our staff, we started our own RTO (Registered Training organisation), which offers Cert III and Diploma qualifications in children services. Kool Kids Training College operates between Melbourne, Sydney through to far north Queensland and employs in excess of 30 training officers and compliance staff. We are about to include Cricos which will allow us to deliver the same courses to international students. It is anticipated we will offer training in Japan, China, Singapore & India.

I saw a huge opportunity in 2005/06 when looking for childcare for my own children, which resulted in the purchase of our first centre in Miami. I then acquired existing businesses in Mermaid and Southport and built from scratch 13 more centres, employing more than 500 staff. The brand now stretches from Pacific Pines through to Miami. We sold Kool Kids Early Learning Centres in 2014.

Partnering with Clive Savage we expanded the electrical retail company Clive Anthony’s. I bought 20% of the company. The business became a success, due to hard work, and flourished from the existing store in Mermaid Waters, through to 6 super stores employing in excess of 300 staff. Our gross annual turnover was $200+ million. In 2004 JB HiFi approached us to acquire Clive Anthony’s, which was accepted. As part of the takeover deal I stayed on to run the business for JB HiFi which included opening a store in Sydney. I resigned in 2006.

In 1982, as a 16-year-old I joined a company in Melbourne known as Clive Peeter’s electrical superstores. My responsibilities involved unloading trucks, cleaning the store and part time selling. In 1983, now 17, I was relieved of all cleaning and merchandising, and became a fulltime salesperson. Half way through 1983, at the age of 17, I was the number one salesperson in the entire company. During 1989, I was offered a buy in arrangement and bought 10% of the company at the age of 23. I was now the Operations Manager of Clive Peeters and in charge of 100 staff. At the age of 28, in 1994, the company was sold to Greg Smith and I was retained within the business. I stayed on as the Operations Manager for a further 3 years.